ã€ŠMad Dogã€‹


 Chapter 1: Nightmare On The Screen

    Chapter 1: Nightmare On The Screen

    Eleven years ago.

    Lin Lan.

    The wind in the cold winter night felt like a knife on the face. On the deste and dirty dirt road in the Toyoda district, there was only the man¡¯s urgent and heavy breathing.

    The tall figure disappeared into the darkness, and one could vaguely see the man¡¯s sturdy arms sping a small body, struggling incessantly.

    ¡°Damn it, don¡¯t move.¡± The man, drenched in sweat in the cold night, had wolf-like eyes soaked in sweat, fierce and impatient. He kept cursing, ¡°Move again, and I¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    Damn it, if he couldn¡¯t deliver the ¡®goods¡¯ by tomorrow, the loan shark would take off his arms. He wouldn¡¯t do such desperate work otherwise.

    Zhi Qi woke up being jolted around, her mouth tightly sealed with tape. She couldn¡¯t make a sound, only silently shedding tears, which quickly froze on her face in the winter night. She was cold and scared, not understanding why she woke up like this after sleeping well. She unconsciously struggled, only to be fiercely shouted at by the man holding her.

    Zhi Qi immediately dared not move.

    Although she was young, she was already ten years old, a fourth-grade ¡°big kid.¡± The little girl vaguely understood that she might have been kidnapped. But after realizing this, an even deeper chill spread from the soles of her feet to her hair.An indescribable, inexpressible sense of fear surged into her heart. It wasn¡¯t just because of the external cold; the girl¡¯s hair stood on end. In Zhi Qi¡¯s memory, the man had been running with her for a very long time.

    Almost to the point of nausea from the bumps, she was roughly ¡®thrown¡¯ down.

    The man intended to move Zhi Qi out of the city but was hindered by the patrols and inspections at various toll booths in the middle of the night. He had to temporarily ce the girl in an old truck used for transporting cabbages. Afterward, he ignored her life and death, wrapped himself in arge cotton coat at the back of the truck, and went to sleep in the front seat.

    Zhi Qi was terrified, her teeth sealed with tape, making a creaking sound. The girl¡¯srge and bright eyes, washed by tears, appeared even more pure in the pitch-ck trunk of the truck. But she couldn¡¯t see anything clearly, only vaguely smelling a cold, decaying smell of cabbage leaves on her nose.

    That was the first time Zhi Qi remembered a taste so vividly.

    From then on, she didn¡¯t particrly like eating cabbage.

    That night was the most terrifying and lengthy in Zhi Qi¡¯s memory. Her hands and feet were securely bound, numb and swollen from a long period of immobility. She could only lie stiffly¡­ waiting to die. Meanwhile, the desperado who tied her up snored loudly, sleeping soundly.

    A ten-year-old child wouldn¡¯t ponder deeply on why misfortune had struck so profoundly. They would only feel fear and tremble helplessly. Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t remember how many times she had cried. Her face was frozen from tears, and her big eyes stared fixedly at the top of her head¡ªpresumably the roof of the carriage, but she couldn¡¯t see anything.

    After what felt like an eternity, there were faint rustling sounds outside the carriage. This cabbage transport truck wasn¡¯t sealed with steel; instead, it had curtains and cloth hanging around. Now, a corner of the curtain was gently lifted, allowing a dim ¡®light¡¯ to filter into the carriage.

    Terrified, Zhi Qi immediately curled up her body, her gaze still haunted.

    She was afraid it was the man who threatened to ¡®kill¡¯ her.

    For a moment, it seemed like her ears were ringing, forgetting that the thunderous snoring continued. It wasn¡¯t until she saw a person¡¯s head poking through the lifted corner of the curtain.

    That was the first time Zhi Qi saw Jiang Qi. She would never have imagined that the ¡®world-saving hero¡¯ who rescued her from peril would be a boy almost her age.

    But that¡¯s exactly what happened.

    A young boy with a paleplexion but sharp eyebrows and eyes saw a girl tied up inside a truck. Surprisingly, his expression remained calm and unaffected.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make a sound.¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s voice was low, almost a whisper, yet his hands skillfully untied the girl¡¯s restraints. It seemed he was ustomed to dismantling things, disying great proficiency. At the moment of gaining freedom, the stagnant blood rushed back into the girl¡¯s hands and feet, causing a tingling sensation. Fortunately, Jiang Qi seemed to anticipate this and did not remove the tape from her face.

    With his back turned to her, the boy gently said, ¡°Climb onto my back.¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s hands and feet were almost numb, but driven by survival instinct or perhaps sheer fear, she managed to climb onto Jiang Qi¡¯s back.

    It felt like a dream.

    The boy, slightly taller than her, carried her on his back through the deserted and chilly streets of the Ind District in the early morning, running as if his life depended on it.

    The farther away from here, the better.

    Leaving this ce seemed to distance her from the nightmares and the pain associated with it.

    The first time Zhi Qi met Jiang Qi, he saved her.

    In every dream since then, from a boy to a young man, there was only Jiang Qi. His handsome face, with sharp features, and his dreamlike, intense ck eyes.

    As the boy ran with her on his back, Zhi Qi¡¯s arms encircled his neck, even though they were in a perilous situation, she felt an inexplicable sense of security. Suddenly, as the jolting motion intensified, Jiang Qi¡¯s body jolted, his expression bing sinister and fierce.

    Zhi Qi was taken aback, instinctively pulling her hands away, only to realize her fair hands were covered in warm blood ¨C Jiang Qi¡¯s blood.

    ¡°Jiang Qi!¡±

    Zhi Qi suddenly sat up, drenched in cold sweat, her chestnut-colored hair almost soaked with perspiration on her forehead. At the same time, the dormitory lights came on, and the soft warm-toned light instantly shattered the heavy and stagnant atmosphere in the darkness.

    Roommate Meng Chunyu vaguely heard Zhi Qi exim and abruptly sit up. Subconsciously, she turned on the bedsidemp, rubbing her eyes and asked in a drowsy tone, ¡°Qiqi, did you have another nightmare?¡±

    Zhi Qi was still immersed in the relentless nightmare just now, and after a while, she blinked sluggishly.

    ¡°Sorry.¡± She turned her head, and her usually gentle and bright voice now sounded hoarse. Slowly, she said, ¡°Chunyu, you can go back to sleep.¡±

    Apparently, she had not fully recovered; Zhi Qi¡¯s limbs still felt numb.

    It wasn¡¯t until the deskmp dimmed, and the dormitory plunged back into darkness that Zhi Qi slowly curled up, hugging her knees with her arms ¨C like a baby seeking the protection of its mother.

    Muttering like in a dream, Zhi Qi said, ¡°Jiang Qi¡­¡±

    She really missed him.

    Every time she dreamt of Jiang Qi, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t sleep, almost staring at the ceiling until Chunyu, on the adjacent bed, woke up and went about her morning routine. Then she would realize that Zhi Qi had ¡®also¡¯ awakened.

    ¡°Qiqi, are you awake?¡± Meng Chunyu sat at the table, applying various cosmetics from the pile on it, and seeing Zhi Qi open her eyes, couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You had a nightmare against night.¡±

    The reason for using ¡®again¡¯ was that over the three years in university living with Zhi Qi, such urrences were frequent, and Chunyu was quite used to it.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± Zhi Qi didn¡¯t exin that she hadn¡¯t slept at all. Instead, she sat up straight, and with a gentle and serene smile on her pale face, she said, ¡°Did I disturb you again?¡±

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Meng Chunyu waved her hand dismissively, seizing the opportunity to tease Zhi Qi by pinching her face yfully. ¡°Tsk, so tender. You know, my sleep is as deep as a dead pig¡¯s; it doesn¡¯t bother me.¡±

    Therefore, they lived together for three years, and Meng Chunyu never heard clearly the name that Zhi Qi shouted when she had nightmares. Zhi Qi smiled, lowered her eyes, and remained quiet. Perhaps having such a good roommate was her luck because she didn¡¯t want to escape her nightmares. Being able to see Jiang Qi in her dreams was also good.

    ¡°Qiqi, today is the weekend. Are you going to the library?¡± While having breakfast, Meng Chunyu, with a bun in her mouth, vaguely asked her, ¡°How about rxing this week? I think you have nightmares because of too much pressure. How about watching a movie? I heard that Shen Lei¡¯s new work has just been released. Although the theme is niche, it¡¯s especially good!¡±

    Meng Chunyu was a genuine star-chasing girl, and her eyes lit up whenever something rted to the entertainment industry was mentioned.

    As this kind of girl, Zhi Qi was curious about how she had chosen the same major, ¡°Wildlife and Natural Reserve Management,¡± as herself.

    This major was only offered by Lin Lan¡¯s Forestry University, admitting only around forty undergraduate students each year, with very few female students. In their batch, there were only Zhi Qi and Meng Chunyu. But Zhi Qi felt that the major of ¡®Media¡¯ would be more suitable for Meng Chunyu.

    ¡°Sure.¡± She didn¡¯t want to dampen Meng Chunyu¡¯s enthusiasm and thought that it had been a while since she rxed. So, she agreed, ¡°What time?¡±

    ¡°Um, there¡¯s a screening at noon. Let¡¯s go for that one.¡±

    Meng Chunyu lowered her head to buy tickets quickly. When she finished, she looked up and saw Zhi Qi sitting by the window, reading a book with her head down. Her porcin-like white teeth were biting a straw in a cup of porridge, showing intense concentration.

    The sunlighting through the window perfectly illuminated the girl, reflecting on her porcin-like skin, almost transparent. Her face, with a pped face like milk, had extremely ck pupils, and her features were delicate.

    It seemed like a princess in an ivory tower where the light rarely touched. For some reason, whenever Meng Chunyu was amazed by Zhi Qi¡¯s beauty, the adjective ¡°stunning¡± woulde to her mind. She knew that Zhi Qi was different from her, even different from all the other girls in the school, and the longer they spent time together, the stronger this feeling became.

    Zhi Qi appears obedient, gentle, and won¡¯t refuse others, but Meng Chunyu knows that, except for herself, she always has a bit of reluctance to engage deeply with others, like¡­ apleteck of security.

    In the three years of college, Zhi Qi has mostly spent her time studying.

    She holds a full schrship, and her credit GPA is astonishingly high. Because of the special nature of her major, which falls under the category of ¡®demanding profession,¡¯ she has to take many elective courses in other majors, including going on external internships, flying from south to north, conducting experiments¡­

    So, Zhi Qi never focuses her thoughts elsewhere, being a truly dedicated nerd.

    Meng Chunyu, while admiring her achievements, also understands well¡ªshe will never be like Zhi Qi, who could easily y the role of a princess based on her looks but is, in reality, a hardworking and diligent fairy. However, she can be the ¡®female knight¡¯ protecting the fairy.

    Meng Chunyu, with a smiling expression, hooked Zhi Qi¡¯s arm and led the girl out of the door.

    On the way to the cinema, Meng Chunyu kept talking about how amazing the emerging director Shen Lei is, mentioning the movies he directed that were shortlisted for numerous film festivals, expressing obvious admiration. Zhi Qi doesn¡¯t understand all this, although she listens attentively, asionally asking questions that leave Meng Chunyu speechless.

    For example¡ª

    Zhi Qi asked seriously, ¡°You said the movie we¡¯re watching today is about the murder story of a seven-personality schizophrenic criminal. With strict censorship nowadays, will there be any bloody scenes in such a movie? Even if they are cut, wouldn¡¯t it lose its meaning?¡±

    ¡­

    Meng Chunyu, who had never investigated this aspect, was left speechless.

    After a while, she weakly said, ¡°There should be¡­ right?¡±

    In a suspenseful and thrilling crime film with a protagonist who is a twisted schizophrenic criminal with seven personalities, what¡¯s the point if there are no bloody scenes?

    Upon hearing this, Zhi Qi, who initially had a casual attitude, became somewhat interested. For her, this kind of movie is more enjoyable to watch than any romantic film.

    The road was a bit congested, and the two arrived at the cinema just three minutes before the screening started, almost running all the way to the projection hall. Perhaps the movie directed by Shen Lei is indeed quite appealing, as the pitch-dark projection hall is crowded with people.

    The two sneaked quietly to their seats, and as Zhi Qi sat down and lifted her head, a close-up of a stunningly handsome young man suddenly appeared on therge screen, almost filling the entire field of view.

    On the screen was an extremely beautiful youth.

    His hair and features were pitch-ck, orderly and sharp. The ssy-colored eyeballs were hollow and emotionless, with a paleplexion, yet his lips were vividly red. He exuded an almost devilish charm.

    Zhi Qi, upon seeing this, was momentarily stunned. Her brain seemed to have a momentary glitch, and her whole body felt as if it had been electrified.

    Her breathing became heavy, and she forcefully closed and opened her eyes. Yes, the face on the screen was something she would never forget¡ªit was unmistakably Jiang Qi!

    Zhi Qi suddenly stood up. With her unconscious movement, there was an immediatemotion behind her.

    ¡°Ah, Qiqi, why did you stand up?¡± Meng Chunyu was startled, quickly pulling her down and whispering, ¡°Sit down quickly.¡±

    Zhi Qi, like a puppet being controlled, mechanically sat back down.

    A thinyer of sweat quickly formed in her palms as she stared, unblinking, at Jiang Qi on the screen. Her voice, however, asked Meng Chunyu beside her, ¡°Who is this¡­ who is he?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s said to be a neer actor named Jiang Qi, discovered by Shen Lei.¡±

    Meng Chunyu, well aware of Zhi Qi¡¯s nerdy tendencies, exined in a low voice, ¡°The industry has always praised Director Shen for having a good eye. This guy is incredibly handsome, and this movie is his debut. People spected he had connections, but guess what? Some time ago,izens dug up that he had actually been in jail before!¡±

    ¡°Oh my, this news is too explosive. At first, I didn¡¯t believe it, but the evidence is too solid, and no one has denied it¡­ tsk tsk, this world really focuses on appearances.¡±

    Meng Chunyu¡¯s voice lingered in Zhi Qi¡¯s ears, like a tangible rope pulling her back to the obscure past.

    Suddenly, Zhi Qi felt extreme pain. This pain made her want to close her eyes, yet she hesitated, reluctant to miss any scene involving Jiang Qi.

 Chapter 2: Memory Of The Past

    Chapter 2: Memory Of The Past

    The movie is titled ¡°Looking at the Sky,¡± and Jiang Qi ys the male protagonist named ¡®Mu Xi.¡¯

    He is an unmistakable juvenile delinquent, a naturally cold-blooded and perverse seed. The film portrays Mu Xi¡¯s life in an extremely gloomy and deste manner, iming to be a lifetime but actually spanning only twenty-five years.

    On his twenty-fifth birthday, he was brought to justice by the symbol of the ¡®light of justice,¡¯ a firearm, along with the five lives he had taken.

    The protagonist Mu Xi in the story discovered that he was a ¡®monster¡¯ at the age of seven. Unlike other innocent and naive children, he was unwee from birth. His mother was a ¡®prostitute,¡¯ and his father was a hopeless gambler. Debt collectors knocked on their door every day, making the family extremely depraved.

    This led to Mu Xi¡¯s cold and frozen perverse inner self, ruthless and cruel.

    The first life Mu Xi took was that of his father. At the age of fifteen, after watching a suspenseful mystery movie where the protagonist used a rope to strangle a cannon fodder character and slowly decipher the mystery, Mu Xi felt stimted and pleased.

    So, that night, taking an attitude like conducting an experiment, he used a rough hemp rope to strangle his father to death while he was heavily intoxicated. Then, using a Swiss army knife he bought from a convenience store near the school, he stabbed him with hundreds of bloody holes.

    ¡­

    The movie does not depict Mu Xi¡¯s actions with overly bloody scenes. Most of it is left to the audience¡¯s imagination, asionally describing the protagonist¡¯s cruel methods through narration and various cinematographic techniques.But most of the time, it relies on various close-up shots of Jiang Qi¡¯s confrontational expressions to convey emotions. He seems to be Mu Xi, with an indifferent, cruel, and sinister demeanor like a madman. However, his ssy-colored eyes and the corners of his lips carry a hint of a smile.

    As if doing these things brings him extreme pleasure.

    It¡¯s not until the film shows the dim light of dawn, and the sky turns a warm yellow, that Mu Xipletes his ¡®work.¡¯

    The tousled-haired youth looked at the mess on the ground, lightly chuckled, his voice faintly hoarse enough to send shivers down one¡¯s spine. Then, his slender fingers, stained with blood, slowly smeared it on his own face.

    The pale, almost transparent skin adorned with a vivid red, his appearance handsome to the point of near-mystique.

    He seemed like a devil from hell, soul-searching, but damn fitting for blood.

    Zhi Qi, in a daze, heard Meng Chunyu beside her softly mutter, ¡°Oh my god, the first time I¡¯ve seen a man so suited for blood.¡±

    ¡°Clearlymitting murder, yet so damn handsome it makes my legs weak.¡±

    The camera on the big screen gradually zoomed out, moving from Mu Xi¡¯s beautiful face to the exterior of the house, all the way to the sky. This was the first forty-five minutes of the movie, telling the ¡®early life¡¯ of Mu Xi, followed by his endless life on the run.

    During this process, thetent deviant factor within Mu Xi waspletely triggered by that massacre, unable to be suppressed. He couldn¡¯t control the desires brewing in his heart, despite having a seemingly bright mind, all that surfaced were ugly thoughts¡ªcrime, theft, and even murder¡­

    When Mu Xi ran out of money, he stole; if caught, he killed. Before the police could catch him, he instilled fear throughout the entire city, lurking in the shadows for nine years before justice caught up with him.

    And in the moment he was executed, the man in the prison uniform still looked like a youth, his delicately slim face pale and unhealthy, yet his eyes were full of understanding. It seemed like he had long epted that he would meet such an end. Mu Xi faced it openly, even with a hint of relief in his smile.

    His life was like a vine growing in a swamp, tainted and twisted.

    So, he preferred to live like this muddy mess, making it somewhat thrilling.

    The execution ground was outdoors, and in the final scene of the movie, Mu Xi looked up at the sky, staring directly into the sun without shedding a tear. The reason the movie was titled ¡®Gazing at the Sky¡¯ was because the protagonist Mu Xi didn¡¯t cry when looking at the sun, nor did he find it dazzling.

    A natural oddity.

    As the eerie ¡®thump, thump, thump¡¯ of the ending song yed, the cinema suddenly brightened, but everyone remained seated, unmoving.

    Almost everyone was profoundly shaken, including Meng Chunyu, who initially dismissed the ¡®jailed male celebrity.¡¯

    ¡°Oh my god¡­¡± Meng Chunyu, with goosebumps all over, rubbed her skin while murmuring, ¡°Is this really a 21-year-old neer actor? His acting is too frightening! Damn, Director Shen Lei¡¯s taste is truly sharp. I need to search for this Jiang Qi!¡±

    She eximed, enthusiastically taking out her phone as if she had discovered a treasure. Turning her head, she noticed that Zhi Qi, who hadn¡¯t responded to her, was still staring at the screen, with tear-streaked marks on her face.

    ¡°Qi, Qiqi?¡± Meng Chunyu was puzzled for a moment. ¡°Are you crying?¡±

    She found it a bit strange; although the movie was thrilling to the extreme, it was still a thriller film. How could someone cry while watching it?

    Meng Chunyu tentatively asked, ¡°Qiqi, were you scared to tears?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Zhi Qi smiled through her tears, taking out a tissue from her bag to cover her eyes. The quickly flowing tears soon dampened the tissue. Her muffled voice behind the covered lips said, ¡°I just¡­ feel like I¡¯m dreaming.¡±

    She never expected to ¡®meet¡¯ Jiang Qi in this way five yearster.

    And he had presented such a visual feast.

    However, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t view this movie as innocently as others.

    For Meng Chunyu, ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± was just an exciting movie. Watched it and that¡¯s it, at most, she admired the director and the discovery of this ¡®treasure boy¡¯ Jiang Qi. But for Zhi Qi, she saw a lot about Jiang Qi¡¯s past in this movie, scenes that cut her heart like a knife.

    She couldn¡¯t imagine how Jiang Qi, after being released from prison, became an actor and filmed this movie with what mindset. Just as Meng Chunyu had said before, there¡¯s no one more suited for a blood-stained youth than Jiang Qi.

    Mysterious, handsome, like a captivating demon¡­

    But in times of peace, who would willingly embrace such ¡®honors¡¯?

    Zhi Qi remembers the first time she saw Jiang Qi; he was bleeding.

    It happened after Jiang Qi saved her. The boy carried her for several kilometers until they finally managed to find a supply station and contacted the adults. At that time, Zhi Qi was already in a semi-dazed and confused state. In her hazy state, she saw adults and, knowing that she was in a safe environment, couldn¡¯t help but faintpletely.

    But before fainting, the girl held onto Jiang Qi¡¯s hand firmly.

    Zhi Qi remembers it very clearly; at that moment, she had only one thought ¨C that she must see this boy again after waking up, so she dared not let go.

    After waking up, she did indeed see Jiang Qi, but he had blood on his lips.

    The boy had been kicked into a corner by a man, frowning and holding his stomach in pain, his face embarrassingly pale. And the man who kicked him was Zhi Qi¡¯s second uncle. He was red-faced and thick-necked, with two policemen holding onto his arms. He was angrily cursing,

    ¡°Damn! My niece was kidnapped, and she¡¯s rescued by such a little brat? Are you kidding me? He must be an aplice! Are you police investigating? Do I, as a victim¡¯s family member, need toe and ask? Do you think I want to resort to violence?!¡±

    Zhi Qi had just woken up, her mind still in a daze. She was frightened by the brutal scene unfolding before her eyes and immediately shouted, ¡°Second Uncle!¡±

    The tape on her face had already been removed, but the young girl¡¯s originally sweet and gentle voice, after a night of ¡®torment,¡¯ was hoarse and weak, like a timid little creature.

    In the corner, Jiang Qi heard it and couldn¡¯t help but lift his head to look at Zhi Qi on the bed.

    Seeing the girl¡¯s face full of innocent anxiety, as her second uncle rushed over, bombarding her with questions, she shook her head repeatedly, ¡°The little brother is not a bad person. He saved me! Second Uncle, you can¡¯t hit people!¡±

    Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t be bothered to see if Uncle would feel guilty or anything after hearing that. His sapphire-colored eyes stared straight at Zhi Qi, observing the lively and vibrant actions of the young girl, filled with a kind of ¡®resurrection¡¯ vitality.

    The young boy lowered his gaze, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Okay, okay, Uncle was wrong.¡± The man, who moments ago was so hostile that he seemed ready to destroy the entire police station, now appeared gentle like amb. He spoke softly, coaxing the little girl, ¡°Qiqi, tell Uncle if you have any pain on your body. The nurse sister checked and said there were no injuries, but Uncle is still worried.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not in pain.¡± Zhi Qi shook her head. After answering Uncle¡¯s words, she stood up from the bed. When her legs touched the ground, she felt a bit weak ¨C the symptoms of blood cirction not fully recovering after being tied with a rope all night.

    Uncle was taken aback and hastily said, ¡°Qiqi, what are you doing on your feet? Go back to bed quickly.¡±

    Zhi Qi was still angry about him randomly beating people and ignored him. Instead, she walked on her two short legs to Jiang Qi in the corner.

    ¡°Young brother, thank you for saving me.¡± The girl¡¯s clear and dark eyes blinked at the boy, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±

    The boy looked up, somewhat surprised, and nced at Zhi Qi.

    He couldn¡¯t help but ask softly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of me?¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s two braids, after a night of turmoil, were now messy like a little madman, but her eyes were bright, and she smiled beautifully.

    She tilted her head, ¡°Not afraid, why should I be afraid of you?¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s throat couldn¡¯t help but roll. The small hand hanging by his side clenched, and after a while, he said softly, ¡°Jiang¡­ Jiang Qi.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± Zhi Qi continued to smile, nodding vigorously, ¡°I will remember.¡±

    She had no idea that for Jiang Qi, she was the ¡®first¡¯ he had encountered. Because, growing up to the age of ten, there were only two kinds of people in Jiang Qi¡¯s life ¨C those who disliked him and those who feared him.

    The young boy just wanted to turn the former into thetter.

    He would rather be like a mad dog than let anyone bully him.

    Only Zhi Qi¡¯s sudden appearance was like a ray of light, bringing the first touch of ¡®color¡¯ to his dark and barren life. Jiang Qi knew he was never a good person; he was a madman who happened to save Zhi Qi. He shouldn¡¯t be admired by the little girl; he should be treated with indifference.

 Chapter 3: Unusual Person

    Chapter 3: Unusual Person

    Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi were found in the outskirts of Shimada, far from the downtown area where the police station is located.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s uncle happened to be nearby and arrived first. By the time her parents rushed over in a hurry, Zhi Qi was sitting with Jiang Qi in the corner, the two children leaning their heads against each other. Zhi Qi¡¯s mother, Mei Ran, had gone through a night of extreme anxiety. When she ran over, her hair was not properlybed. Upon seeing her daughter safe and sound, she sobbed and hugged her.

    Most women are most worried about their children getting into trouble.

    For this reason, after understanding the situation, Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin were very grateful to Jiang Qi. They even wanted to repay him with money. However, when they tried to contact Jiang Qi¡¯s family, they were stopped by the boy¡¯s indifferent and distant voice ¨C

    ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Qi shook his head, decisively refusing the kindness of Zhi Qi¡¯s parents. ¡°Thank you, uncle and aunt, but I don¡¯t need it.¡±

    Zhi Minglin and Mei Ran couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled. The boy in front of them was young, not very tall, and almost skeletal. He looked pale and malnourished, with tattered clothes¡­

    He clearly appeared to be in need of money, yet he said he didn¡¯t need it?

    This surprised the adults who were ustomed to measuring society with money. After Jiang Qi finished speaking, he went with the police to exin how he found Zhi Qi. Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin only understood the whole story when they listened to the ount.

    It turned out that the ce where Zhi Qi was kidnapped and thrown into the truck happened to be a wholesale market for vegetables.Various vegetable vendors would go there to restock in the early morning. Jiang Qi happened to apany his uncle, who was a vegetable seller, to collect vegetables early in the morning. Coincidentally, Zhi Qi¡¯s hair tie fell outside that rundown truck.

    There was a faint sobbing sound from inside.

    Jiang Qi had an extremely keen sense of danger. In that moment, he instinctively felt something was wrong. He lifted the curtain and took a nce ¨C only to see the little girl tied up like a bundle. If he told his uncle, he would surely say not to interfere with other people¡¯s business. So, Jiang Qi had to escape with Zhi Qi on his own.

    He had grown up in a world full of ¡®devils and monsters,¡¯ and his sensitivity and adaptive abilities were beyond what a flower like Zhi Qi, who had grown up in a greenhouse, couldpare with.

    Just as people living in peaceful times couldn¡¯t understand the pain of the people during the war, the ¡®ordinary¡¯ people in the police station were stunned by the series of timely actions taken by a ten-year-old boy.

    Even more astonishing was that in such a perilous situation, Jiang Qi could still remember the license te number of that truck!

    This undoubtedly provided the police with a significant lead for solving the case. In the eyes of the bewildered crowd, the boy remained calm, and his sapphire eyes showed no emotion.

    Jiang Qi only asked one question: ¡°Can I go now?¡±

    ¡­

    An inexplicable silence filled the police station.

    It was Zhi Qi who broke the silence. She ran to Jiang Qi, holding his hand. Clearly unwilling to let him go, her watery eyes shimmered with reluctance. ¡°Big brother, where do you live?¡±

    Jiang Qi frowned but didn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°Come on, tell me.¡± Zhi Qi, raised in a sheltered environment since childhood, was not good at reading people¡¯s expressions. She continued persistently, ¡°I want to y with you. How can I thank you? I really want to.¡±

    ¡°Uh, Qiqi.¡± Mei Ran, as an adult, could already see that Jiang Qi was ufortable. She embraced Zhi Qi and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t force the big brother to answer questions he doesn¡¯t want to answer.¡±

    Not willing to answer? This keyword undoubtedly made little Zhi Qi to feel a bit heart-wrenching. But at this moment, if she doesn¡¯t ask where Jiang Qi lives, how will she find him in the future? Doesn¡¯t it mean she won¡¯t see him again?

    Zhi Qi unconsciously turned red around her eyes, looking pitiful on her porcin-like doll face.

    It seemed like the next second, tears were about to fall. Zhi Minglin and Mei Ran couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit awkward, hurriedlyforting their daughter in a low voice.

    Jiang Qi furrowed his brows, and after a while, he finally spoke: ¡°Sixth Primary School.¡±

    Briefly speaking, he revealed that he attended the Sixth Primary School.

    Mei Ran was overjoyed and quickly whispered to Zhi Qi in her arms, ¡°Qiqi, look, the little brother is from the same school as you!¡±

    ¡­

    It turned out she was also from the Sixth Primary School. Jiang Qi regretted telling her a bit.

    ¡°Really?¡± Zhi Qi suddenly looked up, staring at Jiang Qi with excitement, ¡°Little brother, which ss are you in?¡±

    Though he didn¡¯t want to answer, her tearful excitement made it irresistible. After a while, Jiang Qi, sparingly with his words, said, ¡°Third ss.¡±

    At that time, the boy didn¡¯t understand. For someone usually indifferent to be ¡®irresistible¡¯ to someone was destined. Simrly, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t expect that in his subsequent life, the brief appearance of Zhi Qi, this little follower, would forcibly bring sunshine into his life, regardless of his indifference.

    At first, Jiang Qi resisted, with inner conflicts raging. But like everyone in hell unable to resist the existence of heaven, he couldn¡¯t convince himself to resist Zhi Qi. For Jiang Qi, Zhi Qi was the only color in his entire gray childhood. But for Zhi Qi, Jiang Qi was the most special ¡®friend¡¯ she had ever encountered.

    A ten-year-old girl was still in an age where she didn¡¯t understand everything, but she could instinctively judge a person. A child¡¯s preferences are much clearer than those of hypocritical adults. Like or dislike is straightforward.

    And Zhi Qi, at that time, clearly knew that she liked Jiang Qi.

    *

    The case of Zhi Qi¡¯s kidnapping quickly unfolded with the license te number provided by Jiang Qi and the surveince at various intersections of Lin Lan. The reason for the swift progress was that the man who kidnapped Zhi Qi was already a wanted criminal, specializing in trafficking and kidnapping children.

    The middle-aged man who threw Zhi Qi onto the truck in the video surveince was tall and robust. After using facial recognition systems to identify him as a human trafficker, the police mobilized a special forces team to raid the criminal gang overnight.

    In the end, they uncovered a long chain of the industry¡ªturns out, these scum specifically abducted children and sold them to remote mountainous areas.

    Even though these criminals realized the situation was bad after noticing Zhi Qi¡¯s disappearance and had begun nning their escape, the long arm of thew eventually caught up with them, and they were apprehended.

    However, no one expected that the key clue to solving this case woulde from a young boy.

    It¡¯s really a twist of fate.

    If Jiang Qi hadn¡¯t gone to the outskirts to collect vegetables with his uncle that morning and hadn¡¯t unintentionally discovered Zhi Qi, this girl¡¯s life might have been ruined. The girls sold to the deep mountains were calling for help in vain, and not many could escape their fate.

    After the truth came to light, Zhi Minglin and Mei Ran couldn¡¯t help but break into a cold sweat just thinking about it. They spent sleepless nights in fear. They couldn¡¯t help but be even more grateful to Jiang Qi, almost treating the boy as a lifesaver. They repeatedly wanted to visit or express their gratitude with money¡­

    But Jiang Qi remained unmoved, tly rejecting everything.

    The young boy stuck to his words: ¡°Thank you, uncles and aunt, but it¡¯s not necessary.¡±

    Although the boy was small, he was quite stubborn. Zhi Minglin and Mei Ran gradually had to give up. They vaguely felt that Jiang Qi was a bit strange, but they couldn¡¯t pinpoint why.

    Perhaps a ten-year-old boy with the hands bearing traces of long-termbor, injured on his body, going to help his family with chores early in the morning, and calmly saving a girl from certain danger¡ªall these things seemed somewhat peculiar from any perspective.

    Moreover, since Jiang Qi arrived at the police station, not a single call had been made to this young boy, making him seem quite lonely.

    Mei Ran spected that Jiang Qi¡¯s family conditions might be very poor. However, the strange thing was that even though it was evident that Jiang Qi¡¯s conditions were not good, the boy still refused their rewards and assistance. Unable to do anything, she could only earnestly advise Zhi Qi to take care of and help Jiang Qi more at school, thinking that perhaps only children could heal each other¡¯s hearts.

    And this advice resonated with Zhi Qi. Even if her mom didn¡¯t say it, she subconsciously wanted to find Jiang Qi, to stick around him.

    At school, Zhi Qi willingly became the boy¡¯s littlepanion, indifferent to Jiang Qi¡¯s indifference and the confusion of the surrounding ssmates. She was wholeheartedly eager to repay the kindness. Unfortunately, Jiang Qi¡¯s poprity at school was not good, and Zhi Qi soon noticed the rejection from his ssmates.

    In theory, elementary school students of this age should not understand terms like ¡®cliques¡¯ and ¡®bullying.¡¯

    But since she got to know Jiang Qi, Zhi Qi could hear ssmates calling him the ¡®son of a murderer¡¯ everywhere.

    A murderer¡­

    The naive girl couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the mention of this word, her jet-ck pupils clouded with ayer of misty confusion.

    Even Zhi Shuang, her desk mate who yed with her, couldn¡¯t help but ask in a hushed voice when she saw her going to the next ss to find Jiang Qi, ¡°Qiqi, are you really ying with that Jiang Qi?¡±

    A vivid expression of fear and disdain crossed the innocent eyes of Zhi Shuang Shuang: ¡°I heard boys in their ss say he¡¯s the son of a murderer.¡±

    Most children are not as hypocritical and worldly as adults. At this age, their emotions are mostly natural.

    Like, fear, dislike, disdain, and so on¡­

    But it was precisely these ¡®subconscious¡¯ emotions that gave Zhi Qi, who still didn¡¯t understand much, a faint prickling sensation in her soft heart. She puffed up her fair and tender face, her voice crisp and tender, ¡°Jiang Qi hasn¡¯t killed anyone. Why are you afraid of him? Why don¡¯t you y with him?¡±

    The little girl who excelled in studies couldn¡¯t help but feel that this was too unfair. But in the world of children, where is there any ¡®fairness¡¯? The more innocent and pure, the more cruel the reflected facts.

    Zhi Shuang seemed not to understand what Zhi Qi was saying. She blinked her eyes and casually said, ¡°Of course, the son of a murderer will also kill people. Everyone says so.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± In an instant, Zhi Qi, like a startled kitten, stood on end. ¡°Jiang Qi won¡¯t kill anyone. He saves people. He¡¯s a good person!¡±

    After saying that, Zhi Qi, ignoring Zhi Shuang¡¯s stunned face, picked up her backpack and ran away with her short legs. This was the first time she didn¡¯t wait for Zhi Shuang to leave the school together after school.

    The little girl felt extremely frustrated, inexplicably wanting to cry.

    It wasn¡¯t until many yearster that Zhi Qi understood her feelings at that time. It was called ¡®heartache.¡¯

    She felt sorry for Jiang Qi. Clearly, he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, was a person who saved others, yet he was burdened with a heavy shackle from his family background. And Jiang Qi had to keep striving to break free from this unbearable shackle.

    Because a person can be destroyed, but not defeated.

 Chapter 4: Shattered And Reborn

    Chapter 4: Shattered And Reborn

    When Zhi Qi and Meng Chunyu returned to the dormitory from the cinema in the afternoon, it was as if the weekend hadn¡¯t started for the yful and lively little girl. Meng Chunyu immediately applied a smoky makeup that seemed out of ce to Zhi Qi, and then, wearing a ck strap dress, she happily left.

    When Zhi Qi was alone in the dormitory, the silence was palpable. Her long eyshes fluttered for a moment. She walked to theputer desk and sat down. Her slender fingers paused on the keyboard for a while before gently tapping the words ¡®Jiang Qi.¡¯

    A plethora of search results instantly appeared on the webpage, and the devilish yet handsome face of Jiang Qi leaped into view. Even though she was mentally prepared, Zhi Qi¡¯s heart still skipped a beat. The young girl, like a thirsty fish entering the ocean, avidly searched for everything about Jiang Qi on Baidu and Weibo, saving various images¡ªshe even set one as herputer desktop.

    Certainly, inevitably, she also came across many controversialments about Jiang Qi.

    ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± was originally a low-budget suspense crime film with limited audience appeal. The only selling point in its previous promotion was the fame of the director, Shen Lei.

    However, after its release, it unexpectedly ¡®exploded¡¯ due to the fermenting word of mouth.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s mesmerizing and superb performance undoubtedly yed a crucial role, receiving the most significant feedback. Zhi Qi, who rarely went online, now checked Weibo and found that four or five trending topics prominently featured Jiang Qi¡¯s name. Like Meng Chunyu, who had just watched the movie, the audience who had seen ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± were mostly crazed about Jiang Qi. Thements were mostly:

    ¡®Where did this stunning guye from? Incredible!¡¯

    ¡®Is this really a neer? The acting is too amazing! I suggest those popr stars who can¡¯t even cry properly to learn from him¡­¡¯¡®This is pure talent. Isn¡¯t Jiang Qi a neer?¡¯

    ¡®Really, with such good-looks, why bother with such acting skills? With such acting skills, who needs such attractiveness?¡¯

    ¡­

    Initially, the reviews were overwhelmingly positive, as Jiang Qi¡¯s performance in ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± was truly stunning. However, as some gossip enthusiasts began to dig up Jiang Qi¡¯s past scandals, the tone shifted, and negativements started pouring in:

    ¡®This guy has been in jail, it¡¯s confirmed. What good person canmit a crime when underage? I guess the psychopath in the movie must be ying himself.¡¯

    ¡®In jail??? OMG, my filter is shattered!!!¡¯

    ¡®Calling on level-ten gossip experts to enlighten us on the ins and outs, the hunger for gossip is unbearable!¡¯

    ¡®Who knows? Maybe this neer is mentally ill.¡¯

    ¡®Publicity stunt? Can someone who has been in jail be an actor?¡¯

    ¡®Yeah, isn¡¯t this ruining the inte culture? Strongly rmend getting out of the entertainment industry!¡¯

    ¡­

    In the ever-changing wind of the online era, they both shape and change the trends¡ªlove as well as hate.

    Worthless.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s ck eyes quickly veiled with a thin mist, a cold and mockingughter escaping her lips. Although she felt a bit sorry for the evaluations, good or bad, that these people had for Jiang Qi, she wasn¡¯t worried about how Jiang Qi would react to thesements.

    If a young man like Jiang Qi were to be mncholic due to others¡¯ opinions, his life would be mostly filled with sorrow and grief. Zhi Qi had apanied Jiang Qi for many years since childhood and had mastered the greatest ¡®skill¡¯¡ªto focus only on what she wanted to pay attention to.

    Everything else was just passing clouds.

    Zhi Qi also searched and saved everything about Jiang Qi that she ¡®wanted to pay attention to¡¯ online.

    Unfortunately, ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± had just been released, and there were no resources avable for her to watch repeatedly online. Besides this movie, Jiang Qi had no other works. Zhi Qi could only quench her thirst by repeatedly looking at the pictures online. He hadn¡¯t participated in any public events, and he didn¡¯t have his own fan group. Most of the information was just ¡®edited images¡¯ and ¡®candid shots.¡¯

    Just as she was enthusiastically browsing, her phone, ced to the side, buzzed.

    Zhi Qi nced at it, and the screen shed with the words ¡®Zhi Yu.¡¯ She tilted her head slightly, picked it up, and softly said, ¡°Brother.¡±

    ¡°At the dormitory?¡± The voice on the other end of the phone was deep, yet strangely authoritative and unquestionable. He straightforwardly said, ¡°I¡¯ming to see you.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Zhi Qi replied first, then asked with some confusion, ¡°Why do you want to see me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m confiscating your phone andputer.¡± Zhi Yu¡¯s actions matched his tone, straightforwardly stating, ¡°Don¡¯t go online for a while.¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Brother, it¡¯s unnecessary.¡± Zhi Qi naturally knew what he was up to this time, sighed softly, and said, ¡°I know about Jiang Qi acting now.¡±

    There was a full three seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

    When Zhi Yu spoke again, there was a slightly gritted teeth sensation, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who hardly goes online?¡±

    Zhi Qi had long been ustomed to Zhi Yu¡¯s impulsive temperament and didn¡¯t take it to heart, just smiled faintly, ¡°I happened to be dragged by my roommate to watch a movie, and I saw him in this one¡ªbrother, has Jiang Qi be even more handsome after four years?¡±

    Her seemingly indifferent ¡®fangirl¡¯ appearance made Zhi Yu on the other end of the phone feel the urge to throw the phone.

    ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn about that kid.¡± Zhi Yu¡¯s tone became serious, warning, ¡°Get your head straight, don¡¯t keep getting close to him. We don¡¯t know what Jiang Qi¡­ what Jiang Qi will turn into now.¡±

    Zhi Yu was three years older than Zhi Qi and had been taking care of her since childhood. He was used to being dominant when facing her, and his words were decisive. After the kidnapping case eleven years ago, Zhi Yu personally apanied her to and from school for nearly half a year¡ªthough their schedules often didn¡¯t align, being her brother, he would actively find ways to coordinate.

    Zhi Yu was naturally aware of Jiang Qi and was equally grateful to him as Zhi Minglin and Mei Ran. He knew that his sister liked to stick around Jiang Qi, and while he couldn¡¯t help but find it both amusing and exasperating, he didn¡¯t object.

    At the age of thirteen, he wasn¡¯t raised for nothing. Even though Zhi Yu was just a teenager at the time, he considered himself able to judge people and distinguish between good and bad. He knew that although Jiang Qi was a bit cold and strange, he was a good person. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t oppose Zhi Qi frequently interacting with him. He even had many interactions with Jiang Qi himself.

    After all, if you looked at Jiang Qi as a person, leaving everything else aside, Zhi Yu also thought he was a ¡®very cool¡¯ boy.

    But all this understanding was limited to four years ago, to the Jiang Qi before he turned seventeen¡­

    It is said that the prison is the darkest ce in the world, where all the sinister and ugly souls gather, capable of breaking a person¡¯s bones and reshaping their temperamentpletely. So Zhi Yu couldn¡¯t imagine what Jiang Qi, who had spent three years there, would look like now.

    After all, through the screen, his danger, coldness, and the spreading wickedness made people shudder¡­ Zhi Yu could never feel at ease with Zhi Qi having any involvement with Jiang Qi. Yet, damn it, he understood Zhi Qi¡¯s obsession with Jiang Qi better than anyone else.

    Just like now.

    ¡°Brother, no matter what he bes,¡± Zhi Qi held the phone, determined, and said, ¡°He will remember me.¡±

    The girl¡¯s stubbornness made the veins on the back of Zhi Yu¡¯s hand holding the phone pop.

    ¡°Remembering you, what¡¯s the use?¡± He spoke with a hint of ferocity, ¡°Can that put food on the table?¡±

    ¡°Maybe it can, after all, love can fill the belly.¡± Zhi Qi smiled, softly refuting, ¡°Brother, rest assured, I won¡¯t go looking for him now.¡±

    ¡°But I know he likes me. No matter what Jiang Qi bes, he only likes me.¡±

    This extreme self-confidence in the rtionship between her and Jiang Qi had never wavered for a single moment in the four years. Zhi Qi knew that the young man wouldn¡¯te to her now, she just didn¡¯t know how to face him. But she would patiently wait for Jiang Qi. Her phone number had never changed because it was a ¡®promise¡¯ stained with their blood.

    After finishing her words, regardless of Zhi Yu¡¯s rage on the other end of the phone, she daringly hung up. Perhaps those who are favored have confidence without fear. She knew Zhi Yu wouldn¡¯t truly be angry with her.

    The girl¡¯s pitch-ck pupils returned to theputer screen, covered with pictures of Jiang Qi.

    Among them, there was a profile picture of the young man. His ink-ck hair was blown by the wind, and there was a faint, small scar on his forehead, about two centimeters long. If you didn¡¯t look carefully, you couldn¡¯t see it, and with today¡¯s makeup techniques, it could probably be seamlessly covered.

    Perhaps only Zhi Qi knows how this scar came about.

    This is Jiang Qi being cut on the forehead with sharp pieces of gravel by someone.

    That probably happened around two months after Zhi Qi got to know him.

    The little girl developed a liking for hanging around Jiang Qi. After ss, she would go to y with him. During lunch, she even had Mei Ran bring two portions for them, going to find him to eat every day. Gradually, Jiang Qi also got used to her presence, not as distant and cold as he was at the beginning, keeping people at a distance.

    If Zhi Qi gave him something, he would eat it, but he didn¡¯t ept anything else. He also gradually started ying with Zhi Qi. Faced with the girl¡¯s various requests and innocent cuteness, most of the time, he silently agreed.

    Jiang Qi wouldn¡¯t express it verbally, but it seemed that he didn¡¯t mind Zhi Qi, the ¡®destroyer¡¯ who had barged into his world of nothingness.

    Even¡­ a hint of a smile began to appear in Jiang Qi¡¯s usually indifferent amber eyes.

    After all, girls are probably the cutest creatures in the world.

    But there were plenty of students who Jiang Qi found displeasing, and now with Zhi Qi, this beautiful and cute girl, constantly hanging around and being nice to him, it only intensified the ¡®displeasure¡¯ of others.

    The world of elementary school students is not without malice, and often, it¡¯s even more pronounced.

    On an ordinary day after school, Zhi Qi ignored the eager eyes of Zhi Shuang, who wanted to walk with her, and left the ssroom on her own. Since thest time she ¡®followed suit¡¯ and said that Jiang Qi could also kill people, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want to y with her anymore.

    Children¡¯s likes and dislikes are often that simple.

    And in the eyes of those with dark hearts, ¡®evil¡¯ is often irrational.

    Zhi Qi went to ss Three but didn¡¯t see any sign of Jiang Qi. However, she noticed his backpack still in its ce. So, the little girl thought he must have gone to the restroom and leaned against the wall outside the ssroom, waiting for him. With nothing much to do, the little girl simply yed with the straps of his backpack, pulling them with both of her small hands.

    But as the students in the ssroom left, and with the teacher about to lock the door and turn off the lights, Zhi Qi had no choice but to take Jiang Qi¡¯s backpack out of the ssroom and continue waiting in confusion.

    Where could Jiang Qi have gone? He wouldn¡¯t have gone home without even taking his backpack, right?

    The brightly lit corridor plunged into a cold and silent stillness as Zhi Qi stood there. Just as she was hesitating whether to leave as well, she faintly heard sobbing sounds from a ssroom around the corner.

    Zhi Qi paused, subconsciously walking towards the source of the noise.

    It was a seldom-used abandoned music ssroom. Sote¡­ why would there be someone?

    A sudden sixth sense made the little girl feel uneasy, and her heart pounded. It wasn¡¯t until she approached the door of that ssroom and looked through the narrow ss window that she saw the scene inside, and herrge, dark pupils shrank abruptly¡ª

    Several older male students were surrounding and pressing Jiang Qi onto the podium, their actions ruthless and brutal. The boy being firmly controlled had a dark frown, more prominent on his pale face. His lips were bruised and purplish, clearly showing signs of enduring pain after being beaten.

    The boy¡¯s eyes were cold and red, like the unyielding light of untamed wilderness.

 Chapter 5: Getting To Know Each Other

    Chapter 5: Getting To Know Each Other

    Zhi Qi almost thought she liked Jiang Qi¡­

    She remembered Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze for a long time.

    For a ten-year-old girl, encountering a boy with such a bloodthirsty look should have been frightening, but she strangely wasn¡¯t afraid. Because those pure pupils could capture the struggling soul beneath a person¡¯s surface. Instead of fear, Zhi Qi was more concerned about the fact that Jiang Qi was being suppressed and bullied at this moment. He was in pain.

    So, Zhi Qi pursed her lips and did something quite bold for her.

    No one responded to the little girl knocking and calling at the door. Seeing Jiang Qi being beaten by those older students inside, her heart burned with urgency. Without further ado, she took her own stationery box from her backpack and forcefully smashed it against the ss window that was blocking the door!

    The school¡¯s substandard construction couldn¡¯t withstand the pure iron stationery box bought by the girl from a well-off family. With a loud ¡°tter,¡± everyone inside froze.

    In the dimly lit ssroom, the several boys were startled, suddenly looking up¡ª

    ¡°Jiang Qi!¡± Zhi Qi, relying on the gazeing through the window, urately saw Jiang Qi¡¯s position and swiftly kicked a piece of ss towards him. ¡°Take it!¡±

    asionally, some people need more extreme violence to be resolved.For example, now, those older male students saw the sharp ss in Jiang Qi¡¯s hand and dared not approach him with punches like before. They just stared alternately at Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi, swearing under their breath as they left before the school security patrol noticed.

    Zhi Qi, after all, was doing something ¡®dangerous¡¯ for the first time. Once they were gone, the courage she had mustered up left her, and she leaned against the wall behind her, her face pale and breath rapid.

    Jiang Qi, under a hint of moonlight, looked at her without saying a word.

    After a while, he finally heard the soft voice of the girl whimpering, ¡°You¡­ you didn¡¯t take your backpack.¡±

    Zhi Qi hadn¡¯t forgotten the reason she came to find Jiang Qi. The boy lowered his gaze, silent, and walked to her. He bent down to pick up his backpack.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± Perhaps because of the recent scare, the girl¡¯s voice was somewhat weak as she timidly asked him, ¡°Can you help me up?¡±

    She was feeling a bit weak in the legs. So, Jiang Qi discarded the broken ss in his hand, grabbed Zhi Qi¡¯s hand, and pulled her up with a firm grip.

    It was the first time they held hands. Jiang Qi wasn¡¯t consciously aware that,pared to his rough hands from years of picking vegetables, the girl¡¯s hand was incredibly soft due to her pampered upbringing. However, that contact was very brief.

    Yet, Zhi Qi softly eximed, ¡°Huh.¡±

    In the darkness, unable to see the boy¡¯s hand clearly, she curiously tilted her head and asked, ¡°Jiang Qi, do you have something on your hand?¡±

    She identally touched a scar on the back of the boy¡¯s hand but didn¡¯t know what it was.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s fingers immediately stiffened. He pursed his lips, released her, and resumed his indifferent tone, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

    Later on, Zhi Qi and her parents exined that they identally broke a piece of ss at school andpensated the school with money. After that incident, Jiang Qi, upon learning about it, came to Zhi Qi¡¯s ssroom on his own for the first time after ss.

    The little girl was surprised and happily ran over, ¡°Jiang Qi, why are you here?¡±

    In the midst of peopleing and going, Jiang Qi, feeling somewhat ufortable, straightened up and looked at her with his light-colored eyes, ¡°How much money?¡±

    A slight stiffness appeared on Zhi Qi¡¯s smiling face. She wrinkled her brows in confusion, ¡°What money?¡±

    ¡°The ssroom ss.¡± After saying that, Jiang Qi seemed a bit embarrassed and paused before continuing, ¡°I will pay you back.¡±

    Her small hand hanging by her side unconsciously tightened. Since he could remember, everything rted to money made Jiang Qi feel ashamed. However, he didn¡¯t want to owe Zhi Qi. Perhaps it was the understanding of the responsibilities thate early in life for children from poor families. Even at a young age, Jiang Qi understood the meaning of ¡®self-respect.¡¯

    ¡°Oh, that.¡± Zhi Qi blinked her long eyshes, feeling a bit disappointed for some reason. However, she quickly ignored this fleeting emotion and smiled again, ¡°Why do you want to repay me? It was my fault in the first ce.¡±

    Although she was young, Zhi Qi understood the principle of taking responsibility.

    ¡°No.¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s voice was rigid. ¡°It¡¯s because of me.¡±

    ¡°How could that be?¡± Zhi Qi had already leaned against the railing, drinking milk. Her voice was somewhat muffled, ¡°I broke it, and besides, it¡¯s not much money. My mom and the teacher said it¡¯s fine as long as I wasn¡¯t hurt. It was only fifty yuan¡­¡±

    Fifty yuan.

    Shepletely didn¡¯t care about this matter, but Jiang Qi silently noted the number. He softly uttered an acknowledgment.

    It wasn¡¯t until muchter, muchter, that Zhi Qi truly understood just how stubborn Jiang Qi could be.

    In the year they graduated from elementary school, he insisted on giving her fifty yuan. For the little boy who needed to help his uncle sell vegetables to earn money for school books, fifty yuan was umted painstakingly over two years, yet he remained determined to repay her.

    *

    Breaking free from the memories, Zhi Qi realized she had unknowingly saved a folder full of pictures of Jiang Qi. They were all sourced from the inte, high-quality images, pixted images ¨C she saved almost everything.

    Unfortunately, there weren¡¯t many pictures of Jiang Qi, and even less information about him. She sighed with some regret. When Meng Chunyu opened the dormitory door, she saw Zhi Qi eagerly staring at theputer screen.

    ¡°Oh my god¡­¡± Seeing that the screen was filled with pictures of Jiang Qi, Meng Chunyu¡¯s mouth widened in surprise. She walked over quickly and asked, ¡°Zhi Qi, you¡¯re not falling for this Jiang Qi, are you?¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her fair face turned pink at a visible speed. She tightened her grip on the mouse and nervously asked, ¡°H-how did you know?¡±

    Her voice stuttered nervously.

    ¡°Hahaha, how could I not know?¡± Meng Chunyu couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter at Zhi Qi¡¯s anxious appearance. ¡°Why are you nervous? You¡¯re the typical starstruck girl!¡±

    ¡­

    So, she thought she was a starstruck girl.

    Zhi Qi almost thought her liking for Jiang Qi had been discovered again. After all, in high school, everyone knew she had a crush on Jiang Qi.

    Hopelessly in love.

    But now¡­

    Zhi Qi breathed a sigh of relief imperceptibly and smiled gently, ¡°Maybe.¡±

    Carrying the title of ¡®star-chasing girl¡¯ is not a mistake. Jiang Qi herself shines even brighter than the stars.

    But Meng Chunyu couldn¡¯t understand her infatuation and shook her head with a sigh, ¡°Baby, you, this 2G girl, finally connected to the inte. Is it your first time liking a male celebrity? This little brother is quite handsome, but having been in jail, he must have received a lot of criticism. Being a girlfriend fan is not satisfying, why not change to someone else to like?¡±

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t understand Meng Chunyu¡¯s ¡®fannguage¡¯ and looked at her nkly.

    Seeing this, Meng Chunyu couldn¡¯t help butugh, pointing her slender finger at Zhi Qi¡¯s head, ¡°Oh, what I mean is that this Jiang Qi doesn¡¯t have much future, probably just a new face that happened to stand out.¡±

    This time Zhi Qi understood, pursing her lips in displeasure.

    ¡°Who said that,¡± she spoke in a mild tone, rarely refuting her roommate, clenching her fist seriously, ¡°He has a promising future!¡±

    ¡­

    Meng Chunyu stared at her in amazement, ¡°Have you entered the state of a star-chasing girl so quickly?¡±

    This appearance really resembled her when she stayed up all night online arguing with haters about her favorite idol.

    Zhi Qi felt awkward, put down her hand, and said incoherently, ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t talk about him.¡±

    She didn¡¯t like hearing criticism of Jiang Qi from others.

    ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t say anything if you like him.¡± Meng Chunyu squinted and smiled, understandingly patting Zhi Qi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s unexpected that our Qiqi is also into star-chasing. Do you want me, this old fan aunt, to teach you how to get started?¡±

    Do you need someone to teach you how to be a fan?

    Zhi Qi was stunned for a moment, but after a while, she realized that she did have some questions to ask Meng Chunyu.

    ¡°Chunyu, um¡­¡± She thought for a moment, carefully asking, ¡°If I want to meet Jiang Qi, is there any way?¡±

    She just wanted to sneak a nce at Jiang Qi.

    ¡°So soon you¡¯re thinking about meeting the brother?¡± Meng Chunyu was eating old yogurt, almost choking at the words. She looked at Zhi Qi, who seemed earnest, with a puzzled expression, twirling the spoon yfully¡ª

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not impossible. Generally, if I want to meet my idol, I follow the fan support group, follow professional big fans, join groups to know the idol¡¯s schedule, and if there¡¯s a public event, I can try to get tickets to be there.¡±

    The more Zhi Qi listened, the more furrowed her eyebrows became. She wondered why chasing a star was more challenging than writing a research report.

    She boldly asked, ¡°What are fan support groups and professional big fans?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Uh.¡± Meng Chunyu was silent for a while, somewhat awkwardly saying, ¡°Well, your brother Jiang Qi is still a neer, so maybe he doesn¡¯t have those.¡±

    Usually, artists need to gather a considerable fan base to have these formal ¡®fan clubs.¡¯

    Zhi Qi felt a bit disappointed, lowering her eyes, ¡°What should I do then?¡±

    ¡°Well, don¡¯t be disappointed. If you just want to take a look, there are other ways.¡± Meng Chunyu, who couldn¡¯t stand to see ¡®her fairy friend¡¯ sad, used all her experience in star chasing, ¡°For example, with the sess of the movie Jiang Qi is currently in, the better the box office, the more likely there will be a fan meeting. Try to get tickets then. If that doesn¡¯t work, check his Weibo for any updates¡ªby the way, do you have Weibo?¡±

    ¡­

    Following Meng Chunyu¡¯s guidance, Zhi Qi downloaded Weibo, registered, gave herself the nickname ¡®Zhi Qi¡¯ following the instructions, and the first person she followed was the certified ¡®Jiang Qi.¡¯

    Looking at Jiang Qi¡¯s Weibo with a tree avatar, Zhi Qi suddenly felt nervous. Like a little mole, she tugged at Meng Chunyu¡¯s sleeve and asked, ¡°Chunyu, if I send him a message, will he reply to me?¡±

    At this point, her heart couldn¡¯t help but beat rapidly, a mix of emotions that wanted to message him yet hesitated, lingering in her chest.

    ¡°¡­What are you thinking?¡± Meng Chunyu couldn¡¯t help butugh again, this time more exaggerated and breathless. She leaned against the bed, covering her mouth, ¡°Haha, little fairy, are you teasing me? Can you not do this?¡±

    Zhi Qi felt embarrassed by herughter, and her ears turned warm.

    ¡°Do you know how many fans send private messages to my brother¡¯s Weibo every day? Where would they find the time to read them?¡±

    Afterughing enough, Meng Chunyu exined to her in a leisurely manner, ¡°All celebrities don¡¯t read private messages on Weibo. When they register on Weibo, it¡¯s basically just giving fans a confession box.¡±

    Zhi Qi listened attentively, then smiled and pursed her lips.

    ¡°Chunyu, thank you.¡±

    Perhaps for others, not getting a response to their messages could be upsetting and disappointing. However, for Zhi Qi, she happened to need a confession box named ¡®Jiang Qi.¡¯

    Originally afraid of disturbing him but still eager to say something to him, now that Jiang Qi doesn¡¯t read private messages on Weibo, it fits her perfectly. After finishing her evening routine and lying on the bed, Zhi Qi, just like in her childhood, wrapped herself in the nket and treated the Weibo chat as her ¡®confessional diary¡¯ without any reservations¡ª

    [I miss you a lot. It rained again today, like in the Lin Lan days.]

    [You used to buy red bean milk tea for me on every rainy day.]

    [DAY.1.]

 Chapter 6: Confession Box

    Chapter 6: Confession Box

    ¡°Phew, finally finished shooting this scene¡ªBrother Qi, what do you want to drink? I¡¯ll go buy it!¡±

    A slender figure jumped out of the swimming pool, Jiang Qi¡¯s handsome face soaked pale by the cold water, his clothes dripping wet. Not far away, his assistant, Qiu Mi, quickly handed him arge towel.

    While helping Jiang Qi dry his hair, Qiu Mi asked, very perceptive, and handed him a cup of warm water.

    The young man took a sip, lowered his eyes without answering. Qiu Mi, seemingly ustomed to his silence, continued, ¡°Bro, it was tough shooting the underwater scene today. We¡¯ll have to go down several timester. How about buying some ginger tea? It¡¯s good for dispelling cold.¡±

    He let Qiu Mi chatter on.

    After a while, Jiang Qi spoke in a low voice, ¡°Milk tea, red bean vor.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay, I¡¯ll go get it now.¡± Qiu Mi responded, but in his mind, the phrase ¡®red bean milk tea¡¯ seemed familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere recently.

    However, even after buying the milk tea and handing it to Jiang Qi, he couldn¡¯t recall where he had recently encountered this term. Without using a straw, the young man tore open the cup lid and drank the tea in big gulps, his distinct Adam¡¯s apple moving up and down. Soon, the cup was empty.

    At this moment, the photographer in charge of taking pictures sent an assistant to urge him.Jiang Qi frowned, removed the wet towel draped over him, and got up to dive back into the pool. Strands of his jet-ck hair clung to his pale face. As he gracefully approached the pool¡¯s edge about to submerge, he looked like a ¡®merman¡¯ in the clear water.

    Just a male merman, and in ck.

    Dangerous and rebellious in appearance.

    Several hourster.

    ¡°OK!¡± With the photographer¡¯s gestures and excited cheers, the hours-long shoot in the pool finally concluded.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s lips were devoid of color from the cold, but his amber eyes remained clear.

    ¡°Not bad at all.¡± Photographer Ji Ting walked over, giving sincere praise, ¡°This will definitely be the most stunning cover of the year when the final shots are done.¡±

    Ji Ting was the big shot at Calle Magazine. This time, he personally took on the task of shooting for the recently famous ¡®Purple Micro Star.¡¯ After a whole afternoon of shooting, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the inherent sticity and camera sense of individuals. The cold and proud young man before him hadn¡¯t shot many magazine covers, but his natural performance in front of the camera surpassed even those senior colleagues who had been in the industry for over a decade and were still stuck in posing.

    It had been a long time since he had enjoyed such a satisfying and exhrating photoshoot. Looking at Jiang Qi¡¯s sharp and delicate facial features, Ji Ting deeply realized the meaning of the phrase ¡®God-given talent.¡¯

    This is what they call talent.

    Perhaps God is unfair, no wonder the young man¡¯s first attempt at a challenging and abnormal movie role brought him both fame and fortune, making a big ssh at the box office. At the same time, he was recognized by the industry as the existence of the ¡®Purple Micro Star,¡¯ maintaining a calm andposed demeanor.

    What Ji Ting was truly interested in was the young boy¡¯s apparent indifference to all of this.

    Facing his praise, Jiang Qi just nodded slightly and softly asked, ¡°Can I smoke now?¡±

    They didn¡¯t let him smoke for the past few hours.

    ¡­

    Seeing the young man¡¯s serious amber eyes with dark ring, Ji Ting couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    ¡°Go ahead.¡± He patted the boy¡¯s slender square shoulders, ¡°Change into some dry clothes first.¡±

    In the dressing room, Jiang Qi changed into a set of dry clothes, feeling quite impatient with Qiu Mi¡¯s constant admonishments from behind, like ¡®make sure not to be photographed,¡¯ ¡®bro, there¡¯s another shoot tomorrow, stay in the zone in front of the camera, note-night snacks,¡¯ and so on.

    Ever since he was recruited by Shen Lei to act in some movie, he felt like his whole being was restrained.

    It was as if someone was watching his every move.

    Frowning, Jiang Qi deliberately avoided Qiu Mi, who was wearing a mask, and slipped out. In reality, he was still a young man in his twenties. Although his temperament was cold, he asionally couldn¡¯t help but break free. What annoyed him the most was being constantly watched.

    Jiang Qi frowned, intentionally avoiding Qiu Mi, and sneaked out wearing a mask.

    The studio was located in the suburbs, surrounded by open fields. Aftering out, he could only see a row of nanny cars. Jiang Qi knew that Qiu Mi would soon call him to remind him to go back. So, he decided to go to the nearby supermarket.

    Out of cigarettes.

    Entering the store, Jiang Qi saw the boss sitting cross-legged at the entrance ying a game. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°Luxurious Gate.¡±

    The boss didn¡¯t lift his head or open his eyes, ¡°Sixteen or twenty.¡±

    Jiang Qi: ¡°Sixteen.¡±

    Perhaps due to the habits formed in his childhood environment, Jiang Qi never had the habit of spending money extravagantly. When buying things for himself, he usually chose items in the middle to lower price range, even though he actually¡­ had some money now.

    As the boss reached out to hand him the cigarettes, there was a ding-dong sound at the entrance, and another man, fully ¡®armed¡¯ with a mask and a hat, walked in. Perhaps because the supermarket was located next to the studio, the boss was used to people who could bepared to the ¡®mafia¡¯ing in and out of his store every day.

    The man walked to the shelf next to the counter, skillfully took a box of condoms, and ced it on the table. The voice behind the mask was straightforward, ¡°Ring it up.¡±

    This is thetest retro-style condom. It has a dark green striped packaging with a pattern on the box depicting a woman¡¯s foot beneath a rose-colored skirt, adorned with ck nail polish. Thebination of red, ck, and green creates a strong and intriguing color contrast.

    The boss, who was just focused on ying games, noticed the condom box and jokingly said to the man, ¡°Checking out the packaging? This one¡¯s been trendingtely.¡±

    The man, harboring a hidden foot fetish, was indeed intrigued by the packaging.

    Jiang Qi took the cigarette handed to him by the boss, diverted his attention from the box, and left. Though his eyes remained calm, at a certain moment, Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze was captivated by that foot.

    He, too, had a foot fetish, but unlike others, he only felt something for Zhi Qi¡¯s feet. The delicate jade-like feet on the packaging somewhat resembled Zhi Qi¡¯s. Well, this is getting crazy.

    Jiang Qi chuckled, tore open the cigarette box, took one out, and bit it between his lips. The calm look in his eyes was disrupted when he thought of the name Zhi Qi; waves of emotions surged within.

    If someone approached him at this moment, they would undoubtedly sense danger from the young man. His aura wasn¡¯t chilly and murderous; instead, it exuded a sense of possessiveness forcibly restrained by its owner. As a cigarette burned out, Jiang Qi returned to his usual aloof and solitary demeanor. After extinguishing the cigarette butt and tossing it into the trash, he emerged from the shadows.

    He headed towards what seemed like a bright future but was shrouded in darkness.

    *

    [Jiang Qi, my little dolphin is sick, and it¡¯s really annoying.]

    [It¡¯s super cute.]

    [DAY.30]

    Zhi Qi, while sending direct messages like a Weibo tree hole to Jiang Qi, anxiously watches the small dolphin ¡®Lang Lang¡¯ in the pool.

    Lang Lang is still sleek, but its condition, maintained by the staff in the pool, is evidently not as lively as when Zhi Qist saw it. It identally entered the shallow water area and almost dehydrated, making its blood viscous. Fortunately, it was noticed in time.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Jiang Ying, wearing white overalls, walks over from behind, patting Zhi Qi¡¯s shoulder reassuringly, ¡°Lang Lang was discovered and rescued in time. It will be fine soon.¡±

    ¡°Jie.¡± Zhi Qi turns around, seeing the woman with a hat forcing a smile, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Today, she received a call from Jiang Ying during ss and rushed to the ¡®Marine Animal Rescue Station¡¯ center upon learning the news.

    Both she and Jiang Ying became volunteers for the Wildlife Conservation Association a year ago, specializing in the research of marine life. They naturally became close, and when they saw the nearly lifeless Lang Lang a few months ago, they went through the proper procedures to ¡®adopt¡¯ this young dolphin.

    Adopting rare animals is essentially a way of providing financial assistance, with the added supervision to ensure that the dolphin is not sold or mistreated during its growth. Over a year has passed, and the once lifeless Lang Lang is now lively and energetic. Zhi Qi can¡¯t help but feel like a parent, and seeing the child get sick naturally makes her feel uneasy.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Jiang Ying smiles, lowering her head to look at her arm. She takes off her hat, revealing a lush and fluffy mane of hair.

    The woman is a few years older than Zhi Qi, currently working at this rescue center, mature and charming. She is delighted to see Zhi Qi, with dimples appearing at the corners of her lips, ¡°Shall we have a meal together?¡±

    Zhi Qi has no reason to refuse.

    The two of them go to the staff cafeteria, and it¡¯s not Zhi Qi¡¯s first time eating here. She takes the familiar route, holding a tray to queue at the counter.

    The food is good today, and there happens to be sweet and sour meatballs that she likes. However, during the meal, her phone on the table keeps vibrating incessantly. Zhi Qi can¡¯t resist unlocking it to check, making her eat somewhat absentmindedly.

    ¡°Qiqi.¡± Jiang Ying senses that something is off and looks at her with some confusion, ¡°Why are you so into your phone now?¡±

    One distinctive trait she remembers about Zhi Qi is that, in this digital age, the girl isn¡¯t reliant on electronic devices. It¡¯s a stark contrast to other young people who can¡¯t be separated from their phones for eating or sleeping ¨C how did she change so much in just a few weeks?

    ¡°Jie.¡± Zhi Qi awkwardly smiles but with sparkling eyes, ¡°I¡¯m chasing stars now.¡±

    ¡­

    Jiang Ying began to doubt if she had misheard.

    However, Zhi Qi had no time to consider her petrified expression. She finally understood, through the lively discussions in the added fan group, that they were currently discussing the [Gazing at the Sky drama group¡¯s fan meeting].

    Based on her recent ¡®research,¡¯ she learned that because Jiang Qi¡¯s movie had be a genuine dark horse, breaking 1.5 billion in the first month of release, it was a milestone sess for a niche suspense thriller. Therefore, it seemed like the drama group was nning to hold a fan meeting.

    As the absolute male lead of the movie ¡°Gazing at the Sky,¡± Jiang Qi would definitely attend the fan meeting.

    If she could somehow get tickets¡­ wouldn¡¯t that mean she could see Jiang Qi up close?

    Thinking about this possibility, Zhi Qi became so excited that she couldn¡¯t sleep. Although she had clearly seen him hundreds or thousands of times before, thinking about not seeing him for four years, she truly felt a kind of ¡®star-chasing¡¯ excitement facing Jiang Qi.

    But now, Jiang Qi was not in the state of having no fans like a month ago; he was now ¡®hot,¡¯ and naturally, fan meeting tickets would be even harder to buy. Even a small group of three hundred people had more than half nning to snatch the tickets at midnight, not to mention the countless other simr groups.

    And there were only a thousand tickets for the fan meeting, and she had no experience in ticket snatching. Every time she thought about this, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but sigh with worry.

    ¡°Qiqi, tell me about it.¡± Jiang Ying, watching the girl¡¯s alternating happy and sighing expressions, found it amusing. It reminded her of her own star-chasing journey a few years ago when she chased stars day and night. She couldn¡¯t help but teasingly ask, ¡°Which young man has captured your heart? Sister might be able to help you.¡±

    Zhi Qi used to be a girl who turned a deaf ear to outside matters, so Jiang Ying was quite curious about which male celebrity could attract her. Upon hearing Jiang Ying¡¯s words, Zhi Qi remembered that Jiang Ying had mentioned having a brother involved in the entertainment industry before. She wasn¡¯t interested in the specific details of his work at that time, but now¡­

    Zhi Qi¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up, and she excitedly held Jiang Ying¡¯s hand, asking, ¡°Jie, can you help me get tickets to the fan meeting?¡±

    Jiang Ying was a bit stunned by Zhi Qi¡¯s sudden burst of enthusiasm but couldn¡¯t help butugh. They had known each other for over a year, and when had this gentle and calm girl ever been so eager?

    Jiang Ying: ¡°There might be a way, but you have to tell me whose fan meeting you want to attend.¡±

    ¡°Him, him, him!¡± Zhi Qi pushed her phone in front of Jiang Ying, blushing like a maiden in love, ¡°Jiang Qi.¡±

    Jiang Qi?

    Jiang Ying paused, suspecting that she might have misheard. Because she remembered her brother Jiang Chi, who worked as a manager in the entertainment industry, had beenining vehemently a few days ago about wanting to ¡®take down¡¯ someone named Jiang Qi.

    Later, curious about what was going on, Jiang Ying asked him. He exined that this Jiang Qi was a rising star in the entertainment industry, extremely talented, and had already gained poprity even before signing with anypany. This was like a huge pie falling from the sky for entertainmentpanies, and many of them werepeting to sign him.

    Jiang Ying¡¯s brother¡¯spany was one of thepetitors, and he was specifically assigned to ¡®take down¡¯ Jiang Qi. However, her brother incessantlyined that Jiang Qi had great acting skills but a terrible personality, stubborn like a dog, making him angry for quite a while.

    However, it seemed her brother¡¯s disgruntled words were not suitable to be told to a girl who was now eagerly chasing stars.

    Facing Zhi Qi¡¯s expectant gaze, Jiang Ying smiled and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go back and ask my brother.¡±

 Chapter 7: If You Comfort Me, The Pain Will Go Away

    Chapter 7: If You Comfort Me, The Pain Will Go Away

    Zhi Qi, having no information about her midnight race for tickets with tens of thousands of people, simply waited for Jiang Ying¡¯s message after returning to school.

    After waiting for a few days without receiving any official announcement about the fan meeting from the ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± drama group, a trending topic about Jiang Qi suddenly appeared on Weibo.

    The headline was shocking for innocent bystanders:

    #The Real Reason Behind Jiang Qi¡¯s Imprisonment? [Explosive]#

    Zhi Qi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily furrowed her eyebrows, trembling as she clicked into the trending topic. No artist would buy such a trending topic. Jiang Qi¡¯s situation was genuinely discovered byizens, and the number of vilements inside was overwhelming.

    At the top of the discussion was ¡®Orange Entertainment,¡¯ which considered itself an expos¨¦ revealing the truth. The news article was filled with malice:

    [Orange Entertainment V: Jiang Qi, who debuted with the role of ¡®Purple Microstar¡¯ in Director Shen Lei¡¯s movie, is he a real Purple Microstar or a deceitful ck lotus? ording to an informant, Jiang Qi had been imprisoned before entering the entertainment industry, and after thorough investigation, it seems to be rted to ¡®peach-colored news¡¯¡­]

    A lengthy paragraph followed, practically insinuating that Jiang Qi had been imprisoned for ¡®molesting girls,¡¯ ¡®sexual assault attempts,¡¯ and other reasons.

    Jiang Qi, with excellent personal conditions, unexpectedly emerged in the entertainment industry, blocking the path for countless others. Orange Entertainment was willing to be the first bird to attract firepower. Once this news was released, it would naturally be reposted by various marketing ounts, and almost every Weibo post became a battlefield without gunpowder.Apart from Jiang Qi¡¯s fans, almost no one was willing to verify the truth for concrete evidence. The bystanders joined forces to curse fiercely¡ªperhaps, they hoped the news itself was true, eagerly venting their criticism from the moral high ground as keyboard warriors, feeling an unmatched glory.

    After all, the entertainment industry had been too dull for too long.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s appearance and the surrounding news around him were like a provocative card.

    Watching the online rumors and discussions, Zhi Qi¡¯s face turned pale. She couldn¡¯t help but toss her phone fiercely. The usually gentle and delicate features seemed to have a thinyer of ice, and she muttered coldly, ¡°Nonsense.¡±

    It was all f*cking nonsense. The young girl couldn¡¯t help but curse in her mind, her slender fingers tightly clenched. Meng Chunyu happened toe back with a bowl of sesame noodles. She pushed open the dormitory door and saw Zhi Qi¡¯s icy demeanor.

    ¡ªShe almost thought she had walked into the wrong room.

    In the three years as roommates, Meng Chunyu had never seen Zhi Qi, this little fairy, look so ¡°cold and murderous.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, walked over, and cautiously poked Zhi Qi¡¯s shoulder, asking softly, ¡°Qiqi, what¡¯s, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±

    Zhi Qi pursed her lips and remained silent, staring at her phone. Following her gaze, Meng Chunyu looked over and, somewhat skeptical, picked up the phone. The result¡­

    ¡°Oh damn, so f*cking sensational!¡± Zhi Qi¡¯s phone was still unlocked, and the lit screen disyed Jiang Qi¡¯s ¡®exclusive revtions.¡¯ Meng Chunyu¡¯s eyes widened, and her voice stumbled, ¡°This, this, is it¡­ true? My goodness, can he really be whitewashed after this?¡±

    Zhi Qi, like a cat with its tail stepped on, stood up without hesitation and said, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s fake! He didn¡¯t do anything wrong, why should he be whitewashed?!¡±

    ¡­

    Meng Chunyu was stunned for a moment, then raised her eyebrows skeptically and looked at Zhi Qi, ¡°How do you know? And why are you so sure?¡±

    Although fan filters were a real thing, Zhi Qi¡¯s recent appearance made it seem as if she really knew the truth. In fact, shouldn¡¯t everyone still be guessing about this gossip? Why was Zhi Qi so confident?

    Meng Chunyu¡¯s keenness made Zhi Qi pause for a moment. Biting her lip, she defended herself, ¡°I¡­ I just feel that he¡¯s not that kind of person.¡±

    .

    The exnation seemed a bit weak. If it¡¯s just a ¡®feeling,¡¯ the tone shouldn¡¯t be like it was just now.

    ¡°Qiqi, I always feel it¡¯s strange how obsessed you are with Jiang Qi.¡± Meng Chunyu herself was a very intelligent girl, adept at following leads and drawing conclusions. She thought for a moment, tilting her head as she probed, ¡°What exactly attracts you to him?¡±

    Zhi Qi lowered her head in silence. After a while, she took a deep breath and looked at Meng Chunyu.

    ¡°I know him.¡±

    ¡°So¡­ I understand what kind of person he is.¡±

    Actually, telling Meng Chunyu wasn¡¯t a big deal because she didn¡¯t want her own acquaintances, good friends, to have bias against Jiang Qi. She knew clearly why Jiang Qi ended up in that situation, and Zhi Qi knew one thing for sure¡ªthere should never be any scandal involving Jiang Qi.

    Because she believed that, apart from herself, the young man wouldn¡¯t like anyone.

    *

    In the sixth grade, Zhi Qi realized that her ¡®protective instinct¡¯ towards Jiang Qi had be quite serious. At that time, they had spent almost two years together in the same school. As graduation approached, the little girl was naturally reluctant to part ways.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± During lunch break, as usual, Zhi Qi ran over to bring lunch to the boy. The two ¡®elementary school students¡¯ huddled in a corner of the school yground, each holding a lunch box. While Jiang Qi was eating, Zhi Qi found it hard to eat.

    Under the scorching sun, she found herself standing behind the boy, shaded from the sun. Unconsciously, her gaze was fixed on the back of Jiang Qi¡¯s head, and she murmured, ¡°Which middle school will you go to?¡±

    For some reason, Jiang Qi was taller than boys of the same age. Zhi Qi remembered that two years ago, she was significantly shorter than him. Now, two yearster, at the age of thirteen, Jiang Qi had grown a head taller than her¡ªstrange, weren¡¯t girls supposed to grow taller first?

    She mumbled somewhat disappointedly when she heard the boy¡¯s calm voice, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Zhi Qi muttered in disappointment. Her double ponytails, tied tightly, seemed to droop along with her mood.

    She looked like a pitiful and tender little rabbit. Jiang Qi wasn¡¯t very good at discerning when Zhi Qi was yfully acting pitiful and when she was genuinely unhappy. He just felt at a loss when he saw the disappointed look on the girl¡¯s face.

    The boy¡¯s slender fingers unconsciously tugged at his clothes. After pursing his lips for a while, he exined with difficulty, ¡°I really don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°My household registration might be moved to my uncle¡¯s ce, and I don¡¯t know which school district I¡¯ll be in.¡±

    He was genuinely uncertain about his future, not trying to evade or pacify Zhi Qi.

    ¡°Oh,¡± but Zhi Qi didn¡¯t feel happy hearing that¡ªhow could she be happy when she couldn¡¯t find out where Jiang Qi would go?

    The little girl could only sigh in a mature manner and tell him about her destination, ¡°I might go to Eighth Middle School. How about you?¡±

    ¡­

    Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t make promises about such things.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± The girl, with her small and sharp chin resting on the lunchbox, blinked her eyes like ck grapes, revealing undisguised anticipation, ¡°Isn¡¯t it good for us to be in the same school?¡±

    For the first time in his life, someone looked at him with ¡®expectation¡¯ in their eyes. He couldn¡¯t bear to refuse Zhi Qi¡¯s request. Although not very expressive, in the two years of elementary school together, he rarely said no to the girl. For example, when Zhi Qi asked him to help with her homework, to eat together, or even to braid the girl¡¯s hair that had identallye undone¡­

    Jiang Qi had unconsciously be quite adept at these things.

    Perhaps Zhi Qi had grown ustomed to having him in her life and didn¡¯t want to experience the separation that graduation would bring. Simrly, Jiang Qi was reluctant to part with her.

    Under Zhi Qi¡¯s eager gaze, the boy nodded slowly, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll ask.¡±

    He still couldn¡¯t directlymit because deciding where he wanted to go was never entirely up to him.

    ¡°That¡¯s great! You must ask, okay?¡± Zhi Qi smiled, her big eyes forming crescents, and the obsidian-like pupils glittering, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be apart from you.¡±

    What if someone bullied Jiang Qi again?

    For the past two years, Zhi Qi had gotten used to following Jiang Qi like a little tail. Even senior boys who once thought about throwing punches at the boy would cleverly avoid her. Until they also reached the sixth grade and became ¡®senior¡¯ students. The girl¡¯s open attachment made Jiang Qi unconsciously feel a flutter in his heart. His sapphire-colored pupils stared at Zhi Qi¡¯s doll-like face. Jiang Qi heard his own voice gently asking¡ª

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to be apart from me?¡±

    The abrupt question startled the girl, who had never considered this. Zhi Qi pouted her rosy lips, thought for a moment, and then shook her head, ¡°No reason, I just don¡¯t want to.¡±

    The true answer in her heart was that she still wanted to be with him, not wanting the boy to be bullied and scarred. Zhi Qi still remembered a day in fifth grade when Jiang Qi didn¡¯te to school without notice. He arrived at school only at noon. The boy¡¯s pale face showed distinct bruises, clearly indicating that he had been beaten. There was a long cut on his arm, still oozing blood.

    The girl, not ustomed to such a ¡®bloody¡¯ scene, burst into tears.

    Even though Jiang Qi was naturally not good with words, he had to endure the pain andfort her. Pretending to be gruff, he said, ¡°Why are you crying?¡±

    ¡°What, what happened to you?¡± Zhi Qi¡¯s fair face was now red-eyed. She cried breathlessly, as if she were the one who had been beaten and was bleeding, ¡°Did someone hit you again?¡±

    The word ¡®again¡¯ caused the boy¡¯s slender body to stiffen. Jiang Qi felt somewhat embarrassed and awkwardly responded with a reluctant ¡°Hmm.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t fight anymore, okay?¡± Zhi Qi took out a few adhesive bandages, as if afraid he might be in pain, and clumsily applied them to Jiang Qi¡¯s wounds. Ayer of mist seemed to have gathered on her long eyshes as she timidly looked at him.

    ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± She really looked like a little rabbit.

    Almost involuntarily, Jiang Qi said something he would never say ording to his usual character, ¡°If youfort me, it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±

    Zhi Qi clearly seemed surprised.

    ¡°How should Ifort you?¡± The girl had never actively forted¡¯ anyone before, except for the coquetry to please her parents. She thought earnestly for a moment and then smiled at Jiang Qi, ¡°Don¡¯t fight anymore, I¡¯ll protect you, okay?¡±

    In fact, Zhi Qi vaguely knew that there were many things wrong with Jiang Qi, but she still hoped she could protect him. And from the beginning to the end, she consistently carried out this clumsy protection.

    At this moment, when the boy asked the question, ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to be apart from me?¡± Zhi Qi asked her still tender heart and quickly found an answer.

    Because of her extreme protective instinct towards Jiang Qi.

    *

    [We promised to be together from the age of thirteen.]

    [Although the boy lied along the way, he wouldn¡¯t like anyone else, right?]

    [Jiang Qi, so I don¡¯t believe any rumors about you.]

    [DAY.35.]

 Chapter 8: Lone Wolf Walking Alone

    Chapter 8: Lone Wolf Walking Alone

    **If I lie to you, will you forgive me?

    **Yes, because I know you like me.

    Jiang Qi was called out by Shen Lei with a phone call and was half-forced to the film set to watch an audition. The young man just crawled out of bed, got ready with a simple wash, and went out. When he huddled in the back seat of the car, there was a sleepy look all over him.

    His jet-ck, slightly long hair fell onto his forehead, and the way it drooped over his eyelids made him look like a prince charming who could evoke sympathy.

    Shen Lei turned around and took a nce, feeling that Jiang Qi¡¯s hair seemed to have grown a lot¡ªfourteen months ago when he picked him up at the prison gate, the young man had a short crew cut, and now it had grown this long.

    However, this nonchnt appearance¡­

    Shen Lei tentatively asked, ¡°Haven¡¯t checked your phone?¡±

    Now, everywhere on the forums, people were discussing the two characters ¡®Jiang Qi,¡¯ creating a buzz that never seemed to end. Unless the characters ¡®Jiang¡¯ and ¡®Qi¡¯ were expelled from the Chinese dictionary, there was no way topletely erase the negative discussions.

    Moreover, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t have a signed contract with anypany, no backing. Who would help him hire an online army to counter the negativity? It was already good enough that he didn¡¯t take advantage of the situation to throw more stones. The heavy suppression of the negative trends felt like a shackle, making Shen Lei ufortable just looking at it. So, he decided to take the opportunity to call Jiang Qi out and help him rx a bit.But looking at Jiang Qi¡¯s appearance¡­ it seemed like he wasn¡¯t affected at all? He could even sleep free from all the turmoil going around.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s cold voice, muffled by the mask, answered him in a dull tone, ¡°Didn¡¯t check.¡±

    He never liked looking at that stuff.

    Shen Lei wasn¡¯t surprised by his answer and slightly breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Continue sleeping. It will take a while to get to Hengdian.¡±

    A year ago, he already knew that this kid had a peculiar and strange personality, inherently rebellious. Things that normal people would be curious about and look forward to didn¡¯t spark his curiosity; it was as if he was born without a desire for worldly pursuits.

    The overwhelming online negativity might affect others, but it definitely didn¡¯t affect Jiang Qi.

    Shen Lei was a talented young director. Because of his youth, he was different from Jiang Qi. He was full of curiosity, enjoying studying things and people. Jiang Qi precisely possessed a quality that modern peoplecked ¨C the so-called ¡®mysterious aura.¡¯ Shen Lei had known him for almost two years, and there was one thing about Jiang Qi that intrigued him.

    That was whether Jiang Qi truly cared about someone.

    Jiang Qi seemed like a lone wolf walking alone.

    As for the rumors online, Shen Lei didn¡¯t need to inquire about them.

    Since he saw Jiang Qi in prison two years ago, he knew the reason the kid ended up there. So when he saw the crowd specting like headless flies based on the so-called ¡®exclusive revtions¡¯ online, he found it amusing.

    The truth was often more dramatic, cruel, and frightening than rumors. Because Shen Lei remembered that the prison staff had told him it was a case of excessive self-defense resulting in a manughter charge.

    *

    Half an hourter, Jiang Qi, who was dozing off with closed eyes, was shaken awake by Shen Lei. He struggled to sit up, took a moment to rub his face, and then jumped out of the car. The intense sunlight outside made it impossible to hide. Jiang Qi, feeling a bit ufortable, squinted his eyes. His light-colored ss-like pupils were even lighter than the sunlight.

    Outside Hengdian, two men were about to take a smoke break. When they saw the approaching duo, their steps paused. They looked at Jiang Qi with interest and walked over to strike up a conversation.

    ¡°Hey, old Shen.¡± The tall man on the left with a square face, a bit elongated, seemed familiar with Shen Lei. He patted him warmly on the shoulder and asked, ¡°Is this the treasure you recently dug up? Tsk, the whole industry is talking about it. You¡¯ve kept it well hidden.¡±

    The way he talked, as if discussing a modity,¡¯ made Jiang Qi slightly furrow his brows.

    ¡°Heh, Feng Yan, don¡¯t tter me. The male lead in my agency hasn¡¯t signed with mypany, so what¡¯s my responsibility?¡± Shen Lei chuckled and deftly sidestepped the issue, ¡°I heard that Director Wang is holding auditions for a new film today. I just brought this kid to see the excitement.¡±

    As he spoke, he patted Jiang Qi¡¯s shoulder.

    The clear stance of maintaining and expressing a desire to leave made the horse-faced Feng Yan¡¯s face stiffen. After a moment, he smiled naturally, ¡°Well, Director Wang is inside¡ªOld Shen, we¡¯ll go ahead.¡±

    With that, he pulled the man next to him away. Just before leaving, he nced meaningfully at Jiang Qi.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Feng Yan is just like that.¡± Shen Lei, having been in the industry for a long time, knew the ins and outs of the business. Watching Feng Yan walk away, he sneered, ¡°In the past two years, he brought in a few popr stars for Yan Media, got praised as a ¡®top agent¡¯ for a while, and now he thinks he¡¯s invincible. Thinks he can handle anyone, probably considering making a move on you.¡±

    Jiang Qi listened expressionlessly, showing no reaction. Shen Lei wasn¡¯t sure if he was really listening or not, but from a friend¡¯s perspective, he still patiently spoke to him:

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you have any ns to sign with apany, but if you¡¯re thinking about it, it¡¯s better not to sign with Feng Yan. Feng Yan has some ability, and his marketing tactics are top-notch, but suppressing the artists under him is also well-known. Many small stars are persuaded to sign and end up unable to terminate the contract. They can¡¯t afford the penalty, and there¡¯s nowhere to cry when that happens.¡±

    Jiang Qi, who had been in the industry for three months, was often annoyed by these intricate and scheming situations.

    His long eyebrows furrowed, and his stubborn temperament surfaced: ¡°Are you even going to watch the audition?¡±

    Without looking, he walked away.

    Shen Lei cursed inwardly, hastily saying, ¡°Yes, why else would Ie?¡±

    While they conversed, they walked into Hengdian Studios. Shen Lei handed his work ID to the staff at the entrance who were conducting thorough checks. Then, leading Jiang Qi through a side entrance, they went up to the second-floor audition room.

    The ¡®Director Wang¡¯ mentioned by Feng Yan was a well-known veteran in the entertainment industry. Wang Zhaoqiu, a director who ranked in the top three domestically, had slowed down his production after turning fifty. Nowadays, he would only make a film every few years.

    Every time there were rumors of a new project, even before the script was finalized, a swarm of people would be busyworking and trying to get involved. From award-winning actors and actresses to young idols who debuted in their teens, everyone wanted a piece of the action¡ªeven if it meant ying a supporting role.

    A few years ago, Shen Lei had an unexpected coboration with Director Wang Zhaoqiu, establishing some acquaintance. Bringing Jiang Qi this time was intended to broaden the young man¡¯s horizons. Shen Lei knew that Jiang Qi had exceptional talent. To truly make it in this industry, one had to directly interact with the top figures to achieve the desired ¡®broadening of horizons.¡¯

    The female lead for Wang Zhaoqiu¡¯s film had long been decided¡ªshe was the daughter of the CEO of Shengxuan Media, the princess with numerous resources at her disposal, Yue Yuan. Even Director Wang Zhaoqiu had to give her face.

    However, Yue Yuan was not just a product of her connections; she had qualities of her own. Whether in terms of looks or talent, she had no shorings, and her acting skills weremendable.

    But the main attraction was still the lure of ¡®bringing capital into the production.¡¯

    Although Wang Zhaoqiu had his pride, Shengxuan Media controlled the number of screenings after a film¡¯s release. Sometimes, even the lofty artists had topromise for the sake of bread. Fortunately, the most crucial role in the script, the male lead, had not been finalized yet.

    Yue Yuan could easily be used as a tool¡ªfor example, in this audition. Wang Zhaoqiu had her spend the entire day performing scenes with male actors, and she had to reluctantly agree in a ¡®dedicated¡¯ manner. While Shen Lei was gossiping incessantly in his ear, Jiang Qi had already lowered his gaze, peering through the ss window into the audition room.

    They stood in the observation room at a higher vantage point, listening to the conversations inside through headphones.

    Jiang Qi heard Wang Zhaoqiu instructing the scriptwriter behind the scenes, ¡°Call those boys in and let them try the scene from C7.¡±

    Having some experience with reading scripts and acting, Jiang Qi understood that ¡®C7¡¯ referred to the seventh scene in the script. This was a segment where the autistic female lead, after being approached by the male lead with ulterior motives for quite some time, finally opened up.

    The female lead timidly asked, ¡°Will you be with me?¡±

    While the male lead averted his gaze, he lied with forcedposure, ¡°Yes.¡±

    Aplete deception.

    As Jiang Qi watched the first male actor go in for the audition, the conversation through the headphones at this point made his light-colored pupils contract. His slender fingers involuntarily gripped the railing, the knuckles turning white.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Shen Lei noticed his unusual reaction, took off his headphones, and raised an eyebrow in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes stared intensely at the dressing room, shaking his head slowly, hesitantly. Actually, it¡¯s not much, but¡­ this audition made him involuntarily recall his own past. Once, he was such a despicable deceiver of the girl who wholeheartedly trusted him.

    The dialogue between the male and female protagonists in the audition room still echoed in his ears, word by word, as if ovepping with their past¡ª

    The boy¡¯s voice tentatively asked: ¡°If one day¡­ I lied to you, would you forgive me?¡±

    The girl¡¯s voice was resolute: ¡°Yes, because I know you like me.¡±

    When you truly like someone, the bottom line tends to be infinitely lowered for them. Some foolish girls even consider asional deception from their crush as ¡®kind lies,¡¯ just like Zhi Qi did for him. Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but recall many years ago, that summer after their elementary school graduation. He promised to go to the Eighth Middle School with Zhi Qi, vowing not to part as ssmates, but he lied.

    Sometimes, Jiang Qi wishes his memory wasn¡¯t so good, but every time he closes his eyes, the events of that year are vividly remembered. The summer at thirteen was the hottest in his memory, like a steamer, making people sweat profusely in the cramped space without air conditioning or fans, covered by thin T-shirts.

    The untreated wounds seemed to ooze and decay, causing a tingling pain when the salty sweat passed over, making the person involuntarily frown. Jiang Qiy on a steel wire bed less than a meter long, feeling like a piece of already rotting raw meat, ready to disappear at any moment in this confined space.

    Just then, the lively voice of the girl woke him up entirely¡ª

    ¡°Jiang Qi? Jiang Qi? Are you home?¡±

    This¡­ this is clearly Zhi Qi¡¯s voice.

    Jiang Qi was stunned for a moment, then somehow found the strength to jump up from the steel wire bed. His face was pale, and he looked almost skeletal, not resembling a human, but he still forcefully stood up and rushed out.

    Jiang Qi remembered that in the cramped and foul-smelling living room at that time, he and Zhi Qi came face to face, and the girl clearly hesitated for a moment.

    ¡°Jiang, Jiang Qi, you haven¡¯t been to school for a week? Why have you be so thin?¡± The girl with braided hair looked lively and healthy, her whole person radiant, but her gaze towards him was timid. ¡°Are you okay? I heard from Teacher Li that you didn¡¯t even attend the graduation ceremony, and I¡­¡±

    ¡°Leave.¡± Jiang Qi interrupted the girl¡¯s words, his voice weak but with a hint of coldness.

    Zhi Qi stared at him nkly, seemingly not understanding what Jiang Qi was saying.

    The boy, on the other hand, became agitated, whether it was the wounds on his body or being stuck in this stuffy space with Zhi Qi, it made him restless to the point of difort. But what was most unsettling was the imminent danger that could arrive at any moment.

    ¡°Leave,¡± Jiang Qi repeated,boriously raising his hand to point towards the door. He coldly issued an eviction order to the girl, ¡°Leave now.¡±

    This attitude prompted the ss teacher, who taught the same ss as Jiang Qi, to inquire about his address. Avoiding the family driver, the teacher endured the scorching sun, taking over an hour on the bus to reach the ¡®Chen Kong Alley.¡¯ Zhi Qi momentarily forgot the heat. The girl only felt wronged, looking at Jiang Qi¡¯s unfamiliar cold expression, tears quickly welled up in Zhi Qi¡¯s deep ck eyes.

    The narrow alley was hot and stuffy, and whether it was people or the densely packed houses, it felt like everything was being melted by the intense sunlight.

    Outside the window, the irritating voice of the broken gong seller came: ¡°Fagao¡ªFagao¡ª¡±

    It was an old man from the alley who went around selling pastries every noon. He would habitually shout a couple of times when he returned¡­ the old man was back?

    Jiang Qi, realizing this, unconsciously clenched his hand hanging at his side into a fist. His lustrous eyes were almost translucently misty, but when looking at people without expression, they turned extremely cold.

    Now, like a restless bloodthirsty creature, like the dirty and untamed stray dog at the alley entrance¡­ he had that kind of gaze.

    Zhi Qi, being stared at by him, involuntarily took two steps back under such scrutiny.

    ¡°Jiang, Jiang Qi.¡± Having been together for two years, the girl had never seen the boy look so frightening. Her voice choked up involuntarily, and she tightly held onto her school bag. ¡°What¡¯s happening to you?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything. Hurry and leave,¡± Jiang Qi gritted his teeth, moving forward to grab Zhi Qi¡¯s delicate and easily breakable wrist, pulling her out of this dirty and dpidated environment. ¡°Don¡¯te here again.¡±

    After saying this, as if afraid the girl wouldn¡¯t understand, he emphasized again, stern and indifferent, ¡°Zhi Qi, remember, nevere here again.¡±

    Zhi Qi was stunned, her fair face turning red and white alternately.

    Tears kept rolling in her eyes, and for the first time, she red at him fiercely. ¡°Jiang Qi, you¡¯re really annoying!¡±

    The young girl had always been gentle and cute, but this time, she felt deeply wronged. After saying this, Zhi Qi turned and ran away. In a moment of carelessness, she stepped into a filthy puddle in the narrow alley.

    Lin Lan always had rain, and the ground in the shabby alley of the shantytown was uneven and hadn¡¯t been cleaned, naturally forming stagnant water. After being exposed to the scorching sun, it had a foul smell. ck droplets sshed onto the girl¡¯s fair calves, and Zhi Qi subconsciously eximed, ¡°Ah!¡± but that was it.

    Then the stubborn girl bit her lip, ignoring that her entire white shoes had turned ck from the mud. She ran away without saying a word.

    Jiang Qi, under the zing sun, ¡°watched¡± her leave. After a while, he btedly covered the wound on his arm. His eyes had a thinyer of mist, and in an instant, he woke up from a deep dream.

    ¡ªHe and Zhi Qi were actually not suitable to be friends at all. Even standing together was basically a disgrace to the girl.

    She was in the clouds, and he was the dirtiest mud, a sick dog deeply trapped in the swamp, and no one could save him.

    Zhi Qi, Jiang Qi stared at her figure, his lips silently opening and closing: farewell.

    He was about to lie and break his promise about that promise to never part.

 Chapter 9: Quit The Entertainment Industry

    Chapter 9: Quit The Entertainment Industry

    Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes were fixed on the audition room below the ss window, but his thoughts were in the summer eight years ago. His pupils were dazed, almost in an ¡°immersive¡± obsession, without even realizing it.

    But Shen Lei, who was waiting beside him and couldn¡¯t get his response, noticed it.

    The man raised his eyebrows slightly, his skeptical gaze lingering on Jiang Qi¡¯s ever-changing face for a moment. Slowly, he followed the direction of the young man¡¯s eyes to the audition room, then paused, and his eyes brightened.

    Jiang Qi seemed to find this movie somewhat interesting.

    Shen Lei, realizing this, was as excited as Columbus discovering a new continent. Seizing the moment when Jiang Qi was staring at the ss window in a daze, he didn¡¯t hesitate to grab his wrist and pull him down.

    The production team naturally knew Shen Lei. Seeing him bringing a tall, thin man wearing a mask, the staff did not stop them. Coincidentally, catching a break between the auditions of the first two male actors, Shen Lei left the bewildered Jiang Qi waiting on the side and went to chat with Wang Zhaoqiu behind the camera. Except for the area where the male and female leads were located, the audition room was dimly lit, almost entirely dark.

    Jiang Qi stood somewhat stiffly in ce, watching Shen Lei¡¯s series of ¡®entric¡¯ actions¡ªhe walked over and said something to Wang Zhaoqiu. Surprisingly, the elderly director with graying hair actually looked over in his direction.

    The sharp gaze behind the sses seemed to pierce straight into one¡¯s heart.

    The atmosphere in the room was quiet, and Jiang Qi heard a ¡®hm¡¯ from Wang Zhaoqiu, followed by, ¡°Let hime and give it a try.¡±¡°Hey,¡± Shen Lei couldn¡¯t hold back augh at his words. ¡°Then you¡¯ve hit the jackpot.¡±

    Wang Zhaoqiu frowned and lowered his eyes, reprimanding him, ¡°Sturdy, I trust you this once.¡±

    Although he said so, Wang Zhaoqiu had some reservations in his heart about Jiang Qi, highly praised by Shen Lei. An undeveloped jade, no matter how beautiful, had its limitations. It couldn¡¯t be to the extent that trying out once in front of the mirror was a ¡®jackpot.¡¯

    Jiang Qi had recently gained great fame in the industry, and Wang Zhaoqiu had heard some rumors, but he hadn¡¯t found time to watch ¡°Gazing at the Sky.¡± He couldn¡¯t judge this rumored ¡®Purple Micro Star.¡¯

    However, let Jiang Qi try the audition once. In the eyes of Wang Zhaoqiu, this old fox, there is nothing to lose by having him around.

    Firstly, it¡¯s giving Shen Lei some face, and secondly¡­ he also wants to see how much this so-called Purple Micro Star really weighs. Shen Lei stands in front of Jiang Qi, his voice lowered but unable to conceal his excitement: ¡°Just watched the audition of two male actors, did you write down the lines?¡±

    Jiang Qi frowns at him: ¡°Do you want me to audition?¡±

    ¡°Yes, go quickly.¡± Shen Lei¡¯s eyes sparkle with eagerness. ¡°Wang Zhaoqiu¡¯s audition is not easy toe by.¡±

    Jiang Qi wants to say that he won¡¯t go, but it¡¯s hard to express. His personality has always been solitary and cold, but he also knows that Shen Lei has always taken care of him. If it were someone else, he might have refused, but Shen Lei deliberately worked to get this opportunity for him. Jiang Qi feels a bit awkward just turning away.

    Although he doesn¡¯t quite understand why Shen Lei wants him to audition.

    ¡°I think¡­¡± Shen Lei¡¯s next words help him understand. He says softly, ¡°You seem to really like this script?¡±

    Jiang Qi smiles self-deprecatingly. Shen Lei doesn¡¯t understand. Where does he like this script? He just saw himself, who used to be despicable and deceitful, in that scene a moment ago. It¡¯s actually a wound in his heart that he doesn¡¯t want to open, but because there is Zhi Qi in his memory, it is alsoforting.

    Jiang Qi doesn¡¯t want Shen Lei to lose face, so after some thought, he walks to the lighting board in the audition room.

    His sudden move leaves everyone except Shen Lei and Wang Zhaoqiu stunned. The third actor waiting outside, rehearsing lines, is taken aback when he sees Jiang Qi¡¯s sudden appearance. Subconsciously, he looks at the nearby staff.

    ¡°Wait a moment, let me ask¡­¡± The staff is also confused, subconsciously trying to direct the staff in the venue to make Jiang Qi, who ¡®trespassed,¡¯ leave. However, a voicees through the earpiece.

    The staff holds the earpiece, listens for a while, and then understands.

    He looked up and smiled at the male actor, somewhat embarrassedly saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, you may have to wait for the next one. This is the person specified by Director Wang for the audition.¡±

    Wang Zhaoqiu personally specified the person for the audition?

    The male actor was a bit stunned, busy turning his head to look at the screen, his eyes fixed on the tall and slender figure inside, who didn¡¯t blink. Until everyone saw the young man take off his mask, revealing a beautiful and cold face with sharp features, sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and amber pupils¡­

    The male actor couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Jiang Qi?¡±

    ¡°Um, the recently popr Purple Micro Star?¡± The staff¡¯s eyes were also captivated by the young man, staring at him and murmuring, ¡°How did hee?¡±

    How did Jiang Qie? Perhaps, except for Shen Lei and Wang Zhaoqiu, no one knows how he suddenly appeared for the audition.

    But what does it matter? It doesn¡¯t hinder anyone as all eyes are drawn to his face.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s face has always been captivating, otherwise, Shen Lei wouldn¡¯t have firmly remembered him with just a glimpse two years ago in prison. And Yue Yuan, standing in the center of the lighting board, saw Jiang Qi suddenly appear. After a moment of stunned, she couldn¡¯t help but be attracted to him involuntarily.

    As the young man approached her step by step, Yue Yuan, who had always been disregarded, unconsciously felt a bit nervous. Her fingers hanging at her side curled up, and her nails unconsciously sank into the tender palm. Her clear eyes stared at him nkly.

    Yue Yuan saw Jiang Qi stop at a close distance, and the deep voice entered her ears. It was the same line she had just heard twice from the male lead:

    ¡°I¡¯ll apany you, okay?¡±

    Under Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze,plex and obscure yet gentle, Yue Yuan¡¯s heart unconsciously beat rapidly.

    It seemed like at this moment, she had truly entered the role, bing the female lead in the script. She asked timidly, ¡°Will you always be with me?¡±

    Jiang Qi smiled. The young man¡¯s light-colored eyes looked softly at the girl in front of him, but it seemed as if he was gazing at another soul through her delicate features.

    He gently reassured, ¡°Yes.¡±

    It¡¯s like coaxing a little girl.

    The entire audition room fell silent because the atmosphere between the two people acting was so harmonious, beautiful, dreamlike, and almost surreal.

    Even Shen Lei didn¡¯t expect Jiang Qi to perform so well.

    All along, he knew that this young man had talent in acting. Jiang Qi didn¡¯t undergo any systematic training in film and television school, and he didn¡¯t even graduate from high school. Shen Lei was worried that he might not even understand the characters in the script.

    But at the same time, Shen Lei also knew that Jiang Qi was a natural, an experiential actor who immersed himself deeply in the role. Once he got into the character, it would give people an irresistible feeling.

    Only such an actor could be called the ¡®Purple Micro Star.¡¯

    However, the character Shen Lei had assigned to Jiang Qi in the script was perverse, mentally ill, manic and anxious, with a bloodthirsty personality. In Jiang Qi¡¯s debut film, he portrayed a sociopathic character, a solo performance without any supporting roles.

    So, Shen Lei didn¡¯t expect Jiang Qi to be so convincing when acting opposite a woman, portraying this soft and deceitful side. Maybe this was really a godsend. Shen Lei could feel his blood vessels excitedly pulsating, a feeling of exhration.

    ¡°Cut!¡±

    When everyone was deeply immersed in the plot, Wang Zhaoqiu called a halt.

    In an instant, Jiang Qi seemed to step out of the role as if he had never been in it. His eyes suddenly turned cold, and he stood up straight, walking back to Shen Lei without saying a word. A chilly air lingered around him, and Yue Yuan inexplicably felt a bit lost, her eyes following Jiang Qi¡¯s slender figure.

    ¡°Uh, not bad.¡± When Wang Zhaoqiu saw Jiang Qiing back, he unexpectedly stood up personally, a face that was usually solemn now showing a smile.

    Then, amidst the various emotional gazes around him, he said something astonishing, ¡°Can you y the male lead?¡±

    ?!

    Even Shen Lei, who always had a triumphant smile on his lips, was shocked by this statement. The role that half of the entertainment industry was watching, and several film emperors in the audition room¡ªall ended up on this neer with a ¡®famous talent and rumored scandals¡¯?

    In the entertainment circle, how many didn¡¯t know about the ambiguous rumors surrounding the recently rising star Jiang Qi?

    The apanying producer¡¯s nerves suddenly tightened, and he quickly approached, wanting to interrupt, ¡°Uh, Director Wang¡­¡±

    However, Wang Zhaoqiu did not allow him to speak, raising his hand to signal him to be silent. The veteran director kept his eyes fixed on Jiang Qi. Jiang Qi was also momentarily stunned, then shook his head.

    He unexpectedly refused without hesitation, ¡°I can¡¯t y.¡±

    Everyone was dumbfounded once again, feeling that something ¡®fantastical¡¯ had happened this afternoon. That Wang Zhaoqiu would choose a neer with scandals to y the male lead in his movie was already unbelievable. But even more astonishing was that Wang Director had been rejected!

    Ten minutester, Shen Lei dragged Jiang Qi to the top-floor coffee shop in Hengdian, where Wang Zhaoqiu also joined them. Because this ce was usually a resting spot for Hengdian¡¯s stars, theyout featured separate smallpartments, offering a high level of privacy for conversations.

    After Jiang Qi said, ¡°I can¡¯t y,¡± Wang Zhaoqiu had a lingering feeling of being yed. His face was heavy, staring at the coffee cup without saying a word.

    Shen Lei, who had actively yed matchmaker for the two, felt embarrassed and annoyed. He kept signaling Jiang Qi with his eyes, ¡°Jiang Qi, how could you¡­ Do you know how difficult it is to act in Director Wang¡¯s movie?¡±

    Originally, Shen Lei wanted to say, ¡®Do you know what you just rejected?¡¯ But after some thought, he realized that this rebellious guy, Jiang Qi, might really not know. After all, despite being in the entertainment industry, he was practically ignorant of it.

    ¡ªConsider him a stubborn ¡®oddity.¡¯ He thought it would be better to be straightforward.

    After Jiang Qi listened to his impatient and frustrated words, he didn¡¯t react much. The sharp gaze of the young man had been indifferent since the end of the performance, appearing somewhat weary. He spoke politely, devoid of any enthusiasm, ¡°I understand, but I can¡¯t act.¡±

    Wang Zhaoqiu couldn¡¯t help but be stunned. Shen Lei, witnessing Jiang Qi stubbornly pushing away this priceless opportunity, couldn¡¯t hold back and pounded the table, ¡°Why not?¡±

    Jiang Qi honestly said, ¡°I can¡¯t act well.¡±

    ¡°Who says that?¡± Shen Lei didn¡¯t believe his nonsense. ¡°You performed well in the audition just now, or else Director Wang wouldn¡¯t have chosen you.¡±

    Wang Zhaoqiu, who had been silent since the beginning, finally spoke at the right moment, briefly agreeing, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    However, his praise was limited, obviously not wanting Jiang Qi to be too arrogant. Regardless of Shen Lei and Wang Zhaoqiu¡¯s arguments, Jiang Qi remained indifferent.

    He knew himself well¡ªwhen he agreed to take on Shen Lei¡¯s y initially, besides the high remuneration, another reason was that he felt he could y the character in that script. A delinquent, a murderer, someone with mental issues, a mad dog-like youth¡­ wasn¡¯t that him?

    It was so familiar, as if driving a well-known car, not really acting at all. However, Jiang Qi knew that he couldn¡¯t y the role in Wang Zhaoqiu¡¯s movie.

    Jiang Qi smiled perfunctorily, honest and straightforward, ¡°I¡¯m only suitable for ying entric psychopaths. I can¡¯t act in scenes involving romance with girls.¡±

    Shen Lei naturally felt that his excuse was too perfunctory, furrowing his brows, ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Brother Shen, I really can¡¯t act.¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes were hollow, muttering to himself, ¡°I don¡¯t like her either.¡±

    He didn¡¯t know that girl Yue Yuan, didn¡¯t like her, so how could he portray an attitude of ambiguous tenderness towards her?

    The recent audition was just a momentary recollection of Zhi Qi.

    Moreover¡­

    Jiang Qi lifted his gaze, the light-colored pupils staring directly at the two ¡®seniors¡¯ across from him. The youth¡¯s lips gently parted, and the words he spoke sounded absurd and bizarre, but notughable, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I want to quit the entertainment industry.¡±

    This apology was directed towards Shen Lei, who had always had great expectations for him and wanted to promote him. He never really had any ¡®patron¡¯ in his life, and Shen Lei could somewhat be considered one.

    But Jiang Qi hated the entertainment industry.

    He detested the countless pairs of eyes in this environment, going out fully armed with masks and hats. It seemed like at any moment, countless cameras would target him, and any misstep could cause a huge storm. What¡¯s even more ridiculous is that there are always people confidently questioning whether he can influence others¡¯ ¡®values.¡¯

    If an adult¡¯s values are so easily influenced by the outside world, then they shouldn¡¯t have the inte, phones¡­

    In this grand environment, it seems almost no different from a ¡®prison.¡¯

    Jiang Qi abhorred this atmosphere, so he simply didn¡¯t want to stay. He chose to quit actively.

    ¡°Are you¡­ are you crazy?¡± Shen Lei and Wang Zhaoqiu, having seen all kinds of entricities in the entertainment industry, were experiencing someone like Jiang Qi for the first time, truly rare in the world.

    Shen Lei¡¯s voice even had a hint of disbelief, ¡°You¡¯re quitting the entertainment industry? What can you do?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Jiang Qi pondered seriously for a moment and answered earnestly, ¡°Maybe open a supermarket.¡±

    The remuneration he received before should be enough.

 Chapter 10: Thinking About Past & Present

    Chapter 10: Thinking About Past & Present<hr>

    Thank you for your ko-fi support! ?? It¡¯s greatly appreciated. If you enjoy the trantions and novels, your continued support means a lot! ??<hr>

    Jiang Qi knew that when he said this, the two people across from him would inevitably be puzzled. Just by the way they stared at him as if he were crazy, he could tell.

    But he wasn¡¯t lying; he did have the idea of opening a small supermarket in a budget-friendly location. This was something he had agreed upon with Zhi Qi before.

    It was probably around the second year of high school.

    Back then, there was a very popr convenience store near Sanzhong, like an early version of a Family Mart chain. Usually, high school students, after sses at noon or during evening self-study, would be willing to go there to buy some fast food.

    They used to go there for their ¡®dates.¡¯

    On rainy days, Lin Lan had many, and there was a period of continuous misty rain. After ss, the two of them would often go to that convenience store and sit by the window to eat instant noodles. On rainy days, students didn¡¯t like toe out, and most of them stayed in the ssrooms. Only the two of them would unexpectedlye out, braving the rain.

    ¡ªBut there were advantages too, like fewer people around.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s fluffy hair was soaked at the tips, and beneath the thin bangs, her moist ck eyes sparkled. She lifted her head, smiling at him.After many years, Jiang Qi still remembered how he felt at that time. It was¡­ really wanting to kiss her. But Jiang Qi understood the concepts of ¡®overstepping¡¯ and ¡®restraint.¡¯ In front of Zhi Qi, he always acted like a proper person.

    So, in the end, he didn¡¯t kiss her.

    In a very quiet and gentle atmosphere, the young girl looked at the rainbow after the rain outside the window, looking at him with some hope, ¡°Jiang Qi, it would be great if we could open a supermarket together in the future.¡±

    Jiang Qi listened and nodded earnestly.

    Thinking about it now, their initial idea was indeed naive and ridiculous, but it was not as unrealistic as ¡®I want to be a high-ranked official and make a fortune.¡¯

    In the current bizarre and extravagant world of fame and fortune, Jiang Qi ironically missed that simple and pure wish. If he could open a supermarket with Zhi Qi, that would be great. If the two of them were together¡­ anything would be good.

    The young man¡¯s long eyshes drooped, and a hint of loneliness shed through his eyes, but it was very brief, too fleeting to be captured by anyone. He seemed to be enveloped in a faint vacuumyer all around him, rejecting people¡¯s prying and approach.

    Shen Lei and Wang Zhaoqiu exchanged a nce, both momentarily speechless.

    It was really¡­ it was because of Jiang Qi¡¯s decision that they didn¡¯t know how to persuade him.

    Shen Lei, as an artist nning to leave the entertainment industry, had encountered such cases before, but the reasons were mostly rted to immigration, bing a wealthy heir, or pursuing better career prospects outside acting, such as investments and entrepreneurship. This was the first time he had heard of a rising star wanting to leave the entertainment industry to go home and open a supermarket.

    This, this, this, how could they persuade him?

    In fact, it was even more challenging to convince someone with such a simple and well-thought-out wish. If Jiang Qi¡¯s desire was a bit unrealistic, Shen Lei could use the allure of fame and fortune in the entertainment industry, known for low investment and high returns, to keep him. However, Jiang Qi¡¯s aspirations were straightforward, making it even more difficult.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s reason for opening a supermarket sounded very ¡®casual.¡¯

    His statement could only resonate with those with desires, not those who followed their whims. Watching such a highly talented artist like Jiang Qi wanting to quit, it was trulymentable.

    After a while, Shen Lei could only y dumb, forced a difficult smile, and said, ¡°Jiang Qi, are you joking with me?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Jiang Qi simply shook his head sincerely, then thought for a moment before adding, ¡°Regarding the fan meeting you mentioned, I can attend.¡±

    Previously, Shen Lei had been talking about organizing a fan meeting for the cast of the drama ¡°Gazing at the Sky.¡± However, Jiang Qi had been avoiding it, not wanting to face the barrage of questions andments. But now, it didn¡¯t matter.

    A sudden realization struck Shen Lei¡¯s heart, and he almost immediately understood Jiang Qi¡¯s intention. He wanted to use the fan meeting as an opportunity to announce his departure from the entertainment industry¡ªsaving the need for a formal press conference, especially since he hadn¡¯t even signed with apany.

    On the way back, Shen Lei kept persuading Jiang Qi in various ways in the car, advising him to think carefully about the future development. He mentioned endless possibilities and the wastefulness of not acting with such a face, and so on.

    Chattering incessantly, he went on and on.

    During the process, Jiang Qi took the cigarette handed to him, opened the window, smoked, and then covered his head with a hat, pretending to nap, disying an attitude ofplete indifference. Shen Lei felt a sense of frustration, but there was nothing he could do.

    Who made Jiang Qi not sign with thepany?

    Without the constraints of a contract, he was like a free-flying bird, doing whatever he wanted, and no one could control him. However, anyone with eyes could see that this bird belonged to the big screen. If it really flew away, it would be a great pity.

    So, when Shen Lei sent Jiang Qi back to his ce, before the young man got off the car, Shen Lei sighed, expressing his thoughts with a heavy heart: ¡°Although it may sound a bit clich¨¦, the money you earn in the entertainment industry is something you can¡¯t earn in several lifetimes running a supermarket.¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s hand, about to open the car door, paused, and his narrow phoenix eyes squinted.

    ¡°At the beginning, it was because of the fifty thousand yuan sry I offered that you agreed to y the male lead in my drama. It shows that you are not someone who is only influenced by money.¡± Seeing that he seemed touched, Shen Lei smiled.

    ¡°You have no education, a criminal record, and no special skills. It¡¯s hard to find a job. Open a supermarket? Hah, the most unstable profession in the world is actually doing business, even if it seems stable. Just fifty thousand, do you think you can open a big supermarket? Jiang Qi, one should not be too naive.¡±

    ¡°Do you think this money is a lot now?¡±

    ¡°Jiang Qi, I can guarantee that with your talent, as long as you continue to develop in this circle for a long time, fifty thousand? Hah, it¡¯s just pocket money.¡±

    Now, Shen Lei felt that the only thing that might slightly persuade Jiang Qi was money.

    After all, in this circle, he was like a drifting duckweed, where did he have any connections? So Shen Lei focused only on the aspect of money, and in the end, he patted Jiang Qi¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Think about it seriously.¡±

    Jiang Qi remained silent, pushing open the car door and leaving without uttering a word. The slender figure of the young man, even the spine, exuded stubbornness and coldness.

    Shen Lei¡¯s eyes were filled with concern, and in reality, he didn¡¯t have the confidence that he could persuade Jiang Qi with just these words.

    Because of this young man¡¯s stubbornness, he understood it in his heart.

    He remembered visiting an old friend in prison two years ago, coincidentally encountering Jiang Qi for the first time. The young man was wearing a prison uniform, being roughly detained by two policemen, his short hair was cold and hard, his eyes were like a solitary wolf, and the sharp and delicate corners of his lips were tinged with red blood that extended down to his chin.

    At that moment, Shen Lei was somewhat stunned, not frightened but rather captivated.

    In a certain sense, he was not a normal person either.

    Later, Shen Lei inquired with the police he knew in prison and was met with a scoff. The tone seemed unsurprised as they told him that this young man¡¯s name was Jiang Qi, a ¡®troublemaker¡¯ in prison, often in solitary confinement. This time, the reason was that someone in prison tried to molest him, and Jiang Qi directly broke the person¡¯s wrist when the hand reached out to him.

    Since then, Shen Lei knew he was a truly ruthless character.

    *

    The news of the ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± drama crew organizing a fan meeting was quickly officially announced, and the onlinemunity was naturally stirred up once again.

    ¡ªThe lead actor is surrounded by scandals, everyone has toe out and exin and debunk. Why bother having a fan meeting?

    In today¡¯s inte age, silence is equivalent to acknowledgment. Others easily throw out rumors, and the person involved has to find ways to prove that they haven¡¯t done what they¡¯re used of. If you don¡¯t follow the established rules, does it mean you¡¯re guilty?

    Under the official announcement of the fan meeting on Weibo, thements and retweets were almost entirely drowned out by the spittle ofizens criticizing Jiang Qi. Zhi Qi saw the post and jumped up excitedly in her dorm room. She also saw the Weibo post and left a ¡®out of ce¡¯ment below: [Ah ah ah, I will definitely grab a ticket to see Jiang Qi!]

    However, her positivement was quickly engulfed in the sea of spittle.

    Meng Chunyu was lying on another bed, solving problems, and was almost scared to death by Zhi Qi¡¯s sudden ¡®twitch¡¯ of excitement.

    ¡°How many times have you seen him?¡± Meng Chunyu couldn¡¯t help butugh when she heard Zhi Qi talk about the past about Jiang Qi. She shrugged his shoulders, ¡°Is it necessary to be so excited?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Zhi Qi said, not stopping for a moment as she swiped her phone. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him in a long time.¡±

    Since Jiang Qi was sentenced to prison at the age of seventeen, she hadn¡¯t seen him again. The young man at that time was so poor that he couldn¡¯t even afford a phone. They didn¡¯t even have a way to contact each other, and the three-year sentence was like an insurmountable gap. If Jiang Qi didn¡¯t appear on the big screen, Zhi Qi really didn¡¯t know how she could see him, except for such an extreme coincidence as a ¡®chance encounter.¡¯

    Fortunately¡­ she could actively seek him out now.

    Even if she had to stay up all night to grab tickets, she would definitely do it.

    Zhi Qi clenched her fist, silently making a resolution. Unable to resist, she opened Jiang Qi¡¯s Weibo and sent a private message with her heart pounding:

    [Hearing that your crew is going to have a fan meeting.]

    [We will definitely meet! ^^]

    [DAY.43.]

    Qiu Mi, who was holding his phone, saw the screen flicker a few times at the top and clicked into it, unable to help butugh. For over a month, the fan with the Weibo nickname ¡®Zhi Qi¡¯ had been sending private messages to Jiang Qi¡¯s Weibo every day. The words seemed to treat the Weibo as an intimate lover, which was simply bizarre.

    Could it be that this girl didn¡¯t know that a celebrity¡¯s official Weibo is just an emotionless machine ount? Managed by agents and assistants? Who has time to read Weibo private messages?

    If Zhi Qi hadn¡¯t left a deep impression on Qiu Mi with her persistent messages, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered to click and check. At first, he found it amusing, but now, Qiu Mi unexpectedly sensed a bit of ¡®tenderness¡¯ and even felt a bit sympathetic.

    Sometimes he also can¡¯t help but feel pity for fans who ardently love unattainable celebrities.

    Unable to resist, Qiu Mi turned to look at Jiang Qi, who was half-squinting in the back seat, and tentatively said, ¡°Bro, there¡¯s a fan on Weibo who sends you private messages every day. Should I read them to you? She really likes you.¡±

    Lately, the inte has mostly been filled with criticism, and fans like Zhi Qi, who wholeheartedly love Jiang Qi, are rare.

    Qiu Mi thought that Jiang Qi¡¯s recent bad mood might be because of this, and subconsciously felt that his idea was quite good. Maybe he could give Jiang Qi some encouragement. So, he was even more eager to recite.

    But Jiang Qi responded with cold detachment, ¡°No need.¡±

    ¡­

    Qiu Mi didn¡¯t dare to continue reading.

    He withdrew his head like a quail and weakly said, ¡°Okay, Brother Qi, you continue sleeping.¡±

 Chapter 11: Do You Like Dolphins?

    Chapter 11: Do You Like Dolphins?

    ¨C Male actors need a kind of vulnerability that can be shattered.

    ¨C Jiang Qi has it.

    Although he portrayed a mentally disturbed teenager in ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± ¨C mncholic, cruel ¨C he still possessed a quality that is rare among the young and noble in the entertainment circle of this peaceful era: vulnerability.

    This feeling makes people want to delve into what he has experienced.

    Shen Lei is curious, and Wang Zhaoqiu is as well. Even theizens who criticize him but can¡¯t help but pay attention to him have this mentality. Even Meng Chunyu is curious about Jiang Qi¡¯s story and frequently asks Zhi Qi about it.

    Zhi Qi only mentioned that she knew Jiang Qi because they were ssmates before. She rified that she knew he didn¡¯t end up in prison due to the so-called ¡®exposures¡¯ online, and she won¡¯t say anything more about it.

    The girl didn¡¯t want to treat the past experiences with Jiang Qi as casual conversation topics with others. Even though there wasn¡¯t much to it, it was a soft corner of white moonlight (first love) in her heart.

    Zhi Qi contacted Jiang Ying once about the fan meeting tickets. The woman¡¯s voice on the phone sounded hesitant and somewhat troubled.

    ¡°Sister Yu.¡± Zhi Qi was not a confused girl. Seeing the situation, she blinked and gentlyughed, diffusing the other¡¯s embarrassment, ¡°If it¡¯s troublesome, I¡¯ll grab them myself.¡±¡°Ah, you won¡¯t be able to grab them,¡± Jiang Ying sighed, quite knowledgeable about the ticket-buying business. She felt a bit guilty and apologized, ¡°Sorry, Zhi Qi. My brother¡¯s mood has been badtely, acting like a lunatic. I mentioned the ticket thing to him, but he didn¡¯t agree.¡±

    Unexinably, Zhi Qi suddenly remembered Jiang Ying mentioning her brother¡¯s unsessful attempt to sign a contract with Jiang Qist time. Jiang Qi¡¯s temper¡­ Maybe Jiang Ying¡¯s brother was angry about that incident, and that¡¯s why he wouldn¡¯t help a ¡®Jiang Qi fan¡¯ like herself? Thinking this way, she couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    The girl¡¯s thoughts were sharp and flexible; she quickly figured out the situation.

    Biting her lip, Zhi Qi, with a delicate dimple appearing at the corner of her lips, spoke gently, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sister Yu. I¡¯ll figure something out on my own.¡±

    In her imaginary world, anyone who had a ¡®conflict¡¯ with Jiang Qi was not someone she wanted to seek help from. Jiang Ying seemed embarrassed and repeatedly promised to ask for help again. Zhi Qi didn¡¯t deny it.

    On the day of ticket sales, Zhi Qi stayed up unusuallyte, enduring heavy eyelids. She and Meng Chunyu stared at the app page without blinking. In the fleeting moment when the ¡®ticket sales¡¯ light turned green, they both clicked frantically on the VIP section¡¯s seats¡ª

    But still, they couldn¡¯t get any.

    Even if both she and Meng Chunyu tried to grab them together, they could only watch as the tickets sold out instantly. How could manual effortspete with the machines in the hands of scalpers?

    Disappointed, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t even fall asleep. She stared nkly at her phone with a lost expression.

    Worried that she might cry, Meng Chunyu hurriedlyforted her, ¡°Um, Zhi Qi, don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s still a way.¡±

    Sniffling, Zhi Qi asked with a touch of grievance, ¡°What way?¡±

    Meng Chunyu, being a ¡®veteran¡¯ level fan who had experienced this battle of getting concert tickets before, gave a suitable suggestion, ¡°Uh, search for keywords about this fan meeting on Weibo. Maybe some fans who got the tickets will sell them at a higher price, or someone who can¡¯t go might sell theirs.¡±

    This situation happens at almost every celebrity fan meeting or concert¡ª it alles down to speed and financial capability.

    In the next few days, aside from attending sses and working on papers and experiments during tea breaks, Zhi Qi basically spends most of her time staring at her phone, scrolling endlessly. When she sees fans with avable tickets, she brightens up and sends private messages asking about it. However, she almost got scammed by a scalper.

    Zhi Qi is a girl with a strong sense of copyright awareness, and she always adheres to her principle of not buying scalped tickets, no matter the circumstances. As more than half a month has passed without her getting the tickets and with the fan meeting approaching, she starts to feel increasingly anxious.

    Fortunately, she eventually encounters a genuine fan on Weibo who can¡¯t attend the event and is selling tickets. After confirming, Zhi Qi agrees to pay an extra two hundred, and the two happily go through the process on a resale tform.

    The most pleasant surprise is that the fan selling the tickets is from the same city. A girl with the nickname ¡®Mei Xian¡¯ enthusiastically suggests on Weibo, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m also near the university campus! How about we meet up to exchange tickets? It saves on postage.¡±

    This girl is quite resourceful, and Zhi Qi can¡¯t help but smile and agree after chatting with Mei Xian Xian.

    After ending the conversation with Mei Xian, the girl smiles and, as usual, sends a private message to Jiang Qi on Weibo using a pseudonym ¡ª

    [I¡¯ve got tickets for the fan meeting.]

    [See you on the 18th, little dolphin.]

    [DAY.58.]

    ¡­

    Qiu Mi, who is used to receiving private messages from Zhi Qi, couldn¡¯t help but have a puzzled ¡®question mark¡¯ in his mind when he saw this message. Since when did their Brother Qi have such a cute nickname? Little Dolphin? These fans really have some creativity.

    But considering the fan meeting venue isn¡¯trge, with just over two thousand tickets, this girl has some skills to get them. Her words are so gentle; Qiu Mi wonders if she¡¯s also good-looking.

    Unconsciously, Qiu Mi has be quite curious about the fan named ¡®Zhi Qi.¡¯

    While lost in his thoughts, the phone lying on his knee buzzes. Qiu Mi lowers his head and sees that it¡¯s the phone Jiang Qi left with him, disying an unfamiliar number on the screen.

    Jiang Qi usually leaves his phone with Qiu Mi when he goes to take photos. Since there aren¡¯t many personal numbers, the calls usuallye from people like Shen Lei. Qiu Mi, who is used to answering such calls, nces at Jiang Qi, who is engrossed in shooting nearby, and answers without much thought, ¡°Hello?¡±

    Surprisingly, there¡¯s no sound from the other end of the line.

    Qiu Mi waits in confusion for a while before hearing a soft, delicate voice, deliberately filled with tenderness, ¡°Is, is this Jiang Qi?¡±

    Qiu Mi is stunned.

    The reason isn¡¯t that it¡¯s a female calling, but rather the voice¡­ it has a strong Wenzhounese ent, with a distinctive and memorable quality. Isn¡¯t this voice from the recently popr actress, Yue Yuan?

    Qiu Mi originally belonged to Shen Lei¡¯s team, and despite his young age, he¡¯s quite experienced in the entertainment industry. Even though he¡¯s currently assigned to take care of Jiang Qi¡¯s daily life, he is quite professional in the role of an ¡®assistant.¡¯

    At this moment, he quickly recognizes Yue Yuan¡¯s voice, hesitates, and asks, ¡°Is¡­ Miss Yue?¡±

    How could Yue Yuan know Jiang Qi¡¯s private phone number and even call him? Could it be his imagination?

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me.¡± On the other side, Yue Yuan has already confirmed. Her gentleughter seems to carry a hint of embarrassment, ¡°May I ask if Jiang Qi is avable?¡±

    ¡°Uh, well, are you looking for Brother Qi?¡± Qiu Mi¡¯s tongue is tied, feeling like he just asked a pointless question. Yue Yuan called Jiang Qi¡¯s phone directly; if he¡¯s not avable, why would she call him? Stammering, Qiu Mi says, ¡°Miss Yue, um, Brother Qi is currently taking photos.¡±

    Implicitly, he means that it¡¯s not convenient to take a call right now.

    Yue Yuan on the other end seems a bit disappointed, sighs softly, and with a gentle lingering tone, she says, ¡°Alright, thank you.¡±

    After finishing talking, he hung up the phone.

    Qiu Mi stared nkly at the ¡®beep-beep¡¯ sound from his phone for a long time beforeing back to his senses. A thousand ¡®grass-mud horses¡¯ galloped side by side in his heart, and the liquid in his veins was boiling with a hint of reluctance.

    Damn, damn, Yue Yuan called Jiang Qi, and even pretended to be shy and hesitant, yet weing¡­ If this were leaked, it could definitely trend!

    When Jiang Qi came back, Qiu Mi kept staring at him, his eyes seeming to be glued to the boy.

    Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but nce at him, his tone cold, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±

    ¡°Brother Qi.¡± Qiu Mi hesitated for a moment and asked, ¡°Do you know Yue Yuan?¡±

    Yue Yuan? Jiang Qi frowned and shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡±

    He had long forgotten the girl he identally met half a month ago.

    ¡°That¡¯s strange.¡± Qiu Mi was puzzled, ¡°Then why did Yue Yuan call you?¡±

    ¡°Never mind.¡± Jiang Qi wasn¡¯t interested in knowing who Yue Yuan was, urging Qiu Mi, ¡°Hurry up and remove the makeup.¡±

    Today¡¯s shoot was themed ¡®Mncholy Oil Painting,¡¯ and the greasy hair gel on his hair and the heavy makeup on his face were annoying.

    ¡­

    Qiu Mi was speechless, resignedly getting up to help Jiang Qi remove the makeup. As his assistant, he naturally had to do everything with his three heads and six arms like the sculpture by Chinese artist Zhang Huan.

    While removing the makeup, Qiu Mi¡¯s hands traced the finely sculpted contours of Jiang Qi¡¯s face. It was wicked yet notcking youthful vigor. Up close, with the light reflecting in his light-colored pupils, he appeared indifferent and distant.

    Qiu Mi felt that even a man like him sometimes couldn¡¯t resist some wandering thoughts.

    It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if anyone fell for such a face, absolutely anyone. The mystery of why Yue Yuan called seemed to suddenly be clear, and Qiu Mi even felt a sense of pride as if he had achieved something.

    ¡°Ge,¡± Qiu Mi, eager to talk, tried to strike up a conversation with Jiang Qi. Thinking of the private messages from Zhi Qi earlier, he couldn¡¯t help butugh and asked, ¡°Do you like dolphins?¡±

    Upon hearing this abrupt question, Jiang Qi slowly opened his closed eyes, and his translucent pupils narrowed slightly. It was normal if Qiu Mi had asked about cats or dogs, but dolphins, a rtively unfamiliar animal ¨C asking him whether he liked them¡­

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t know why, but something crossed his mind, and a hint of mncholy passed through his eyes. His voice was faint, ¡°Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°No reason,¡± Qiu Mi casually replied. ¡°It¡¯s just that among your fans, there¡¯s someone who actually calls you ¡®Little Dolphin.¡¯ Isn¡¯t it strange? Oh, well¡­¡±

    Qiu Mi was cut off as Jiang Qi suddenly stood up, startling him.

    The slender figure of the young man was tense, like a fragile string that could break at any moment. The difference between his light-colored pupils and the usual calmness was significant, as if a bundle of intense heat was concentrated within him, almost scorching.

    In Qiu Mi¡¯s surprised expression, Jiang Qi¡¯s voice sounded almost strained, as if filled with anticipation and a muted hoarseness after being filled with expectation:

    ¡°Who¡­ who called me that?¡±

    He knew there was only one person who would call him ¡®Little Dolphin,¡¯ and that was Zhi Qi.

 Chapter 12: Youre Not Worthy

    Chapter 12: Youre Not Worthy

    Qiu Mi felt that their Brother Qi might have some issues.

    While the assistant was organizing things at the table, he couldn¡¯t help but timidly nce back. Jiang Qi, who usually treated his phone like a brick, was now sitting in a chair, elbow on his knee, holding the phone in his other hand, staring intently.

    If you looked closely, you could even see Jiang Qi¡¯s bony wrist trembling slightly. He lowered his head slightly, and his eyes, partially covered by the bangs falling on his forehead, were unnaturally bright, as if restraining some pathological state.

    Jiang Qi was well aware that he had some issues. In certain moments, he couldn¡¯t control his emotions and would be extreme¡ªecstatic, gloomy, irritable¡­ All these emotions he experienced, but especially when it came to Zhi Qi, he found it challenging to control himself.

    Just like now, as he looked at the private messages sent by the Weibo ID ¡®Zhi Qi,¡¯ he felt his heart swelling, about to overflow.

    Yes¡­ she was his little girl.

    From the almost greedy messages Jiang Qi received from Zhi Qi on the first day he joined, he read them carefully, one word at a time, like a clumsy and naive elementary school student who didn¡¯t know how to read until he saw thest one. Until thest one, the boiling blood all over his body seemed to slowly calm down.

    The long eyshes of the boy trembled slightly, thinking: Is sheing?

    That meeting, Zhi Qi ising to find him?Realizing this, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but stand up suddenly.

    Qiu Mi was startled by his abrupt movement, subconsciously asking, ¡°Brother Qi?¡±

    Jiang Qi: ¡°Which day is the meeting?¡±

    He had only agreed to attend the meeting before, but he had never actively asked about the time, ce, and other arrangements for the meeting. Now¡­ he couldn¡¯t wait to know.

    Qiu Mi was briefly stunned, and then the few dates carved in his mind immediately made him reflexively answer, ¡°The twenty-third.¡±

    That¡¯s eight dayster. Jiang Qi blinked, and a rare smile appeared in his eyes. He nodded slightly to indicate that he understood. His ¡®gentle¡¯ appearance stunned Qiu Mi.

    You know, since the day he was assigned as Jiang Qi¡¯s assistant from the day ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± started, it has been more than half a year. Qiu Mi saw him so ¡®gentle¡¯ for the first time. He instantly felt like waiting for a miracle, and Qiu Mi, suppressing the excitement in his heart, asked, ¡°Brother Qi, are you in a good mood?¡±

    Jiang Qi even nodded, hmm, and then he shook the phone in his hand, ¡°Can I take this?¡±

    He wanted to read the private messages sent by Zhi Qi again.

    ¡­

    Qiu Mi was stunned for a while, watching Jiang Qi about to pocket the phone and leave. He had no choice but to awkwardly speak up, ¡°Brother Qi, um, that¡¯s my phone.¡±

    Jiang Qi took it. What was he going to use tomunicate with the outside world then?

    ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Qi understood and thought for a moment, then took out his own phone and handed it to Qiu Mi. ¡°Then help me download Weibo.¡±

    He decided to log in with his official ount in the future to check direct messages, so he could receive messages from Zhi Qi promptly. However, this request from Jiang Qi sounded like a bolt out of the blue to Qiu Mi.

    Jiang Qi, who usually despised online gossip and various messy apps, actually wanted to actively use Weibo one day? Qiu Mi excitedly asked, ¡°Brother, are you nning to go public?¡±

    Thinking about how Shen Lei had advised him several times to post some daily selfies on Weibo to attract fans, but Jiang Qi had ignored it. Now that Jiang Qi had ¡®thought it through¡¯ himself, Qiu Mi couldn¡¯t help but be thrilled. However¡­

    ¡°Go public with what?¡± Jiang Qi frowned, coldly saying, ¡°I¡¯m just logging into my own ount. I¡¯ll manage my own ount from now on.¡±

    Qiu Mi never expected that not only did this guy refuse to go public, but he also took away his right to go public? How was he supposed to disguise Jiang Qi as an emotionless repost machine now?

    However, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t think much about it. He just didn¡¯t want the messages Zhi Qi sent to him to be shamelessly watched by Qiu Mi. Sometimes, guys could be quite possessive.

    After saying this, Jiang Qi ignored Qiu Mi¡¯s petrified expression, urging him to finish setting up Weibo with his ount before leaving.

    He now lived in the east downtown area, got his driver¡¯s license six months ago, and drove all the way back. Jiang Qi asionally nced at the phone on the passenger seat ¨C half an hour ago, he never would have thought he¡¯d be restless without checking his phone.

    It was as if he had turned into an ¡®Inte-addicted youth.¡¯

    Once people have expectations, they be dissatisfied. Zhi Qi had been sending him messages every day for the past two months, sometimes once, sometimes several times a day¡­

    He could ignore it when he didn¡¯t know, but now that he knew, he couldn¡¯t help but feel anticipation. He waited for the girl to continue confiding in him as if he were a confession box, but unfortunately, his phone screen remained dark all the way.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s phone was almost empty except for WeChat, with no other entertainment apps installed, not even a push notification for junk messages. He never had the ¡®opportunity¡¯ for any misunderstandings. It wasn¡¯t until he returned home that Jiang Qi finally received the private message he had been eagerly anticipating.

    In fact, numerous people messaged him on this ount, but they were all turned off by Qiu Mi. Just now, following Qiu Mi¡¯s guidance, Jiang Qi marked Zhi Qi¡¯s message as ¡®special,¡¯ so when Zhi Qi sent him a private message, he could receive it immediately.

    He always acted recklessly and unexpectedly, but designating a fan as special surprised Qiu Mi.

    After hesitating for a long time, Qiu Mi asked, ¡°Brother Qi, do you¡­ know this fan?¡±

    Jiang Qi nodded.

    For some reason, Qiu Mi didn¡¯t feel very shocked, maybe because of Zhi Qi¡¯s writing style and words, which had already given him a sense that this fan was familiar to Jiang Qi. Jiang Qi didn¡¯t bother turning on the lights when he got home, leaning on the sofa in the dim atmosphere. He stared at the private message Zhi Qi had just sent. The girl¡¯s words were just daily records, but they somehow felt warm.

    [Zhi Qi: Jiang Qi, Lang Lang has recovered. I visited it today.]

    Lang Lang, the little dolphin Zhi Qi adopted, as Jiang Qi remembered her mentioning in previous private messages. The corners of the young man¡¯s lips slightly lifted, and his sharp eyebrows softened a bit.

    [Zhi Qi: Seven more days, and I¡¯ll be able to see you.]

    [Zhi Qi: DAY.60.]

    Jiang Qi¡¯s slender fingers moved on the screen. For a moment, he almost couldn¡¯t resist replying to Zhi Qi¡ªhe wanted to tell her that if she wanted to see him, she could do so right now.

    How could he bear to let Zhi Qi wait for him like this?

    However, his fingertips hovered over the screen for a long time, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to type the message. Hecked the courage to contact her. The stubbornness that seemed to persist throughout his three-year prison life, the refusal to surrender and the fearlessness of death, the pretense of nonchnce after his release, all crumbled at this moment.

    Jiang Qi slumped on the sofa, his eyes staring nkly at the ceiling in the dim room.

    He had nothing to his name, and now he felt like a ¡®negative¡¯ presence. How could he bear to burden Zhi Qi and drag her down?

    Jiang Qi knew the temperament of the girl. As soon as she saw him, she would ignore everything and stay by his side, always trying to pull him out of that swamp. Shepletely disregarded the danger of being dragged down herself, bold and reckless.

    But Jiang Qi knew his own character. He knew himself¡­ and that he was beyond redemption.

    At this point, his nerves seemed to ache subtly, and Jiang Qi furrowed his brow, pulling open the drawer of the coffee table beside the sofa. The drawer was filled with medicine bottles from few presciptions. In the darkness, the young man grabbed a bottle, casually opened it, and took a few pills without water, swallowing them down.

    Soon, the pills were crushed on his tongue, and the taste became bitter, numbing his taste buds. Jiang Qi, simrly numb, chuckled self-deprecatingly. Every time he couldn¡¯t control the urge to find Zhi Qi, his head would ache, as if constantly alerting him to his foolish and delusional desires.

    After taking the medicine, his thoughts drifted to other things, like Fu Yunbing, the troublemaker he encountered in prison. Jiang Qi remembered that in his second year of incarceration, Uncle Jiang Shi came to visit him.

    Through the ss window, Jiang Shi¡¯s wrinkled face looked awkward and dull. It took a while before he uttered, ¡°Ah-Qi, that little girl came to see you, asking about¡­ your matters.¡±

    Although the man¡¯s words were incoherent and hesitant, Jiang Qi immediately knew who the ¡®little girl¡¯ Jiang Shi was talking about.

    Besides Zhi Qi, which girl was close to him?

    The young man¡¯s face, under his short buzz cut, turned pale. His cold expression mirrored the color of the prison¡¯s iron bars. With a slight movement in his eyes, he softly asked, ¡°Did you say anything?¡±

    Jiang Shi quickly shook his head, looking somewhat timid, ¡°No¡­ you didn¡¯t want me to say.¡±

    Indeed, it was him who forbade the mention. From the moment he entered, the name ¡®Jiang Qi¡¯ should disappear from Zhi Qi¡¯s life.

    So, Jiang Qi, in a rare moment, lifted the corners of his lips, forming a semnce of a ¡®smile.¡¯ His light-colored eyes calmly stared at his uncle, ¡°Good that you didn¡¯t say.¡±

    And don¡¯t ever mention it again. During the conversation between him and Jiang Shi, Fu Yunbing happened toe to clean, witnessing the scene. Seeing the subtle change in Jiang Qi¡¯s expression when he heard the words ¡®little girl,¡¯ Fu Yunbing immediately smiled with deep meaning.

    When they returned to their cell, Fu Yunbing sarcastically asked Jiang Qi, ¡°Hey, kid, got a girl outside?¡±

    In the rudimentary prison environment, with six people in one cell, everyone turned their heads to look, eyes filled with eager anticipation of a good show¡ªeveryone knew that Fu Yunbing and Jiang Qi were not on good terms. Jiang Qi¡¯s steps halted upon hearing the words. He turned to look at Fu Yunbing, his narrow phoenix eyes dangerously squinting.

    He didn¡¯t say a word, but his aura automatically turned icy.

    ¡°Who are you trying to scare? What¡¯s the difference between your behavior and ours?¡± Fu Yunbing wasn¡¯t afraid of him. With a stolen cigarette between his lips, he looked at Jiang Qi with a mocking and disdainful expression. His words were cutting¡ª

    ¡°Can someone who¡¯s been through the system ever clean up? Do you think you¡¯re something special?¡±

    ¡°Do you think you deserve a good girl? You, with blood on your hands.¡±

    ¡°After you get out, that girl of yours will have run off with someone else!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not worthy, got it?¡±

    Jiang Qi had a cold and unpleasant temperament. From any perspective, he had nothing to do with the word ¡®good.¡¯ At this moment, the veins on his forehead were visibly throbbing due to the natural irritation. His face was pale, and before reason returned to his mind, his fist had already swung towards the disgusting face of Fu Yunbing!

    *

    Jiang Qi had fought countless times in prison during his three-year sentence, but this time with Fu Yunbing was the most brutal. In the end, the other four people in the cell had to step in to break up the fight. Both men had blood on their faces, and their eyes were locked onto each other with a fierce red re.

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t care why Fu Yunbing disliked him or why he picked a fight. He didn¡¯te to prison to make friends. What he cared about was when Fu Yunbing mentioned Zhi Qi, his girl. That was uneptable.

    He couldn¡¯t tolerate these dirty individuals defiling his precious little girl.

    In the end, Jiang Qi was confined to the small dark room for two weeks. The small dark room was the prison¡¯s solitary confinement, a room of less than five square meters, pitch dark, with only a hand-width gap letting in a bit of light.

    In the silent environment, one had to coexist with the stench of the toilet. Often, after three days, people couldn¡¯t bear the torment, making it one of the harshest punishments in the prison. Jiang Qi¡¯s punishment was unprecedented due to his repeated involvement in ¡®brawls¡¯ within the prison.

    But he had no objections and quietly epted the punishment. For Jiang Qi, even a small dark room of five square meters was better than being cramped in a cell with those people. He repeatedly got into trouble not just because he didn¡¯t want to be bullied but also for another reason.

    He deliberately wanted to be confined to the small dark room, at least¡­ it was quiet there.

    In the tranquil space with only himself, it was easier to think. The young man looked up at the narrow brightness high in the room, and his crystal-like pupils seemed to have ayer of ash floating over them.

    Even though he resorted to violence, Jiang Qi knew deep down that he was ¡®frustrated.¡¯

    He understood that Fu Yunbing was actually right, hitting him where it hurt the most. The difference between him and Zhi Qi was like night and day, especially with his three years of criminal records. Even though Fu Yunbing¡¯s words about ¡°your girl will run away sooner orter¡± were nonsense, why should he go back to find Zhi Qi?

    Perhaps¡­ perhaps if Zhi Qi had another boyfriend, it might be a kind of happiness for her. No matter who it was, they would be better than him, a criminal. Forced to tear apart the facade of false peace and realize the bloody truth, Jiang Qi felt like he couldn¡¯t breathe.

    His light-colored pupils slowly became bloodshot, and he felt a splitting headache.

    ¡­

    Memories gradually ovepped with reality. Even though more than a year had passed, Jiang Qi still vividly remembered how he felt at that time.

    The mirage finally copsed, just as Fu Yunbing said. He didn¡¯t deserve it.

    Jiang Qi actually understood this better than anyone else. So, he never dared to look for Zhi Qi, even though he constantly wanted to in his crazy heart. During his time in prison, Jiang Qi heard an artistic youth say, ¡®Love is restraint.¡¯ Perhaps he should restrain himself ¡ª restrain from finding her, restrain from burdening her, and even restrain from loving her.

    After getting used to it, he became numb.

    After a tumultuous storm in his mind, Jiang Qi nkly closed his phone.

    *

    #Why does Jiang Qi never smile?#

    When Calle Magazine¡¯s October issue was released, the young man on the cover, lying wet on the ¡®shore,¡¯ had the pool digitally removed and reced with another scene. The extremely high-definition photos made the boy¡¯s sharp features extremely clear; hispiszuli-colored eyes were as cold as the clearest crystal, gloomy, profound, and dark.

    In the rich interweaving of colors, the young man wore only a white shirt, achieving an extreme dark style.

    This extremeness strangely suited Jiang Qi¡¯s atmosphere.

    Ji Ting had previously said that shooting Jiang Qi for this issue would be his most satisfying work of the year, and now it was evident that it wasn¡¯t an empty boast. The magazine had been out for less than three days, and both the online electronic version and the physical copies were already sold out.

    Whether it¡¯s the cover or the inner pages, the theme revolves around the images of the youth with the backdrop of water.

    Thest chapter¡¯s page resembles behind-the-scenes photos. Jiang Qi, draped in arge towel with semi-dry wet hair, sits on a tall chair with his long legs stretched out. In that captured moment, his expression appears somewhat bewildered, rarely showing a hint of ¡®young and naive¡¯ tenderness.

    This image quickly became viral as numerous marketing ounts crazily shared it, turning it into the so-called ¡®breaking-the-inte divine picture.¡¯

    Since Jiang Qi¡¯s debut, he had limited exposure, giving off a predominantly gloomy impression. However, this candid shot, capturing a seemingly ¡®pure¡¯ side, allowed the onlookers to glimpse another facet of him, and of course, it was also because of his unparalleled handsomeness.

    While fans and casual observers praised him, the detractors naturally couldn¡¯t stay silent.

    Early in the morning, rumors about Jiang Qi flooded the inte once again.

    Amidst this chaos, some observant individuals discovered a topic: #Why does Jiang Qi never smile?#.

    Someone took the time to tally up the ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± movie, whichsted 115 minutes. Throughout the entire film, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t showcase a single smile. If it were due to the plot and character design, that would be understandable. However, even inter events, magazine shoots, and a few instances caught by paparazzi, he never disyed a smile.

    In the entertainment industry, stars portray various personas, and there have been instances of celebrities adopting a ¡®cold and aloof¡¯ image. However, maintaining a consistent level of aloofness like Jiang Qi was quite rare.

    For the intrigued onlookers who made this fresh discovery, lively discussions ensued, though some of thements were not so kind:

    [= =: Maybe the nerves in his face are malfunctioning when ites to ¡®smiling¡¯?]

    [= =: Can Jiang Qi trend just by smiling or not? Is he living on the trends? With the marketing budget for a year, he could buy a building in the second ring of Beijing, right? Tut-tut, instead of spending time on this chaotic marketing, why not quickly rify whether he really harassed a girl!]

    [= =: Is having a ¡®smile or not¡¯ persona interesting? If he smiles one day, wouldn¡¯t that be a big contradiction?]

    [= =: Some people¡¯s malice is truly immense. Can¡¯t he even smile? Is Jiang Qi an original sinner?]

    [= =: If he ended up in prison because of an attempted assault, wouldn¡¯t that be the original sin?]

    The noisy chatter continued, and when Zhi Qi saw this trending topic, she recalled the appearance of Jiang Qi that she had seen online. He indeed never had a smile. But, of course, she knew he could smile, and most of the time, he would only smile at her.

    Zhi Qi had long learned not to look at the malicious spections about Jiang Qi online. She casually scrolled for a while and then closed her phone. She wasn¡¯t worried that thesements would affect Jiang Qi in any way¡ªkeyboard warriors across the inte were the least valuable, while Jiang Qi had grown up enduring real-life sarcasm and mockery from those around him.

    He had long developed an invincible heart.

    As for herself, she should be the same. As for why Jiang Qi didn¡¯t respond to the online gossip, she didn¡¯t need to care. After all, the ces not touched by sunlight were filled with the stench of the sewers.

    They only wanted to believe what they wanted to believe.

    *

    December 14th, Lin Lan Chen Ding Entertainment¡¯s broadcasting studio.

    At nine in the morning, the fan meeting for the released drama crew. Following the instructions of the girl who sold her the tickets earlier, Zhi Qi arrived an hour early to queue up¡­ only to see a dense crowd of people.

    Wasn¡¯t the fan meeting in the broadcasting studio, limited to only two thousand people? Why were there so many people now? Zhi Qi panicked and looked down at the ticket in her hand. It wasn¡¯t until the security check and ticket inspection in the queue that she realized many of those people were fans who couldn¡¯t get tickets and were waiting outside.

    Zhi Qi: ¡°¡­¡±

    She followed the crowd into the broadcasting studio, found her seat ording to the number on the card, and sat down. The ticket she bought secondhand wasn¡¯t in a prime location, somewhere in the middle left and right, but luckily, the whole studio was just a small-scale fan meeting, not too crowded, and this position still offered a clear view of the stage.

    After taking her seat, Zhi Qi took out the telescope she had prepared.

    The girl next to her blinked in surprise when she saw it and asked, ¡°Is it that professional?¡±

    Zhi Qi smiled somewhat embarrassedly. Her profession was unique; she usually needed to observe animals with a telescope. This one was bought a long time ago and came in handy at this moment.

    The girl next to her was very enthusiastic. Taking advantage of the fact that the main creators hadn¡¯t arrived yet, she chatted with Zhi Qi, who was holding the telescope. ¡°Are you here for someone specific? Jiang Qi, perhaps?¡±

    Zhi Qi nodded.

    ¡°Ah, me too!¡± The girl held her face with both hands, starry-eyed. ¡°He¡¯s really handsome. I had a hard time getting this ticket. I begged more than forty people in my ss to help me grab it! I treated them to bubble tea in the middle of the night!¡±

    ¡­

    Zhi Qi understood why she couldn¡¯t get a ticket. It seemed that her level of dedication was far inferior to the girl next to her. As they spoke, the lights in the studio dimmed.

    ¡°Ah!¡± The girl immediately eximed and, while rubbing her hands, said very skillfully, ¡°The main creators are about toe up from behind, and there will be stage lighting.¡±

    Hearing this, Zhi Qi immediately raised the telescope hanging around her neck and stared at the stage without blinking. She saw many staff members busy on both sides of the stage. After about five minutes of back and forth, the silhouette of the main creative team appeared in the telescope as they came up from the side steps.

    Although it was a long distance away, separated by the telescope, Zhi Qi instantly captured the slender figure of Jiang Qi.

    When he was in the first year of high school, he was already 183 cm tall, and he still was. Zhi Qi had remembered his shadow for many years, as if it were deeply engraved in her heart. Seeing the ¡°real person¡± after a long time, her heart seemed to be squeezed for a moment, making it difficult to breathe, and her eyes were a bit misty.

    In the midst of hundreds or even thousands of people, no one noticed the slight trembling of Zhi Qi¡¯s little arm as she held up the telescope.

    The girl next to her continued to scream amidst the noisy surroundings, ¡°Ah, ah, ah, Jiang Qi is so handsome! He truly is the man I¡¯ve set my eyes on!¡±

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t care less about the deafening cheers erupting around her as the main creators ascended the stage; she only focused on Jiang Qi.

    Watching Jiang Qi sitting on the edge of the stage, his expression still carrying a stubborn and cold determination, Zhi Qi felt a deep familiarity. Even after he sat down, his habitual tapping of the table¡¯s edge with his fingers remained unchanged.

    Four years might change many things, but some aspects were ingrained and unchangeable.

    Unconsciously, Zhi Qi¡¯s palms became slightly damp.

    At that moment, Jiang Qi suddenly looked towards the audience.

    Seeing the momentary glimpse of those light-colored pupils, the girl¡¯s hand trembled slightly. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but Zhi Qi had the illusion of making eye contact with him across the vast sea of people.

 Chapter 13: Evasive Attitude With Crossing Boundaries

    Chapter 13: Evasive Attitude With Crossing Boundaries

    Jiang Qi was indeed looking for Zhi Qi.

    From the moment he walked from the backstage to the center of the venue, his gaze fell on the densely packed audience seats, almost unable to shift away. The crowd was like a sea of ants, making it impossible to catch a glimpse of Zhi Qi¡¯s shadow. Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but frown in disappointment.

    Knowing that Zhi Qi woulde in this venue from a week ago, Jiang Qi had an uneasy feeling. He both wanted and feared to see her. However, now that he was in this venue and felt the solid ground beneath his feet, he realized how difficult it was to find Zhi Qi. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit anxious.

    The disappointment of hopelessness made him ufortable. Sitting in his position, Jiang Qi seemed absent, his expression showing a restrained gloominess. He was so lost in his thoughts that hepletely ignored the reporters¡¯ eager questions on the stage.

    Fortunately, Shen Lei, fearing that the microphone would fall into Jiang Qi¡¯s hands, continuously engaged with the reporters, smoothly handling the questions. The microphone never made its way to Jiang Qi.

    Gradually, most people noticed that something was amiss.

    Is Shen Lei¡­ not getting along with Jiang Qi? These reporters have attended various events, numbering in the hundreds if not thousands, and it¡¯s the first time they¡¯ve witnessed a director so tantly denying the lead actor a chance to speak.

    Moreover, ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± can be considered Jiang Qi¡¯s major leading role.

    Except for the initial public meeting during the film¡¯smencement, the director surprisingly didn¡¯t let the male lead speak? Could it be that the discord between the two is already evident?Reporters have a highly sensitive sense for gossip, and most of them have realized that the current situation is unusual. Cameras in hand, they clicked away incessantly. Some bold reporters directly asked:

    ¡°Can we have the male lead, Jiang Qi, answer a few questions rted to the movie?¡±

    Pointed out directly, Shen Lei had no choice but to pass the microphone over. However, seeing Jiang Qi¡¯s dark expression as he took the microphone, Shen Lei felt like his heart was hanging in his throat.

    The reporter, satisfied to see the microphone finally reaching Jiang Qi, smiled and coughed before asking, ¡°Mr. Jiang Qi, you were not well-known in the entertainment industry before, but now you are the male lead of a billion-dor box office movie. Have you undergone any systematic training in acting?¡±

    Some questions couldn¡¯t be asked outright, but this was clearly an indirect way of probing into Jiang Qi¡¯s past.

    Jiang Qi raised an eyebrow, nced at the reporter, and calmly said into the microphone, ¡°No.¡±

    It was his first time being interviewed by the press, and he hadn¡¯t prepared any scripted responses. His tone wasn¡¯t particrly friendly. The questioning reporter paused for a moment, a hint of displeasure appearing in his eyes.

    His next question was less polite, delivered with a sarcastic tone, ¡°Then, may I ask where Director Shen discovered this unpolished gem? It¡¯s truly intriguing.¡±

    Hearing this, Shen Lei felt a sudden jolt in his heart and hurriedly reached for the microphone in front of Jiang Qi. However, it was toote.

    ¡°Where?¡± Jiang Qi raised an eyebrow, looked at the reporter without hesitation, and answered, ¡°In prison.¡±

    Although the fact that Jiang Qi has been in jail is almost known worldwide, it¡¯s different when it¡¯s spoken from the protagonist¡¯s mouth. His answer not only stunned the reporters but also left the hundreds of fans in the audience bewildered. The studio suddenly sounded like a buzzing swarm of a thousand flies, all engaged in murmured discussions.

    Zhi Qi, holding a telescope, shook her hand, prompted by the girl beside her.

    ¡°Wow, does Jiang Qi not avoid talking about this issue?¡± The girl was surprisingly impressed, continuously fangirling, ¡°He¡¯s so manly! Today is another day killed by Jiang Qi¡¯s charm! He¡¯s even more handsome in real life than on the screen!¡±

    ¡­

    In the hearts of fangirls, it seems that the main focus is whether someone is handsome or not.

    Zhi Qi smiled, but her eyes seemed somewhat distant.

    After Jiang Qi finished speaking, she noticed that the faces of the entire creative team in the front row didn¡¯t look too good. But the young man still had that straightforward personality and said whatever he wanted.

    Shen Lei was startled and directly grabbed the microphone from Jiang Qi, awkwardly changing the topic, ¡°Is there anything else you want to ask?¡±

    The reporter hesitated for a moment, the question ¡®How did Director Shen discover Jiang Qi in prison?¡¯ stuck in his throat. He forcefully bit his tongue¡ªafter all, he had to consider his professional demeanor and couldn¡¯t ask whatever he wanted.

    And during this pause, many other reporters waiting to ask questions had already seized the opportunity.

    ¡°Director Shen, could you share your thoughts on achieving such impressive box office results with your small-type thriller film?¡±

    ¡°Does Director Shen have ns for his next movie?¡±

    ¡°Will Jiang Qi continue to be cast as the male lead in your future projects?¡±

    ¡°Is Jiang Qi¡¯s next role in a movie or a TV drama?¡±

    Shen Lei chose to answer a few random questions, avoiding any mention of Jiang Qi altogether. Because nobody really knew what that man was thinking. A few days ago, Shen Lei remembered when Jiang Qi mentioned wanting to leave the entertainment industry, fearing that he might just announce it recklessly.

    Shen Lei felt that this press conference was probably the most eagerly anticipated event to end in his entire career. After enduring until the end, there was still a signing event for fans.

    Shen Lei didn¡¯t expect Jiang Qi to deal with such matters; he initially thought of letting the supporting actors from the movie handle the signing table. However, unexpectedly, Jiang Qi stood up first.

    ???

    Shen Lei asked in confusion, ¡°What are you doing? Going to sign autographs for fans?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Qi nodded. ¡°Is there a problem?¡±

    He looked innocently pure, leaving Shen Lei momentarily perplexed.

    Of course, there was no problem. Shen Lei even wished Jiang Qi would cooperate like this, but¡­ no matter how Shen Lei thought about it, it didn¡¯t seem like Jiang Qi¡¯s style. However, Jiang Qi had genuinely decided to sign for the ¡®fans¡¯ this time. In the sea of people, unable to find Zhi Qi, he could only try this method.

    Under Shen Lei¡¯s ¡®seeing a ghost¡¯ expression, Jiang Qi¡¯s slender figure walked toward the signing table.

    While signing, Jiang Qi casually wrote, but his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the people in line behind. It was said that only the two hundred fans who bought VIP seats coulde for the signing. Jiang Qi didn¡¯t know if Zhi Qi was among them.

    If she wasn¡¯t¡­ Jiang Qi anxiously squeezed the pen, an involuntary gesture.

    Amidst the chaos, Jiang Qi spotted a familiar figure¡ª

    It was the slender silhouette of a girl, with straight ck hair falling to her waist. She wore simple jeans, a T-shirt, and white sneakers. Her simple attire made her stand out in the crowd. As she left with the flow of people, a small portion of her profile revealed, enough for Jiang Qi to recognize her even if he turned into ashes!

    Jiang Qi suddenly stood up, and even the fingertips that had just dropped the pen were trembling slightly.

    ¡°Ah!¡± The girl waiting for the autograph in front of him was startled by his sudden movement, subconsciously eximed, and looked at him with wide-eyed innocence, holding her heart.

    Many surprised nces turned towards them, but Jiang Qi didn¡¯t care about any of that. Only after truly seeing Zhi Qi did he realize that his previous jumbled thoughts wereplete nonsense. Seeing her, he couldn¡¯t control the desire to catch up.

    Ignoring the inquiries from the staff, Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze stuck to Zhi Qi¡¯s figure that had just passed by, and he maneuvered through the surrounding crowd to catch up. In fact, it was just a short distance, but amidst the chaos of people, it seemed like an insurmountable gap between them.

    As he saw the fleeting silhouette he had just captured disappear, impatience and frustration filled Jiang Qi¡¯s brow. Unluckily, at this moment, reporters stationed at the door spotted him. Their eyes brightened, and they swiftly blocked his way.

    ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± These reporters waiting at the door were basically paparazzi without formal invitations, and their questions wouldn¡¯t be as restrained. The journalist in front had a face full of disdain, whether in his small eyes or aimed at the camera pointed at Jiang Qi, there was malice present. ¡°Regarding the rumors circting online, are they true? Can you give a direct response?¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s mind was focused on finding Zhi Qi ¨C he might still have a chance now. He could locate the girl in the dense crowd.

    The young man furrowed his brows tightly, not hearing clearly what the reporter in front of him was saying, and he tried to move away. However, this seemingly pletely ignored¡¯ attitude inadvertently angered the paparazzo in front.

    ¡°Mr. Jiang, is your evasive attitude a confirmation?¡± The paparazzo sneered, asking a deliberately provocative question. ¡°Is it true that you were imprisoned for attempted sexual assault, as imed by an informant on the inte?¡±

    As soon as this statement was made, the previously noisy crowd fell into an eerie silence.

    And Jiang Qi had run too fast; even Qiu Mi and Shen Lei couldn¡¯te to defuse the situation in time.

    In a moment of awkward silence, Jiang Qi finally heard what the reporter said and slowly turned his head.

    Under the gaze of the crowd, the young man, with an icy expression, stared at the paparazzi and said word by word, ¡°I vited your mom.¡±

 Chapter 14: You Can Go Find Her

    Chapter 14: You Can Go Find Her

    I¡­ vited your mom?

    Jiang Qi¡¯s provocative words and cold and arrogant expression were all clearly recorded by the camera. After a moment of stunned silence from the paparazzi across, his entire face turned red with anger.

    ¡°You!¡± The paparazzi resisted the urge to curse loudly. As a professional sharp-tongued writer, he was unexpectedly left speechless by an actor. He stuttered, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Whether it¡¯s nonsense or not, your mom knows.¡± However, Jiang Qi, who had been confrontational since childhood, mostly remained silent. Without getting acquainted with anyone, he coldly sarcastically remarked and walked away, bypassing the fat pig in front of him.

    Jiang Qi chased out of the broadcasting studio, but in the vast crowd, where could he find a trace of Zhi Qi?

    He even forgot to wear a mask, standing nkly in ce. It seemed like there were illusions around him¡ªhe knew many people were surrounding him, many were taking pictures with cameras, and the people around him looked like demons and monsters with exposed fangs and ws¡­ but he couldn¡¯t find that softness.

    Even when someone pulled him, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t feel a thing.

    It wasn¡¯t until Qiu Mi, along with the staff, expelled the reporters and fans from the surroundings, bringing him back to the backstage.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on with you?!¡± Shen Lei looked at Jiang Qi, who suddenly became ¡®lost¡¯ for some reason. The anger in his chest couldn¡¯t be suppressed. His brows furrowed, and for the first time, he was so furious, almost looking fierce: ¡°If you don¡¯t want to sign, no one is forcing you to go! You wanted to go by yourself, couldn¡¯t you sign properly? And dare to curse at reporters? Are you freaking crazy?!¡±Crazy? Perhaps. At the moment he saw Zhi Qi, it was as if he went mad and wanted to chase after her.

    What¡¯s even more ridiculous is that he didn¡¯t catch up. Thinking about this, Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes revealed an uncontroble sense of destion. His appearance, as if he had suffered a significant blow, kept half of Shen Lei¡¯s anger barely suppressed in his throat, burning ufortably in his internal organs.

    After a while, he took a deep breath, and with a stern tone, he asked, ¡°What happened? Why did you suddenly run out?¡±

    ¡­

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Jiang Qi shook his head, his voice soft, ¡°I will apologize for today.¡±

    He knew he was wrong, but he just couldn¡¯t help himself.

    ¡°How are you going to apologize?¡± There were only the two of them in the lounge, and Shen Lei spoke without any pretense. He coldly asked, ¡°Do you n to leave the entertainment industry?¡±

    Jiang Qi remained silent.

    But from the stubborn look on the young man¡¯s face, Shen Lei could tell that this idea hadn¡¯t faded¡ªjust didn¡¯t know why today, he seemed absent-minded and hadn¡¯t mentioned it. But no matter what, there was room for redemption before the words were spoken.

    ¡°You brat.¡± Shen Lei felt like he might lose a couple of years of his life because of him, helplessly shook his head, opened a certain page on his phone, and handed it to Jiang Qi, gruffly saying, ¡°Take a look at this.¡±

    Jiang Qi nonchntly picked up the phone and nced at the jumbled words in the document. He straightforwardly said, ¡°Can¡¯t understand.¡±

    ¡­

    Suppressing the urge to vomit blood, Shen Lei exined word by word, ¡°This is the prelude indicator for the Golden Tree Award season. There are a total of seven jury members voting. Do you know how many of them voted for you?¡±

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t have a clue, so he awkwardly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°All five of them voted for you.¡± It was entirely expected that he didn¡¯t know. Shen Lei sighed helplessly and exined, ¡°This means you¡¯re very likely to win the Best Actor at this year¡¯s Golden Tree Award. Do you understand what that implies?¡±

    Upon hearing the term ¡°Best Actor,¡± which could drive half of the entertainment industry¡¯s male actors crazy, Jiang Qi¡¯s face remained calm, and he casually shook his head.

    Shen Lei smiled bitterly, ¡°It means your value has changed. In the future, invitations for movies and TV shows wille with at least double the pay. You¡¯ll also have a say in contracts with entertainmentpanies. Do you still want to quit?¡±

    Jiang Qi parted his lips to speak, but Shen Lei interrupted him, ¡°Answer me after seriously considering it.¡±

    The young man furrowed his brows slightly, his lips pressed together.

    To be honest, if this had been a week ago, he had made up his mind to leave the entertainment industry. But now¡­ If he quit, where would he find a job to earn money? Originally, not finding one wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal, but now he wanted to have some capital to get closer to Zhi Qi.

    Seeing Jiang Qi silent, Shen Lei pondered for a moment and suddenly asked, ¡°Are you acting weird today because of that girl named Zhi Qi?¡±

    Jiang Qi lifted his head abruptly.

    ¡°Tsk, don¡¯t re at me. It¡¯s what Qiu Mi said.¡± Shen Lei shrugged, curious, ¡°Is it because that girl mentioneding to today¡¯s meeting that you¡¯re acting so strangely? Hmm, was she your ex-girlfriend?¡±

    Jiang Qi remained silent for a long time before finally, as if each word were squeezed out from between his teeth, he said, ¡°No¡­ no need for you to care.¡±

    Shen Lei couldn¡¯t help but feel like sighing¡ªguys like Jiang Qi don¡¯t want to talk about anything. Even if he wanted to help, it seemed there was no way.

    However, he could only do his best.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to care either, but I really don¡¯t want to see a good talent inexplicably quitting the entertainment industry.¡± Shen Lei looked at him, frustrated, ¡°Think about it. What abilities do you have if you open a supermarket? Can you pursue the girl you like? Will she respect you? Or rather, can you respect yourself?¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s fingers, hanging at his side, involuntarily curled a bit.

    In reality, he wanted to refute Shen Lei. He knew that no matter what, Zhi Qi wouldn¡¯t look down on him. But unfortunately, Shen Lei was right¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t respect himself.

    ¡°A couple of days ago, I heard from Qiu Mi, so I casually checked. That girl is at Lan University, majoring in Wildlife Conservation.¡± At this point, Shen Lei couldn¡¯t help butugh, ¡°Hmm, her chosen major is quite unique. If you want to go find her, you can, just be careful not to get caught.¡±

    ¡°Jiang Qi, think about the consequences before doing anything. If you¡¯re in the entertainment industry, earning money from filming while pursuing self-study to make up for your education, or else¡­ Can you match up to the high-achieving students at Lan University?¡±

    His words were a bit harsh, but necessary. Shen Lei was afraid Jiang Qi wouldn¡¯t understand otherwise.

    That¡¯s how society works ¨C money gives you the power of speech, and sometimes, to have that power, you need to do things you¡¯d rather not do.

    For example, staying in the vast dye vat of the entertainment industry.

    After Shen Lei left, Jiang Qi sat in the rest area, contemting for a long time. Sometimes, he had to admit that what Shen Lei said was right. With an education not evenpleting high school, how could he be worthy of the identity of a prestigious university student?

    Lan University, majoring in wildlife conservation, Jiang Qi chuckled softly.

    He remembered in high school when Zhi Qi told him her dream was in this field. Now, after so many years, she remained true to her original aspiration ¨C ¡°I know choosing this major may seem impractical, but I just want to do what I can.¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s clear and tender voice seemed to linger in his ears across the four years. Jiang Qi¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple rolled, and he stood up. As if his body was being controlled by the deepest desires of his soul, Jiang Qi obediently put on a mask and hat. Fully equipped in Lin Lan¡¯s not-so-cold October weather, he then drove to Lin Lan University.

    Lin Lan was a historically rich ancient university, and even the campus exuded a rich history in its decor. Being a prestigious university, Lin Lan had long be a ¡®tourist attraction.¡¯ During weekends when students had no sses, passersby who wished to visit only needed to show their ID to take a tour.

    Fortunately, the elderly gatekeeper didn¡¯t bother with young people¡¯s gossip and didn¡¯t recognize Jiang Qi.

    Perhaps because he was wearing a hat and a mask, as Jiang Qi entered the strict atmosphere of the campus, he felt out of ce. Surrounded by lively college students, carrying books with light footsteps, and radiant smiles¡­

    In an instant, the young man felt an urge to retreat, but unconsciously, he had already reached the entrance of the female dormitory.

    Jiang Qi stood like a wooden stake under the female dormitory, with only his eyes visible on his face, looking awkward and strange. Many passing female students couldn¡¯t help but whisper and talk quietly when they saw him. Then, they avoided him and hastened their steps away.

    If this continued, even the security mighte to inquire.

    A fleeting self-mockery passed through Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes. In the midst of the internal struggle between ¡®going to the dormitory supervisor to find Zhi Qi¡¯ and ¡®turning away,¡¯ two soft and lively voices came from behind.

    ¡°Have you seen Jiang Qi? How is he in person?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ he¡¯s changed a bit from before. I¡¯ll tell you more when we get back to the dorm.¡±

    The voice behind him, he naturally recognized as Zhi Qi¡¯s.

    The young man¡¯s straight spine tensed for a moment, and even his slender fingers clenched into a fist. Yet, he dared not turn around, only standing rigidly in ce. Then¡­ he watched with the corner of his eye as the girl¡¯s slender figure passed by him.

    But in this world, there might be such a thing as ¡®telepathy.¡¯

    In the moment of passing by Jiang Qi, Zhi Qi turned her head and saw the light-colored, amber-like pupils of the young man, even though he wore a hat and a mask, revealing only those eyes.

    Zhi Qi, struck like lightning, stood frozen in ce, and the book she was holding in her arms fell with a tter.

    ¡°Oh dear.¡± Meng Chunyu next to her was startled. ¡°Why did the book suddenly fall?¡±

    But Zhi Qi waspletely unaware, her eyes staring nkly at Jiang Qi, as if everything and everyone around her had disappeared. She could only see a few meters away, where Jiang Qi stood.

    The girl heard a voice as if her soul had left her body, ¡°Chunyu, you go back first. I¡¯ll pick them up myself.¡±

    At this moment, the dormitory was only a few dozen meters away. Fortunately, Meng Chunyu, in a hurry to retrieve a package, said, ¡®Hurry up,¡¯ and ran off without noticing Zhi Qi¡¯s abnormality.

    And after she left, no one picked up the books on the ground.

    Zhi Qi, without looking away, walked step by step to Jiang Qi¡¯s front.

    She didn¡¯t need to confirm his identity by looking at the clothes he was wearing or the fan meeting items he had on him because with just a pair of eyes, she could recognize her boy. In close proximity, she could distinctly feel the slight trembling of Jiang Qi¡¯s lowered arm, a sign of nervousness.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s lips curled slightly, and there were sparkling lights in her pitch-ck eyes.

    Then, the girl reached out and took off the mask that covered most of the boy¡¯s face. Jiang Qi¡¯s sharply defined, pale yet delicate face appeared in front of her. His lips were slightly pursed, showing evident signs of anxiety.

    *

    [I wanted to see you, and now that wish hase true.]

    [DAY.68.]

 Chapter 15: Im Sorry

    Chapter 15: Im Sorry

    *The boy¡¯s eyes are indeed beautiful, clear and cold.

    Looking at Jiang Qi¡¯s panicked eyes, Zhi Qi was reminded of the time she saw him again at the age of sixteen in Third Middle School.

    ¡ªTime seemed to have suddenly returned to the past.

    In Jiang Qi¡¯s light gaze, Zhi Qi seemed to see her past self, that disheveled girl in the scorching summer.

    She actually remembered the day of elementary school graduation, even to the point that she could say she always remembered it. Because when the girl grew up and recalled that day, she realized how wrong Jiang Qi was at that time.

    Hey in a dpidated and cramped environment, pale, weak, almost on the verge of copse. Yet, he sternly chased her away, looking as if the room could harbor some evil spirit. In fact, she should have noticed that something was wrong with him at that time. Unfortunately, the young girl had always been sheltered, never having someone coldly stare her down like that.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s scolding only made things more unbearable, and Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She ran away, stepping into a foul puddle, and the young man didn¡¯t offer a word offort.

    On the way home, Zhi Qi felt like a dog that had lost everything.

    At her tender age, she felt that it was the saddest day of her life.When she returned home, her mother threw away Zhi Qi¡¯s stinky shoes. When she went to wash up, she discovered that she had contracted something. Perhaps because of the germs bred in that dpidated Chenkong alley, and the girl, being delicate, had developedrge patches of red rash on her slender legs, itching and painful.

    Zhi Qi didn¡¯t know if it was because of the difort or some other reason, but when Mei Ran applied medicine to her, she couldn¡¯t help but shed tears continuously. Her eyes were red with distress. When her parents asked her how it happened, she just shook her head and refused to say. It was her own fault, nothing to do with Jiang Qi. She insisted on going to find him.

    It was just that Jiang Qi was too harsh today; she didn¡¯t want to see him for the next few days!

    Little did Zhi Qi realize at that time that her thought of ¡®a few days¡¯ would turn into a whole three years or even more.

    Initially, she thought it was just a summer vacation without seeing Jiang Qi, and when they entered middle school, they would naturally be ssmates again. The girl¡¯s wound was exaggeratedly treated by the adults, covered with ointment and wrapped in gauze. She couldn¡¯t go out and y around for several days.

    So, when bored at home, she couldn¡¯t help but think of Jiang Qi.

    When Zhi Qi¡¯s legs had healed a weekter, her personality was the ssic ¡®healed scars forgotten pain.¡¯ She didn¡¯t remember at all what Jiang Qi had forbade about never going to Chen Kong Alley. After removing the white gauze wrapped around her legs, she ran over.

    As a result, the cramped house where the young man hadinst time was empty. Inside, even the mostmon daily necessities were gone, as if¡­ no one had ever lived there.

    Zhi Qi stood dumbfounded, foolishly outside the bungalow, struggling to peer through the window.

    The driver from the Zhi family, who had driven Zhi Qi here, couldn¡¯t bear the surrounding environment. He covered his nose and said, ¡°Qiqi, why did youe to this ce? Hurry back; otherwise, the master and madam will worry.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I came to find a ssmate.¡± Zhi Qi, feeling deste, lowered her long eyshes and asked hesitantly, ¡°But there¡¯s no one here. Uncle, do you think he moved away?¡±

    ¡°Oh, look, it¡¯s obvious that he moved.¡± The driver nced around and said without much thought, ¡°There¡¯s nothing left inside; who could live here?¡±

    A ¡®thud¡¯ sounded in Zhi Qi¡¯s heart.

    After all, specting that there was no one here and hearing it from someone else were different.

    Jiang Qi moved¡­ where could he have moved to?

    She only now realized that she had no way to contact Jiang Qi. After graduating from elementary school, the invisible thread that connected them seemed to have snapped. Just like now, he moved, and she had no idea where to find him. Zhi Qi returned home in a daze.

    During the remaining month of summer vacation, Zhi Qi was always looking forward to the start of junior high.

    She wasn¡¯t really a ¡®good student¡¯ who loved studying, but now, going to school was the only way to see Jiang Qi, so she weed the idea of going to school. However, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t expect that even after starting junior high, she still couldn¡¯t see Jiang Qi.

    The new students at Eighth Middle School were divided into seven sses, and Zhi Qi was in ss Six. On the first day of school, she entered her ss with high expectations, searched around, and although a bit disappointed not to find Jiang Qi¡¯s shadow, she still felt it was within expectations.

    After all, with seven sses in Eighth Middle School, the chance of being in the same ss was only one in seven. Not getting into the same ss was normal, but it was hard to avoid feeling a bit uneasy about it.

    Since entering the sixth grade, the baby fat on Zhi Qi¡¯s face had faded away. She had a palm-sized face, a pointed chin, and eyes as dark as ink on her ivory-white skin. From a young age, she was aplete beauty.

    And wherever there¡¯s a beautiful girl, there are perks. She quickly made new friends in her ss, particrly a round-faced girl named Luo Ying, who became her desk mate.

    During a break, Zhi Qi propped her chin with a pencil and asked, ¡°Ying Ying, do you know¡­ I want to find a ssmate in school, but I don¡¯t know which ss he¡¯s in. Is there any way?¡±

    Originally not holding much hope, Zhi Qi was surprised to find out that Luo Ying actually knew.

    ¡°There¡¯s a way!¡± the girl nodded, her voice crisp, ¡°I remember there¡¯s a long ckboard at the entrance of the teaching building with the names of students from each ss posted on it. It¡¯s convenient for parents to find. Don¡¯t you know?¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s eyes lit up, shaking her head.

    During the lunch break, the girl ran non-stop to the long ckboard at the entrance of the teaching building and carefully examined the densely written names on the posted sheets.

    However, the more she looked, the more flustered she felt.

    Because there was no sign of Jiang Qi¡¯s name in any of the seven sses.

    Jiang Qi¡­ could it be that he didn¡¯te to Eighth Middle School? But didn¡¯t they agree to attend the same school?

    Zhi Qi stared at the names on the ckboard, her eyes feeling a bit sore. But after a thorough look, she still couldn¡¯t find Jiang Qi¡¯s name. Zhi Qi could finally confirm that Jiang Qi didn¡¯te to Eighth Middle School; he lied.

    In an instant, the girl¡¯s small hand hanging by her side involuntarily clenched¡ªthis was the first time she began to ¡®resent¡¯ Jiang Qi in a somewhat extreme manner.

    Clearly, they had agreed on something. Why did he have to lie to her?

    So, the farewell in Chen Kong Alley over a month ago, could it be theirst meeting?

    This made Zhi Qi feel like the mutualpanionship during those few years of elementary school was like a joke. She thought¡­ she and Jiang Qi were different.

    It turns out she wasn¡¯t. Turns out, she was someone Jiang Qi could discard at will, without even a word. Zhi Qi wiped her slightly reddened eyes with her hand, no longer looking at the names on the ckboard. She turned around, biting her lip, and ran away. Since Jiang Qi could casually lie and leave without a word, she naturally didn¡¯t need to remember him.

    Human ¡®initiative¡¯ has its limits; once the disappointment bes overwhelming, there¡¯s no longer any desire to try.

    So, for the next three years, Zhi Qi never actively sought out Jiang Qi. She didn¡¯t know where to find him and also felt¡­ there was no need to search for someone who simply didn¡¯t care about her. Yet, asionally, she felt a bit empty if she thought she might never see Jiang Qi again.

    The girl¡¯s personality underwent subtle changes without her realizing. She remained bright and gentle, but her three years of junior high school couldn¡¯t make her open her heart to any ¡®friend¡¯ as before.

    Because suddenly losing an important friend is genuinely heartbreaking. However, if there was never deep emotional investment from the beginning, there wouldn¡¯t be heartbreak, or at least not as profound. The disappointment of that summer at the age of thirteen turned Zhi Qi into a timid girl.

    When junior high school ended, facing the summer at the age of fifteen, she thought she had forgotten Jiang Qi¡ªbecause she rarely thought of him anymore.

    ¨C Time is the best healer of all.

    ¨C Those skies that seemed to copse back then were actually just stubbornly dragged through by lingering reluctance at that time.

    With three years of focused effort, Zhi Qi excelled academically. During the high school entrance exam, she unquestionably secured a spot in the top-ranked Third High School in the city.

    The sixteen-year-old girl grew taller, with a slender figure, resembling a graceful lily. She had a delicate palm-sized face, dark beautiful eyes. Even in the simplest school uniform and with a ponytail, she was incredibly captivating.

    When entering high school, students usually received ss cement notifications through the ss group on their phones. Most students had mobile phones, eliminating the need to bend over the bulletin board in front of the teaching building to check their ss assignments.

    And sometimes, destiny is truly a mysterious and coincidental thing.

    Just like on the day Zhi Qi went to report for school, as she walked to the entrance of her assigned ss, her heart inexplicably skipped a beat. As if sensing that something was about to happen, a sudden difort filled the air. The girl¡¯s delicate eyebrows lightly furrowed, her small hand instinctively pinched her translucent earlobe, and then she entered the ssroom.

    She wasn¡¯t particrly early; there were already quite a few students in the ssroom. Taking advantage of the teacher¡¯s absence, they hurriedly chose their seats ¨C mostly towards the back. Zhi Qi stood at the door, her gaze sweeping across the ssroom, finally settling on the figure at the window in thest row.

    In an instant, she felt like her senses were somewhat nk, and in the vastness, all she could see was the silhouette of the young man.

    Three years had passed, from thirteen to sixteen, and a person could change a lot.

    Yet, at a nce, Zhi Qi could tell that the slender youth in the school uniform was Jiang Qi. He sat indifferently in the corner, looking out the window. She could only see half of his profile, sharp and decisive. The youth, as always, was slim and pale, as if suffering from some malnutrition. But whether it was the legs under the desk or the fingers casually twirling a pen on the desktop, they were quite long.

    It seemed that Jiang Qi had also grown taller, and Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit sour.

    Compared to a few years ago, the youth had ¡®grown up¡¯ quite a bit. The lines on his face were exquisite and sharp, with sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes carrying a hint of fierceness. There was a youthful aura on his clear and pale face.

    However, annoyingly, there was no trace of ¡®innocence.¡¯

    As Zhi Qi hesitated about whether to approach, she saw several girls from the same ss gossiping and shyly walking over to greet Jiang Qi, ¡°ssmate, um, you¡­¡±

    Before the words could fullye out, Jiang Qi, who was already leaning away, turned his head even further, almostpletely turning his back to them, clearly indicating he had no intention of talking.

    ¡­

    Those few girls stood there for a moment, their faces showing a hint of disbelief. Eventually, unable to hold back their displeasure, they walked away, muttering, ¡°What kind of person is he?¡± with disdain.

    Though it wasn¡¯t entirely appropriate, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but find it a bit amusing. Her porcin-white teeth bit her lip, and after pinching her palm forcefully, she walked towards Jiang Qi.

    She looked at the youth¡¯s pitch-ck hair and the glimpse of his neck between the cor of the school uniform. Her voice was soft and gentle, ¡°A ssmate.¡±

    No response.

    As expected, Jiang Qi was still as cold and unapproachable as before.

    Undeterred, Zhi Qi took a deep breath and called out again, ¡°Jiang Qi.¡±

    This time, the boy turned his head. Zhi Qi, without diverting her gaze, stared fixedly at Jiang Qi. In his crystal-clear pupils, she clearly saw a vivid surprise. The youth¡¯s eyes were truly beautiful, transparent and icy.

    Knowing how difficult it was for such astonishment to appear on top of that coldness, Zhi Qi felt satisfied. It seemed he still remembered her, and a small smile curled up on the corner of the girl¡¯s lips. Looking into Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes, which were seemingly ck but held an endless expanse like a gentle and calm sea, the emotions of surprise gradually subsided.

    He pursed his lips and spoke in a low voice, ¡°¡­Zhi Qi.¡±

    He had always called her that because Zhi Qi liked the name. Three yearster, it remained the same. Zhi Qi sighed lightly, unsure if the emotion in her voice was regret or contentment, ¡°So, you still remember me.¡±

    Having said that, the girl ignored him.

    Zhi Qi seemed to have juste over to say a casual greeting. After speaking, she turned around and left, finding a seat far away from Jiang Qi. Across several rows of desks, Jiang Qi could only gaze nkly at the girl¡¯s slender and straight back.

    For some reason, almost without thinking, he stood up and moved to sit behind Zhi Qi.

    In reality, Jiang Qi particrly disliked the front and middle rows of the ssroom. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have chosen a corner to sit in the first ce. But¡­ he still wanted to talk to Zhi Qi.

    As if having a telepathic sense, Zhi Qi turned her head, and the peach blossom eyes at the corner of her eyes looked at him. The smile on her lips carried a hint of teasing, ¡°Why did youe over?¡±

    Jiang Qi remained silent for a moment, his voice somewhat awkward, ¡°I¡­ I want to talk to you.¡±

    ¡°Well, is there anything we need to talk about?¡± Zhi Qi smiled, her slightly narrowed eyes holding a trace of chilliness. ¡°What should be said, didn¡¯t you tell me long ago?¡±

    At that moment, the teacher walked in, and without hesitation, Zhi Qi turned her head. Jiang Qi¡¯s slender fingers involuntarily gripped the pen, his mind buzzing with confusion¡ªso much so that he didn¡¯t pay attention to what the teacher was lecturing about.

    On the first day of school, he hadn¡¯t even remembered the ss teacher¡¯s name.

    The youth continued to gaze at the girl¡¯s figure without letting go, and after a while, he smiled gently. Zhi Qi had changed a bit in temperament from childhood, but she was still adorable. Encountering her again was beyond his expectations.

    But it was genuinely good.

    *

    For the entire week after school started, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t speak to Jiang Qi.

    The girl no longer clung to him like she did in elementary school, joking around, having lunch together, or discussing problems head to head. Instead, there was aplete attitude of indifference.

    Zhi Qi would hang out with other girls having a good time after ss, only returning when it¡¯s time for the next ss. At noon, she would go to the cafeteria with friends. After school in the evening, taking advantage of the proximity of her home to the school, she would briskly ride her bicycle and leave.

    She never gave Jiang Qi any chance to talk to her.

    And Jiang Qi happened to be the type of person who was extremely clumsy with words.

    He vaguely felt that the girl was angry, and it seemed like she had been angry since the first day they met. However, he was a bit unsure of how to apologize.

    It¡¯s not that a simple ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± from his mouth is too precious, but rather¡­ Jiang Qi really doesn¡¯t know how. Growing up, he had never apologized to anyone, and in this regard, he was really not adept. However, the feeling of being deliberately ignored by her all the time was truly ufortable.

    So, on the Friday evening before the weekend break, after school, Jiang Qi stood in front of Zhi Qi for the first time. The chilly atmosphere around him startled Zhi Qi¡¯s female ssmate Tang Jiao, but the young girl remained oblivious, not even lifting her eyelids.

    ¡°Qiqi,¡± Jiang Qi restrained himself, looking at her with a tone forcibly softened, ¡°Can I talk to you for a few moments?¡±

    Everyone in the ss knew that Jiang Qi was so silent that even teachers rarely called his name. His temperament was always cold and intimidating. The rare ¡®gentle¡¯ demeanor he disyed at this moment surprised Tang Jiao. Zhi Qi, holding her books, shook her head. A few strands of loose hair fell onto her face as she moved, and her ck eyes were pure and innocent.

    This was evidently a refusal, but this time, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t leave. He continued to stand in front of the two girls, creating a tense and awkward atmosphere.

    Finally, Tang Jiao couldn¡¯t take it anymore and decided to leave first. She weakly said, ¡°Uh, Qiqi, I¡¯ll go first. How about we walk together tomorrow?¡± Zhi Qi nodded gently.

    The slender figure of the tall and thin young man blocked the way in front of the bicycle, forcing Zhi Qi to look up at him.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± The girl¡¯s voice was soft, with a faint emotion, ¡°What are you up to?¡±

    Her voice was enough to soften bones, but it wasn¡¯t intentionally coquettish.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s fingers hanging by his side moved, and he lowered his eyes slightly, ¡°I want to talk to you.¡±

    He half-lowered his head, a tall figure with a somewhat pitiful aura. Zhi Qi looked at him in silence for a few seconds before sighing.

    ¡°Fine.¡± The young girl nced at her watch, proudly lifting her chin, ¡°Ten minutes.¡±

    The two went to the deserted rear yground of the school, with Jiang Qi helping Zhi Qi push her bicycle. Once they reached a quiet spot, Jiang Qi¡¯s first words were a straightforward apology, ¡°Zhi Qi, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Zhi Qi visibly paused.

    After a moment, the girl looked at him quietly and asked, ¡°Why are you apologizing?¡±

    ¡°For everything,¡± Jiang Qi pursed his lips, evidently reciting the prepared speech he had nned for these days in one go. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been harsh on you before, shouldn¡¯t have left without saying anything, and¡­ shouldn¡¯t have been absent for years.¡±

    At first, he was a bit stiff, but as he continued, his voice became more flowing and increasingly subdued.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s expression showed a slight rxation, and she looked at the young man before her withplex emotions.

    In fact, even when pretending to ignore Jiang Qi, she would secretly nce at him. Over the past few years, the boy had grown much taller, more silent, and even more gloomy. Sometimes, it wasn¡¯t that she deliberately wanted to ignore him, but after three years, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t quite know how to interact with Jiang Qi anymore.

    Should they be like before? That was impossible, not to mention the gap created by three years. Just the physical and psychological maturity of both the boy and the girl meant that they couldn¡¯t be as close as they were in elementary school.

    But staying away from Jiang Qi¡­ she couldn¡¯t do that either.

    Zhi Qi knew herself; she simply couldn¡¯t swallow that pride. In the past three years, to say she didn¡¯t miss him was impossible.

    ¡°Why do you think¡­¡± The young girl struggled to speak, ¡°Why do you think you can leave for three years without saying a word?¡±

    Jiang Qi looked up, seeing Zhi Qi¡¯s fair face with slightly red eyes. It felt like an invisible hand had twisted something in his heart. The sour ache was inexplicable, and he could only stand there, dumbly listening to Zhi Qi¡¯s almost usatory words.

    ¡°You want to disappear, then disappear. Want to reappear, then reappear.¡± Zhi Qi wasn¡¯t the same girl who could cry freely anymore. She noticed her loss ofposure, forcefully wiped her face, and after sniffing, she said with a measured tone, ¡°And then apologize to me, and I should forgive you?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that,¡± Jiang Qi felt helpless as he saw her teary eyes. Unfortunately, the usually aloof young man didn¡¯t know how tofort others. He could only awkwardly shake his head and say, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. If you¡­ if you don¡¯t forgive me, it¡¯s normal.¡±

    ¡°I just wanted this opportunity to apologize.¡±

    ¡°Jiang Qi, remember.¡± Zhi Qi pushed away his hand, took her own bicycle, and left with a decisive and neat silhouette, leaving only a resolute and tender voice¡ª

    ¡°It was you who broke your promise first.¡±

    So, she decided to ignore Jiang Qi for a while, let him experience the feeling of disappointment, and then¡­

    Forgive him.

    *

    ¨C When facing someone you like, the bottom line and standards can¡¯t help but gradually decrease. Commonly known as: double standards.

    The turning point in the rtionship with Jiang Qi urred a month after the school started. It was the eve of the weekend after the monthly exams, and all students felt exhausted as if they had shed ayer of skin, finally able to rx.

    It was a physical education ss that day. Most boys had gone out to y basketball, and a few girls stayed in the ssroom, some whispering about where to go for the weekend. Zhi Qi didn¡¯t go out either. She sat at her desk, wearing headphones, solving a chemistry problem she didn¡¯t understand in ss.

    During her focused moment, Tang Jiao rushed into the ssroom from outside and ran up to her, saying, ¡°Qiqi Qiqi!¡±

    Zhi Qi was startled by her, took off her headphones somewhat bewildered, and looked up at her.

    She then saw Tang Jiao, whose originally neatly tied ponytail was now a mess, looking terrified. ¡°Oh my, I just went to the school store to buy water. When I passed by the yground, I saw Chen Liufang and Jiang Qi fighting!¡±

    With a ¡®snap,¡¯ the pen that Zhi Qi had been holding fell onto the desk.

    Even the other girls around, who were chatting, looked over upon hearing Tang Jiao¡¯s words.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s face turned pale, her delicate features rarely showing a serious expression. In a nervous tone, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡±

    She knew that Jiang Qi had been fighting since childhood, always with wounds on his body, but¡­ still worried. The little girl almost ran all the way to the back yground, running out of breath, and the scene she saw on the back yground almost made Zhi Qi twist her delicate ankle ¨C

    Chen Liufang and Li Ran, ssmates, were both in a tangle with Jiang Qi.

    Obviously, even in a two-against-one situation, they didn¡¯t gain any advantage. The three boys looked like they had rolled in the mud, covered in dust, hair disheveled, in a sorry state. Although Zhi Qi didn¡¯t know how they started fighting, she was definitely on Jiang Qi¡¯s side. Immediately, she shouted, ¡°I¡¯m going to find the teacher!¡±

    All three boys looked up in unison.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s light-colored eyes brightened when he saw the girl.

    In fact, Zhi Qi was just bluffing. She didn¡¯t actually go to find the teacher in a hurry, but Li Ran was already startled and couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°Zhi Qi, what¡¯s wrong with you?!¡±

    Zhi Qi snorted and said confidently, ¡°Who let you guys fight?¡±

    ¡­

    Tang Jiao, standing nearby, was scared by the fight, looking like a quail. She quickly pulled Zhi Qi¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Why bother meddling?¡±

    Originally, she thought Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi were not on good terms and just wanted to watch the excitement. Who knew that Zhi Qi would immediately shout about finding the teacher?

    ¡°Tsk, it¡¯s a problem. We don¡¯t bother with you girls.¡± Li Ran obviously backed down, pretended to be disdainful, and said to Chen Liufang beside him, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Liufang.¡±

    Chen Liufang followed silently, but when passing by Zhi Qi, he couldn¡¯t help but take several nces. Then, he saw the slender figure of the girl running straight towards Jiang Qi not far away. The soft voice that belonged exclusively to the girl came faintly, ¡°Why are you fighting again?¡±

    Chen Liufang paused, inexplicably stood still, turned around and looked back ¨C

    Zhi Qi quickly ran to Jiang Qi¡¯s side. The girl was half a head shorter than the boy, petite and delicate. She looked at the boy¡¯s pale face with mottled marks and even a hint of blood on his slightly swollen lips, couldn¡¯t help but furrow her brows.

    Later, the girl raised her hand and, with a natural motion, wiped away the bloodstains from the corner of Jiang Qi¡¯s lips.

    ¡°I hate it when you fight.¡± Zhi Qi muttered, pulling Jiang Qi¡¯s hand and looking at his visibly injured knuckles, straightforwardly saying, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go buy some medicine.¡±

    Anyway, it was a physical education ss, and they could secretly run out of the school gate.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes carried a hint of a subtle smile, behaving obediently throughout, letting her manipte him without uttering a word. The natural familiarity between the two astonished Tang Jiao and Li Ran, who were watching nearby. Meanwhile, Chen Liufang¡¯s expression became increasingly dark and indifferent.

    Finally, unable to hold back, he walked up to Zhi Qi, blocking her path. Then, pointing to Jiang Qi beside her, he asked, word by word, ¡°Do you know he¡¯s a lunatic?¡±

    This abrupt statement was enough to make the entire atmosphere eerily silent.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s delicate eyebrows furrowed, and without hesitation, she retorted, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Nonsense? Zhi Qi, can¡¯t you see how much this guy is pretending?¡± Generally, high school boys dislike those who act more than themselves. Chen Liufang had been disliking Jiang Qi for a long time, and now, seeing Zhi Qi defending him, he couldn¡¯t help but mock, almost speaking without filtering, ¡°Day by day, with a deadpan face, not talking to anyone in the ss, acting like he¡¯s owed money by everyone? Zhi Qi, stay away from him.¡±

    But Zhi Qi, after hearing this, couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    ¡°Chen Liufang, why do you care about me?¡± Unfortunately, the girl didn¡¯t know how to use harsh words. Before leaving with Jiang Qi, she gave him a gentle warning, ¡°Please take care of yourself and don¡¯t criticize others unnecessarily.¡±

    Jiang Qi had always been cold and peculiar since childhood, but so what?

    She didn¡¯t dislike his peculiarity. After all, is there a rule in this world that says people must be born tough and conform?

    The more Zhi Qi thought about it, the angrier she became. Along the way to the back wall, her face turned as puffy as a steamed bun. Looking at her, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but smile, his amber eyes seeming to hold a gentle sea.

    ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Zhi Qi, torn between concern and anger, couldn¡¯t help but stop in her tracks when she saw him still smiling. She turned her head, looking at him seriously, ¡°He said such things about you. Aren¡¯t you angry?¡±

    Jiang Qi shook his head, appearing somewhat awkwardly obedient.

    In reality, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t know that Jiang Qi genuinely didn¡¯t care about what Chen Liufang said. Over the years, he had developed the ability to treat the nonsense spoken by those around him as if it were a passing breeze. Most of the time, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to retaliate against others, not even with a nce.

    However, the young girl didn¡¯t share Jiang Qi¡¯s calm attitude, and every time she saw Jiang Qi being insulted, she felt an explosive sense of anger.

    ¡°How can you not be angry?¡± Zhi Qi unconsciously clenched her small hand into a fist. ¡°You¡¯re not some lunatic, pretending¡­ pretending whatever. Chen Liufang is just talking nonsense¡­¡±

    At the end of her words, the girl unconsciously sniffed, as if feeling the same sense of grievance. Zhi Qi¡¯s current mentality was that she could ignore Jiang Qi, but she couldn¡¯t stand others bullying him. She still cared about him immensely.

    However, for Jiang Qi, the crucial point was¡­ the boy¡¯s eyes were bright and shining like light-colored gems, full of anticipation as he looked at Zhi Qi, ¡°Are you willing to talk to me now?¡±

    As long as Zhi Qi was willing to talk to him, he could fight Chen Liufang ten times over.

    ¡­

    Zhi Qi was somewhat speechless, somewhat bemused, but more than anything, she felt heartache.

    After a moment of mutual gaze, the young girl looked at the traces of broken skin at the corners of his mouth, couldn¡¯t help but ¡®chuckle,¡¯ but as sheughed, her shoulders trembled slightly.

    Jiang Qi originallyughed with the girl, but when he saw her lower her head, the smile immediately froze on his lips.

    ¡°Qiqi.¡± The young man unconsciously reached out, but restrained himself and withdrew his hand before touching the girl¡¯s slender shoulder. His cold voice sounded somewhat anxious, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°I dislike you.¡± Zhi Q¨© sniffed, and when she raised her head again, there were obvious sparkles in her eyes.

    But the girl obviously didn¡¯t want him to see that she had cried, so she stubbornly turned her head away and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, can you just listen¡­ annoying.¡±

    In the end, she couldn¡¯t resist and softened, showing apletely cute appearance. Zhi Qi¡¯s fair earlobes turned slightly red as she bit her lip and avoided looking at him.

    But Jiang Qi, after hearing the words ¡°I¡¯m talking to you,¡± couldn¡¯t care about anything else. Unable to resist, he gazed at Zhi Qi with a deep look in his eyes, not exactly smiling.

    It seemed¡­ his eyes were only on her.

    Zhi Qi inexplicably felt a bit embarrassed and pretended to re at him in annoyance. ¡°Why are you looking at me?¡±

    The young man never spoke exaggeratedly seductive words; he just honestly said, ¡°Beautiful.¡±

    But his sincere gaze left Zhi Qi at a loss for words. It turned out that Jiang Qi¡¯s personality had really remained the same as three years ago¡ªdirect and honest, never changing. Perhaps since they had ¡°made up,¡± there was no need to continue being awkward. In fact, she had wanted to reconcile with him as before long ago.

    So, just like three years ago, Zhi Qi linked arms with Jiang Qi and pulled him to the corner of the rear wall on the back yground of the school¡ªwhere students from the school asionally sneaked out when they wanted to skip ss.

    ¡°You go first.¡± Zhi Qi, who had never skipped ss before, was a good and obedient girl. The first time she did this, she felt a bit uneasy, ¡°Then, follow me?¡±

    On the inner side of the wall, some students who often skipped ss had ced a few bricks to climb up, but jumping outside without someone to catch¡­ Zhi Qi thought she might be scared.

    However, skipping ss was something Jiang Qi had done a lot. He nced at the height of those bricks and felt that it would be challenging for Zhi Qi to climb up by herself. So, he half-knelt in front of her and said, ¡°Step on my shoulders to go up first.¡±

    After asking Zhi Qi to wait on the edge, he nned to follow, jump down first, and catch her.

    However, Jiang Qi¡¯s ¡®n,¡¯ though good, turned out to be a bit troublesome in execution. Zhi Qi felt that she couldn¡¯t step on his shoulders.

    ¡°Um¡­ isn¡¯t this not good?¡± Zhi Qi looked at her shoes, hesitating, ¡°It might dirty your clothes.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Jiang Qi nonchntly shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s already dirty.¡±

    Indeed, just now, when he fought with Chen Liufang on the yground, his white school uniform had almost turned ck. Thinking that if she continued hesitating, the PE ss would soon be over, Zhi Qi pursed her lips and cautiously stepped onto the boy¡¯s shoulders.

    She was very light, not afraid of hurting Jiang Qi, but the movement felt a bit awkward. As Zhi Qi felt Jiang Qi grasp her hands and lift her half-upright, her ears couldn¡¯t help but turn a bit warm. She clumsily clung to the wall¡¯s edge, climbed up, and obediently sat there, waiting for him.

    In primary school, they used to hold hands often, but now it seemed a bit strange.

    The boy¡¯s hands were muchrger than three years ago,pletely enveloping her hands in his palms. The only constant was the scars on the back of his hand, seemingly gaining a few more.

    Zhi Qi was lost in her thoughts when a breeze brushed past. Turning her head, she saw that the boy had already sat down next to her. For Jiang Qi, such things seemed effortless, with swift and decisive movements.

    Under the warm afternoon sunlight, the delicate contours of the boy¡¯s half-profile seemed to be coated with ayer of gold, exuding a sculpted and sharp beauty. Zhi Qi¡¯s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked away.

    But no matter where she looked, she couldn¡¯t help but feel her gaze wanting to follow him.

    Especially when Jiang Qi jumped down from the wall and extended his hand to her below, the boy¡¯s calm voice was faint but reassuring, ¡°Come down, I¡¯ll catch you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll catch you.¡±

    Damn those four words that stir the heart. At that time, the young girl didn¡¯t know that the pounding feeling in her chest was the sensation of being ¡®moved.¡¯ Zhi Qi just felt that she could trust Jiang Qi.

    So, she jumped down, her petite body like a bird,nding in the arms of the young boy, though exceptionally sturdy.

    This marked their first intimate act that could be considered a ¡®hug.¡¯

    As Zhi Qi¡¯s soft hair brushed against Jiang Qi¡¯s chin, the boy inexplicably took two cautious steps back, very carefully and restrainedly releasing the girl¡¯s waist.

    Touch and release, he only dared to touch her when he was ¡®protecting¡¯ her.

    Inexplicably, both of them felt a bit awkward, silently understanding each other¡¯s feelings. However, their footsteps were in harmony, leading to the pharmacy behind the school. Zhi Qi asked Jiang Qi to sit on the bench outside and wait. She went in, bought antiseptic, adhesive bandages, and cotton swabs, and then came out to help clean his wounds.

    The scene seemed strangely familiar; in fact, Zhi Qi had done this several times before.

    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Zhi Qi used a cotton swab dipped in antiseptic to touch the wound at the corner of Jiang Qi¡¯s lips. Before he could react, she couldn¡¯t help but furrow her brows, as if feeling the pain herself.

    Jiang Qi shook his head, gazing at Zhi Qi¡¯s long eyshes up close, his eyes slightly absent. In fact, he knew Zhi Qi was afraid of pain. In primary school, when the school organized vinations, she would always hide at the back, afraid.

    So, the girl would empathize with others¡¯ pain, fearing that he might be in pain too.

    But in reality, he had long been ustomed to it, and it seemed like his pain receptors were a bit numb. Jiang Qi lowered his gaze, realizing that he couldn¡¯t feel the stinging sensation of the antiseptic. Well, he didn¡¯t know if that was a good thing or not.

    ¡°Well, okay.¡± After cleaning the wound, Zhi Qi stuck the adhesive bandage on Jiang Qi¡¯s face, covering the ring cut. She admired her handiwork for a moment, then said seriously, ¡°No trouble, no fighting.¡±

    Jiang Qi obediently nodded.

    The appearance of the boy with the adhesive bandage on his lip seemed inexplicably mischievous. His ck disheveled hair framed a pair of eyes that were both cold and wild. Strangely, he behaved extremely well in front of her, creating a strong contrast and even exuding a sense of innocence.

    Zhi Qi nced at him, then turned her head to organize the medicine on herp. Her repeated actions gave off a subtle feeling of ¡®no smoke without fire.¡¯

    There were not many people on this road, and the two students sat quietly, basking in the sunlight, creating a sense of ¡®peaceful days.¡¯

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± After a while, the girl spoke softly, her gentle tone revealing a longstanding confusion, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go to the Eighth Middle School back then?¡±

    This had always been a knot in her heart, and Zhi Qi had wanted to ask for a long time.

    After she asked, she clearly saw Jiang Qi¡¯s fingers, ced on his knee, tighten into a fist.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Jiang Qi apologized again, whispering, ¡°After graduating from elementary school, my household registration was transferred to my uncle¡¯s side, so¡­ I was assigned to the middle school in Itada.¡±

    Itada District was very far away from Lin Lan, almost like a remote suburb. It was a ce where vegetable vendors traded in the morning and where he first rescued Zhi Qi.

    Zhi Qi paused and murmured, ¡°Why did you transfer your household registration to Itada District? Can you tell me?¡±

    Of course, he could. In fact, there was nothing to hide from the little girl. Jiang Qi took a deep breath, turned his head, and looked directly into the girl¡¯s eyes, ¡°I wanted to transfer there myself.¡±

    He wanted to get away from Chen Kong Alley, as far away as possible.

 Chapter 16: Getting Out Of Monsterâ€™s Claw

    Chapter 16: Getting Out Of Monster¡¯s w

    *His fate is an endless and restless journey.

    Chen Kong Alley is a dangerous ce.

    In the cramped and filthy shantytown, it was filled with jackals and tigers. Not only was there a foul ditch where Zhi Qi stepped on, but the entire area¡­ almost had no good ces.

    But if it was just the external conditions, the most dangerous presence happened to be his father, Jiang Quan.

    Since Zhi Qi came to this alley, Jiang Qi felt that he couldn¡¯t stay here.

    He couldn¡¯t live here, and he couldn¡¯t let Zhi Qie looking for him again. The boy covered the wound on his shoulder, cold sweat dotted his pale forehead; heboriously lowered his head to find a roll of bandage under the bed, wrapping it around his injury.

    His deathly pale face had no trace of color on his lips, obviously in extreme pain.

    Jiang Qi closed his eyes to endure this piercing pain and slowly got up, leaving the already gloomy low house. He struggled to move with pain all over his body, gritting his teeth, and managed to walk out. After struggling for two hours, he finally reached the ce of his uncle Jiang Shi in the Itada district.

    Jiang Shi only returned home with his vegetable stall in the evening. At the door, he saw the boy curled up in the corner of the stairs. There was a sudden ¡®thump¡¯ in his heart.Actually, scenes of Jiang Qi activelying to him for help were rare, but the appearance of the boy¡¯s bleeding shoulder in the gray short-sleeved shirt seemed ¡®unusuallymon.¡¯ Jiang Shi frowned, walked up to him, and asked from above, ¡°Did your dad beat you again?¡±

    Jiang Qi pressed his lips, not answering the obvious question.

    After a stalemate for a while, he asked in a low voice, ¡°Uncle, can my household registration be transferred to your name?¡±

    Jiang Shi was stunned, and there was a somewhat impatient joy in his tone, ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    The boy¡¯s voice was hoarse, and he replied with a muffled ¡®yes.¡¯

    Only then did Jiang Shi let him in. Aunt Guan Yue happened toe out of the kitchen with her apron tied around her, and when she saw Jiang Qi, she was stunned. Then, noticing the red marks on the boy¡¯s shoulder, she regained herposure.

    ¡°Tsk, such cruelty.¡± Guan Yue spat, pulling Jiang Qi over and tearing open his clothes. There was a deep wound on the boy¡¯s shoulder, flesh and skin turning, incessantly bleeding, a strong smell hitting their noses, causing Guan Yue to involuntarily step back.

    But those ustomed to the harshness of life could tell at a nce that the wound on Jiang Qi¡¯s shoulder was caused by a sickle. Looking from the neck down, the boy¡¯s fair and bony upper body was densely covered with scars¡ªburns, knife wounds¡­ countless of them, old ones not yet healed, new ones emerging,yer uponyer covering half of his body.

    Jiang Shi and Guan Yue both knew that these were the ¡®masterpieces¡¯ of Jiang Quan.

    Women¡¯s hearts are still somewhat softer. Guan Yue sighed, reaching out to rub Jiang Qi¡¯s head, ¡°Go to the hospital for stitches.¡±

    In the past, when Jiang Quan yed drunk, they could handle the lighter injuries he left on Jiang Qi themselves. But in cases like this, not going to the hospital was not an option. Jiang Qi silently nodded, obediently listening like a lost dog.

    On the way to the hospital, Jiang Shi and his wife discussed moving Jiang Qi¡¯s household registration under their name. Guan Yue¡¯s eyes brightened.

    ¡°Is it true?¡± The woman excitedly eximed, then, seeming to think of something, sighed in a low voice, ¡°But big brother¡­ can he agree?¡±

    Jiang Shi couldn¡¯t help but nce at Jiang Qi.

    The young man sat quietly, his features cold. He stiffened for a moment when he sensed Jiang Shi¡¯s gaze, then spoke in a low voice, ¡°I agree. Uncle, you can sell the house in Chen Kong Alley.¡±

    In fact, this was the fundamental thing that could truly make Jiang Shi and Guan Yue happy. The two looked at each other, suppressing the joy in their eyes without a word. After all, the boy in front of them was different from others.

    The boy¡¯s household registration was forcibly ¡®withheld¡¯ when Jiang Qi¡¯s grandfather was still alive.

    When Jiang Quan was underage, he went to jail for robbery and murder. He came out after more than ten years, almost thirty years old, wasting his time in debauchery. His character became so irritable, gloomy, and fickle to the extreme.

    When the old man was alive, almost all the money in the house was ruthlessly plundered by Jiang Quan, except for the house in Chen Kong Alley. That low, small house had the old man¡¯s name on it, the ce where he intended to spend hister years. The old man despised Jiang Quan and originally nned to leave this only property to his younger son, Jiang Shi¡ªalthough the younger son was uneducated and not promising, he was at least rtively honest.

    However, at this time, Jiang Quan encountered a woman.

    A woman who had all the vices of eating, drinking, gambling, and debauchery, a woman who happened to get along well with Jiang Quan. She was a dishonest girl, willing to sleep with anyone for money. However, Jiang Quan took all the money from his father and brother, sleeping with her for a month alone.

    A monthter, this woman became pregnant, and the child in her belly could only be Jiang Quan¡¯s.

    On a summer day more than ten years ago, the woman, holding a cigarette and a bottle of liquor along with a medical report, came to Chen Kong Alley to negotiate with the old man.

    n one: she would take the abortion money andpensation, get rid of the child, and have no further connection with Jiang Quan.

    n two: she could give birth to the child, but after giving birth, she would receive twenty thousand yuan, then leave without any connection to the Jiang family.

    Even as a night club girl leading a debauched life, she didn¡¯t want to entrust her future to a man like Jiang Quan.

    The old man almost without hesitation chose thetter, using his pension to ¡®save¡¯ Jiang Qi¡¯s life¡ªFor the old man, the child in the woman¡¯s belly represented the continuation of their family, the continuation of blood. Even though the poor surroundings had no ¡®throne¡¯ to inherit, they had to fight to keep this root.

    Born of his mother, Jiang Qi¡¯s features resembled her. The woman was extremely charming and cold, with the most beautiful face, doing the most ruthless things.

    She and Jiang Quan were actually a natural pair, both with dark hearts.

    After ten months of pregnancy, Jiang Qi was sent to the old man¡¯s ce without even drinking a day of his mother¡¯s milk. From then on, the woman disappeared without a trace, and Jiang Qi never saw his mother again.

    As for Jiang Qi¡¯s name, on the day the woman sent him to the Jiang family, the old man happened to be taking Jiang Shi to the temple for blessings. He named him Jiang ¡®Qi¡¯ on the spot. Unfortunately, both of themcked education, and when they registered the name, ¡®Qi¡¯ was mistakenly written as ¡®Æî.¡¯

    The boy¡¯s name itself might be a mistake from the beginning of his life.

    But the only sce in Jiang Qi¡¯s life was the old man.

    The old man treated his grandson like his life, transferred his household registration under his own name, kept Jiang Qi away from Jiang Quan, and even wrote a will connecting the house and household registration, leaving them both to Jiang Qi.

    Unfortunately, the old man passed away in less than two years. In the end, only a household registration and a house were left for Jiang Qi, lifeless objects.

    And this house became Jiang Qi¡¯s only ¡®refuge.¡¯ Although the low and dpidated house in Chen Kong Alley was small and broken, it was still a house within the city limits of Lin Lan. There was a possibility of future redevelopment in the shantytown, so both the devilish father and the calcting uncle and aunt were eyeing the house.

    Only by transferring Jiang Qi¡¯s household registration under their name could they openly have the right to im the house.

    In the past, when Jiang Qi was young, he could only live with Jiang Quan, who stubbornly stayed in Chen Kong Alley. He was often subjected to abuse and beatings¡ªmiddle-aged men with nothing to do, except venting their umted anger from drinking and smoking heavily onto their own son.

    Jiang Qi had nowhere to go, nowhere to escape, and the matter of ¡®domestic violence¡¯ was not something the police would intervene in, let alone anyone else. He could only silently endure Jiang Quan, live with him in mutual hatred, gradually get used to this kind of abuse, and gradually be numb¡­

    In order to go to school, he could only help Jiang Shi¡¯s vegetable stall from a young age, collecting and selling vegetables to earn some tuition and book fees. After all, he couldn¡¯t get a single penny from Jiang Quan.

    Jiang Yu never considered it his ¡®duty to raise a son,¡¯ but Jiang Qi knew he had to study, not live in confusion. With a young and tender mindset apanied by growing resentment, as it gradually took root and spread like a towering tree, he still remembered that he had to ¡®stand out.¡¯

    Going to school seemed to be the only hope visible in the dark and long road. Jiang Qi didn¡¯t want to give up. Even though in his childhood, lying on the steel-wire bed in the cramped and dpidated room, he would shiver uncontrobly every time he heard the heavy footsteps outside, almost unable to control the trembling of his teeth.

    He was afraid of getting beaten, afraid of Jiang Quan.

    Jiang Qi felt that he was probably very wicked, very dark, because every moment¡­ he hoped that his so-called ¡®father¡¯ would die outside, preferably quietly, without even needing to im his body. So he doesn¡¯t have to resist in vain anymore, doesn¡¯t have to endure the pain on his body that makes it impossible to concentrate in ss from time to time.

    He won¡¯t have to¡­ live in constant anxiety.

    It¡¯s a pity that wishes are just wishes. The demon Jiang Quan is still there, but Jiang Qi no longer wants to stay with him in Chen Kong Alley.

    He is willing to use the house left by his grandfather to exchange for a ce to stay with his uncle, willing to attend middle school in the distant Itada District away from the city center, as long as he can get away from Chen Kong Alley.

    During the stitching at the hospital, Jiang Qi remained silent the entire time, allowing beads of sweat the size of soybeans to slowly drip from his forehead.

    Even the doctor who was stitching couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°The little boy has backbone, quite resilient to pain.¡±

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t speak, but Guan Yue couldn¡¯t help sighing softly on the side.

    ¡ªHow could this be considered resilience to pain? Clearly, he¡¯s ustomed to it.

    *

    On the night after the household registration waspleted, it was the first time in Jiang Qi¡¯s life that someone called the police for him when facing Jiang Quan¡¯s beating.

    When Jiang Quan came aggressively to their door, the first thing he did was aim a fierce kick at Jiang Qi¡¯s chest, kicking the slender figure into the corner. The head involuntarily made a ¡®bang¡¯ sound as it hit the wall, and Jiang Qi frowned, his head hanging soft.

    Amidst Jiang Quan¡¯s furious curses, there was also Guan Yue¡¯s screams.

    In the chaotic sound of ssware shattering, Jiang Shi dragged Jiang Quan into the courtyard, and the door inside the house ¡®click¡¯ locked. In the extreme pain, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

    For the first time, in the confrontation with Jiang Quan, he felt a sense of ¡®protection¡¯¡ªeven if this feeling was exchanged for a house. Later, the two brothers from the Jiang family went to the police station with swollen faces.

    After briefly describing the situation, the police seemed ustomed to scenes where fights erupted over ¡®family property.¡¯ They calmly said to Jiang Quan, ¡°Breaking and entering, taking the initiative to fight, fifteen days of detention, double if repeated. If you have any objections, you can file awsuit in court.¡±

    However, Jiang Quan was not in a position to file awsuit.

    He had no money, relying on small tricks every month to scrape together a living. Where would he get the money to go to court against Jiang Shi?

    Moreover, the homeowner of the house was Jiang Qi, and regardless of his self-proimed identity as his ¡®old man,¡¯ it couldn¡¯t change this fact.

    ¡°F*ck his b*tch mother.¡± Before being detained, Jiang Quan, with a gloomy gaze, dripping water, once smirked at Jiang Shi, ¡°Tell my son to wait for his old man toe out.¡±

    Thetter part of the sentence didn¡¯t need to be said; Jiang Shi could guess what it was.

    It was nothing but ¡®I¡¯ll kill him,¡¯ a statement Jiang Quan had uttered countless times to them.

    *

    ¡°Since then, my household registration has been at my uncle¡¯s ce, so I attended high school at Itada District No.1 Middle School. Later, I even got into Third Middle School.¡±

    Countless embarrassing memories shed through his mind, but facing Zhi Qi, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t want to narrate his past as if ¡®seeking sympathy.¡¯ He provided only brief exnations. However, from the subtle hints and phrases, Zhi Qi could sense that the young man had gone through a tough time.

    His pair of hands were clearly long and delicate, with distinct joints. However, there were several clear scars on them, indicating the rough and often hardworking nature of those hands. Just moments of holding her hand, Zhi Qi could feel the thick calluses¡­

    Thinking about Jiang Qi¡¯s casual remark, ¡®Most of the time, I help my uncle sell vegetables at the market,¡¯ the young girl couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge in her heart.

    At this youthful age, most boys and girls are carefree, thinking about where to go during holidays or which celebrity is the most handsome. At most, they focus on studying. But how many are like Jiang Qi, selling vegetables for the sake of education and livelihood?

    Suppressing the bitterness in the corners of her eyes, Zhi Qi knew that Jiang Qi wouldn¡¯t want to see her feeling pitiful and wanting to cry.

    After sniffing, the girl forced a smile and said, ¡°Jiang Qi, it¡¯s actually my fault. I should have thought that you not attending that High School must have a reason. And then I¡­ got angry with you.¡±

    This really shouldn¡¯t have happened. The more Zhi Qi thought about it, the more she felt she was being unreasonable. But Jiang Qi didn¡¯t want to see her with any self-me or guilt. The young man¡¯s sharp eyebrows slightly furrowed, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±

    He liked it when Zhi Qi was angry with him. As long as Zhi Qi was still willing to talk to him, everything was fine.

    ¡°Jiang Qi, are you still helping your uncle sell vegetables now?¡± Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want him to dwell on those sad things, deliberately changing the topic. She looked at the boy¡¯s delicately contoured profile and smiled, ¡°Are you the most handsome person in the vegetable market?¡±

    Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but pause, only realizing btedly that the girl was praising him, praising him for being¡­ handsome. Unconsciously, the warmth rose to the young man¡¯s ears, and he lowered his head in silence¡ªhe couldn¡¯t shamelessly admit that he was the handsomest in the vegetable market.

    However, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t let him off. The girl tugged at Jiang Qi¡¯s fingers and continued to smile, ¡°Next time you sell vegetables, take me with you, okay? I want to give it a try too.¡±

    She wanted Jiang Qi to know that selling vegetables wasn¡¯t something to be ashamed of. Everyone has their own way of making a living, and she could handle selling vegetables too. Jiang Qi understood the meaning behind the girl¡¯s words, and his gaze unconsciously softened bit by bit.

    He softly agreed, ¡°Okay.¡±

    Under Jiang Qi¡¯s amber-like light-colored eyes, Zhi Qi had a moment of distraction. She thought, the boy is really obedient, willing to listen to everything she says, which is really good.

    -His eyes are like the calmestke.

    -Let sorrow settle peacefully in my heart, just like dusk in a quiet forest.

    *

    But if you really consider Jiang Qi as a ¡®very obedient¡¯ boy, that is one of the biggest illusions in life.

    What Zhi Qi didn¡¯t know was that Jiang Qi was only obedient to her.

    Towards others, Jiang Qi might be, as Chen Liufang mentioned before, like a pretentious and arrogant show-off. If someone provoked him, he would unreservedly turn into a madman. Perhaps due to his upbringing, Jiang Qi had an extremeck of trust and a reluctance to engage with everything around him.

    The young man didn¡¯t make friends with people in the ss, not even saying a word to them. Hecked the vitality and sunshine typical of sixteen or seventeen-year-olds. All he had was a gloomy atmosphere. Jiang Qi¡¯s silent and unsociable nature quickly became ¡®well-known¡¯ in the ss, but even the teachers couldn¡¯t do anything about it.

    Because not liking to talk and being unsociable aren¡¯t crimes, and there¡¯s nothing to be done about not fitting in.

    Moreover, Jiang Qi had good grades.

    Since childhood, the boy had a single-minded desire to ¡®stand out¡¯ through good studies. Although he was covered with ¡®thorns¡¯ that didn¡¯t fit into this world, he was serious about his academic pursuits. Otherwise, Jiang Qi wouldn¡¯t have been able to transfer from a middle school in the poor district of Itada, where the student resources weregging, to Third High School with top-notch grades.

    In this ss, he only spoke to Zhi Qi.

    Just like in elementary school, he still carried a vacuumyer around him, keeping everyone at a distance of a thousand miles. Only Zhi Qi could enter, and everyone else felt out of ce.

    At the beginning, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t feel anything wrong. She could still have lunch with Jiang Qi as usual, explore problems together, and in the evening, Jiang Qi would even walk her home. For the little girl, it was pure happiness.

    But gradually, there were some rumors in the ss.

    For example, some people said that Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi were in a puppy love.

    ¡®Puppy love¡¯ was a very serious and taboo term in high school, and Zhi Qi had never thought that she could be associated with this word. Because in her perception, she had known Jiang Qi since childhood, and interaction and close contact were natural things, not rted to any ¡®puppy love.¡¯ But it wasn¡¯t until Tang Jiao called her out to whisper after school that Zhi Qi realized that in the eyes of others, she and Jiang Qi were indeed in a puppy love rtionship.

    ¡°Um, Qiqi.¡± Tang Jiao whispered to her, seemingly embarrassed, ¡°Are you and Jiang Qi¡­ um, getting too close?¡±

    At first, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t understand what she meant, blinking her big eyes in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? We¡¯ve known each other for a long time.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but¡­¡± When it came to matters rted to ¡®affection,¡¯ girls usually felt very embarrassed. Tang Jiao hesitated as she advised her, ¡°But our ssmates are saying that you and Jiang Qi¡­ you two are in a romantic rtionship.¡±

    When the three words ¡®in a romantic rtionship¡¯ were mentioned, the girl¡¯s voice became almost as weak as a mosquito. After hearing what Tang Jiao said, a thunderous sound echoed in Zhi Qi¡¯s mind, and her snow-white face turned red from her forehead to the roots of her ears in an instant.

    ¡°N-No way!¡± The girl stammered in defense, her voice trembling with indignation, ¡°We haven¡¯t, haven¡¯t done that.¡±

    For a girl who was so naive that she didn¡¯t even have the concept of love, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t bring herself to say the three words ¡®in romantic rtionship.¡¯

    Her small hands involuntarily clenched into fists, and after taking a deep breath, she said firmly, ¡°This is a rumor, Jiao Jiao. Who spread that about us?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Tang Jiao frowned in distress, sighing softly, ¡°Qiqi, many people in the ss are talking about it now. If someone tells the teacher, it won¡¯t be good.¡±

    ¡°How about¡­ how about you just stay away from Jiang Qi a bit? Don¡¯t you find him a bit strange?¡±

    From Tang Jiao¡¯s perspective, this was a ¡®well-intentioned¡¯ suggestion.

    However, Zhi Qi was furious.

    Why should she distance herself from Jiang Qi just because of the gossip and rumors of those around her? Shouldn¡¯t the most important thing be her own clear conscience? Moreover, where was Jiang Qi ¡®strange¡¯?

    In fact, Zhi Qi and Tang Jiao had a good rtionship, almost like talking about everything as front and back desk buddies. But at this moment, the girl still remembered her first ¡®friend¡¯ from elementary school, who she fell out with because of Jiang Qi¡ªZhi Shuang.

    It was also because of Jiang Qi that Zhi Shuang followed the crowd and ndered Jiang Qi along with the public. Although the ¡®herd mentality¡¯ is human nature, Zhi Qi still couldn¡¯t help but feel that this kind of follow-the-crowd thinking was a sign of an unhealthy personality. But Tang Jiao was not Zhi Shuang, and she was no longer the girl who would casually break off friendships with people.

    ¡°Jiao Jiao, Jiang Qi is not strange; you just don¡¯t understand him.¡± This time, Zhi Qi took a deep breath, choosing to exin to Tang Jiao. The girl¡¯s delicate face showed an almost serious attitude¡ª

    ¡°I¡¯ve known him for many years and know that he is a good person.¡±

    ¡°In this world, not everyone has to be sociable or likable.¡±

    ¡°Jiang Qi may just be someone not very likable, but I like him.¡±

    ¡­

    Tang Jiao couldn¡¯t help but look at her in astonishment.

    And Zhi Qi just smiled slightly, openly and honestly saying, ¡°I¡¯m talking about liking as friends.¡±

    ¡°Following the crowd in judging someone can sometimes blind one¡¯s eyes. Under the spread of false information, it also damages another person¡¯s reputation.¡± Zhi Qi smiled, picked up her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. Before leaving, she sincerely said to Tang Jiao¡ª

    ¡°Jiao Jiao, both you and Jiang Qi are my friends. I hope you observe him with your own eyes rather than judge him based on others¡¯ words. Goodbye.¡±

    With that, the girl turned and went downstairs.

    At this moment, the first-year students had mostly left, while the second and third-year students were still in ss. Under the big locust tree on the yground, there was the slender shadow of a boy waiting for her. A faint dimple appeared at the corner of Zhi Qi¡¯s lips as she walked towards Jiang Qi in the moonlight. She trusted him, liked him, and that was all.

    *

    Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi certainly didn¡¯t have a puppy love, at least not at the age of sixteen in the first year of high school.

    As forter¡­ in fact, they had long understood some things.

    It¡¯s just that in the moment of youth, young people don¡¯t understand whiches faster, tomorrow or the unexpected. So the love that had been dered long ago finally faded away silently amidst the ¡®thunderous¡¯ casualties.

    Now, after four years, they were approaching each other for the first time.

    But Zhi Qi still remembered the fact that Jiang Qi was now a ¡®public figure.¡¯ After removing the boy¡¯s mask, the girl hesitantly covered his face with her hand. The slightly cool lips were covered by the girl¡¯s soft palm, and Jiang Qi was momentarily lost in thought. Then, Zhi Qi, as if feeling guilty, put the mask back on the boy stealthily. With a slightly tiptoed and adorable posture, you could see her long eyshes fluttering like little fans when she lowered her eyes.

    Zhi Qi took Jiang Qi¡¯s hand and spoke softly, ¡°Come with me.¡±

    The area around Lan University was bustling, making it inconvenient to talk. Zhi Qi led the boy to the back garden of the female dormitory at Lan University. It was usually a popr spot for couples in the evening, but during the day, it was deserted, making it a good ce for conversation.

    The two sat on a bench in the garden, surrounded by lush scenery. The boy, however, stood out in his all-ck attire.

    This time¡¯s ¡®reunion after a long separation¡¯ is different from the one in high school, but Jiang Qi is still¡­ very nervous. His slender fingers unconsciously clenched into fists, and the palm of his hand quickly became moist with cold sweat.

    Zhi Qi looked at the evident nervousness in Jiang Qi¡¯s light-colored pupils. She felt likeughing, but she restrained herself, maintaining a calm expression and tone.

    ¡°How did you know I was here?¡±

    She could be infatuated and passionate about Jiang Qi on the inte, expressing her love for him as if he were a confidant every day. But in real life, Zhi Qi had to convey her attitude to Jiang Qi¡ªshe minded the young man repeatedly leaving without notice and suddenly reappearing, even though she was genuinely concerned about him.

    ¡°I¡­¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s voice under the mask was muffled, his eyes staring at her without blinking. ¡°I saw you at the fan meeting.¡±

    His voice was noticeably uneasy.

    Zhi Qi remained silent for a moment, squinted her eyes, and asked, ¡°Saw me?¡±

    She didn¡¯t have a VIP ticket, nor was she in a good position among the thousands of people. How could Jiang Qi spot her?

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Qi nodded, taking out his phone and handing it over obediently. ¡°I knew you were at the fan meeting today.¡±

    So, he had been looking for her all along.

    Zhi Qi took the phone suspiciously. On the screen were rows of private messages in the Weibo ¡®Confession¡¯ box.

    ¡­

    The fair-skinned girl¡¯s face instantly turned red, then exploded!

    ¡°You!¡± She stood up suddenly, looking down at Jiang Qi, her voice involuntarily stuttering, ¡°Aren¡¯t you celebrities supposed to ignore Weibo private messages?¡±

    Could it be that Meng Chunyu lied to her? But this was too, too, too embarrassing!

    Zhi Qi looked at the private message list filled with shameless and cheesy words, feeling like she could crawl into a crack in the floor.

    Meanwhile, the young man with a ¡®steel straight male heart¡¯ still didn¡¯t understand why Zhi Qi suddenly got angry.

    Jiang Qi stood up somewhat awkwardly, shaking his head in exnation, ¡°I only recently saw it. Before that, my assistant used to log in to this ount. I didn¡¯t¡­ didn¡¯t intentionally see it and note to find you.¡±

    He thought Zhi Qi was angry because of this reason, exining with genuine emotions.

    Zhi Qi, still embarrassed, didn¡¯t look at him, turned her head and asked with a pout, ¡°Then why are you here now?¡±

    Jiang Qi replied without hesitation, ¡°I just found out you were here, so I wanted toe and find you.¡±

    ¡­

    Perhaps when ites to someone you care about, the bottom line is that a casual sentence from them can easily break down all the defenses you¡¯ve built in your heart.

    Just like six years ago, when they reunited.

    In reality, there were many questions she wanted to ask¡ª

    ¡®How is it inside? When did youe out?¡¯

    ¡®Why did you enter the entertainment industry? Are you doing well now?¡¯

    ¡®In these years¡­ have you ever thought of me?¡¯

    But with countless thoughts swirling in her mind, she suddenly felt like she couldn¡¯t ask anything.

    After a while, Zhi Qi just sighed softly. Then, she turned around, familiarly removed half of Jiang Qi¡¯s mask and put it back on for him, her voice gentle, ¡°Your phone has been ringing continuously, go back.¡±

    Zhi Qi looked at the private message list filled with shameless and cheesy words, feeling like she could crawl into a crack in the floor.

 Chapter 17: Battle With The Inner Demon

    Chapter 17: Battle With The Inner Demon

    ?? Thank you Thuyen Tran for your novel donation!! Your support is much appreciated. ?? Dear Readers, if you really like the trantions please donate to support the work. It¡¯s much appreciated! ??

    Meanwhile, the young man with a ¡®steel straight male heart¡¯ still didn¡¯t understand why Zhi Qi suddenly got angry.

    Jiang Qi stood up somewhat awkwardly, shaking his head in exnation, ¡°I only recently saw it. Before that, my assistant used to log in to this ount. I didn¡¯t¡­ didn¡¯t intentionally see it and note to find you.¡±

    He thought Zhi Qi was angry because of this reason, exining with genuine emotions.

    Zhi Qi, still embarrassed, didn¡¯t look at him, turned her head and asked with a pout, ¡°Then why are you here now?¡±

    Jiang Qi replied without hesitation, ¡°I just found out you were here, so I wanted toe and find you.¡±

    ¡­

    Perhaps when ites to someone you care about, the bottom line is that a casual sentence from them can easily break down all the defenses you¡¯ve built in your heart. Just like six years ago, when they reunited. In reality, there were many questions she wanted to ask¡ª

    ¡®How was it inside? When did youe out?¡¯¡®Why did you enter the entertainment industry? Are you doing well now?¡¯

    ¡®In these years¡­ have you ever thought of me?¡¯

    But with countless thoughts swirling in her mind, she suddenly felt like she couldn¡¯t ask anything.

    After a while, Zhi Qi just sighed softly. Then, she turned around, familiarly removed half of Jiang Qi¡¯s mask and put it back on for him, her voice gentle, ¡°Your phone has been ringing continuously.¡±

    The garden was very quiet, and she could already hear the constant buzzing vibration of the young man¡¯s phone in his pocket. This vibration reminded Zhi Qi of a fact¡ªJiang Qi was no longer the same as before; he wasn¡¯t hers alone. He was now the male lead with a billion-dor box office hit, the rising star in the entertainment industry, a presence that could captivate countless people with every move.

    The young man was no longer the one whose handsomeness only she could appreciate.

    Although there were still many people who disliked and attacked him, unlike before, there were also many people who cared about him and liked him. Just like now, in the few minutes Jiang Qi spent with her, his phone kept ringing non-stop.

    Zhi Qi knew she had possessiveness, but even so, it didn¡¯t prevent her from being happy for Jiang Qi. However, amid the happiness, there was always a bit of disappointment. Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but feel annoyed and furrowed his brow, realizing he had stupidly forgotten to turn off his phone.

    His entire focus was on Zhi Qi¡¯s every move,pletely oblivious to the ringing phone. The young man, feeling a bit irritated, took out the phone, intending to hang up after seeing the shing ¡®Qiu Mi¡¯ on the screen.

    ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t hang up.¡± Zhi Qi quickly stopped him, her voice gentle and sincere. ¡°What if someone has an emergency?¡±

    One of the three most frustrating moments in life is when you urgently need to contact someone, and their phone is unreachable.

    Jiang Qi had no choice but to answer the call.

    Qiu Mi¡¯s voice on the other end resonated loudly in the quiet garden, ¡°Brother Qi! Where are you? Can you hurry ande to Director Shen¡¯s ce? It¡¯s urgent, Director Wang Zhaoqiu specifically wants to meet you.¡±

    Jiang Qi replied coldly, ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡±

    ¡°Um¡­¡± Qiu Mi seemed to be frozen by his coldness for a moment, then weakly said, ¡°But it¡¯s an emergency. It¡¯s Director Wang Zhaoqiu, the renowned director. He specially came to see you.¡±

    Director Wang? Even if it were the God of Directing, it meant nothing to Jiang Qi.

    The boy, visibly impatient, furrowed his brow, about to refuse once again, when Zhi Qi¡¯s soft voice interrupted him.

    ¡°If it¡¯s urgent, you should go back first,¡± Zhi Qi said, standing up with a book in her arms and smiling naturally at him. ¡°I need to go back and conduct an experiment too.¡±

    Jiang Qi pursed his lips, hanging up the phone directly, and silently stared at the girl¡ªunder the intense sunlight, her light-colored eyes approached transparency, more dazzling than the light itself.

    After a moment of tension, Jiang Qi spoke in a low voice, ¡°Do you not want to see me?¡±

    ¡°No, I really need to conduct an experiment,¡± Zhi Qi lowered her eyes, not realizing that she was gripping the corner of the book, and her fingertips were turning white. She simply exined, ¡°It¡¯s an experiment on observing animal cells.¡±

    Later, she didn¡¯t know if Jiang Qi sighed softly.

    The young man stood up, a tall and thin figure casting a faint shadow, blocking the harsh afternoon sunlight for her and bringing a sense of oppression. Jiang Qi¡¯s hand hanging by his side lifted, seemingly uncontrobly wanting to touch her shoulder, but restrained before making contact.

    After a while, he cautiously and gently touched Zhi Qi¡¯s chestnut-colored hair.

    ¡°Okay.¡± The young man forced a smile. ¡°You can go.¡±

    His voice had no fluctuations, but it inexplicably made people feel very sad. Zhi Qi had a moment of distraction. She stared at Jiang Qi¡¯s light-colored pupils for a moment, pursed her lips, left, and forced herself not to look back. Because she wasn¡¯t actually deceiving Jiang Qi, she really had something to do, and she really¡­ didn¡¯t know how to face him at the moment.

    So Zhi Qi didn¡¯t see the originally desperately restrained look in the young man¡¯s eyes. In the moment she turned around, it was extremely gloomy. As if all the anxiety, ferocity, and darkness were uncontrobly vented out, Jiang Qi closed his eyes.

    He really shouldn¡¯t havee to find Zhi Qi so abruptly today, shouldn¡¯t have seen her like this.

    Zhi Qi is a student of Lan University, with a bright future. A reason like ¡®conducting experiments¡¯ could pull the distance between them infinitely far¡ªbecause he, who hasn¡¯t even graduated from high school, doesn¡¯t understand these things at all.

    If he could still be proud of his top grades in middle school and high school, now he ispletely self-deprecating, extremely ashamed to face people.

    But he actually had the audacity toe find Zhi Qi, letting the hormones of impulse control his body, it¡¯s truly¡­ughable. Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help butugh self-deprecatingly, and the dark and turbulent emotions in his eyes couldn¡¯t be suppressed, even the young man¡¯s thin and clear chest was slightly undting. But at the same time, Shen Lei¡¯s words from before finally drilled into his mind.

    ¡®She is a student of Lan University, can you be worthy of her?¡¯

    ¡®You can only relearn and have a diploma if you earn enough money and have enough channels.¡¯

    Learning, diplomas, upright and honorable, able to stand by Zhi Qi¡¯s side.

    These are things that Jiang Qi crazily wants to pursue, willing to give everything he can for it. After a moment, Jiang Qi calmed down, and his eyes returned to their usual indifference.

    As if cold amber.

    Expressionless, he took out his phone, dialed Qiu Mi¡¯s number, his voice cold and calm, saying only one sentence¡ª

    ¡°Wait, I¡¯ming over now.¡±

    Having nothing to lose makes you fearless. In the big dye vat of thepetition in the fame and fortune arena, people ultimately pursue it for the sake of fame and profit, but Jiang Qi is now doing it for money.

    *

    When Jiang Qi drove to Shen Lei¡¯s ce, surprisingly, Wang Zhaoqiu had been waiting unexpectedly. The irritable and self-righteous old director didn¡¯t explode in anger or show impatience. Instead, his eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Qi push the door open.

    Shen Lei was extremely sensitive to this kind of gaze, understanding that it was a mutual admiration among directors.

    Wang Zhaoqiu truly ¡®values talents.¡¯

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± Shen Lei intervened, directly instructing the inexperienced young man, ¡°Greet him.¡±

    Jiang Qi obediently said, ¡°Director Wang.¡±

    His attitude was much more rxed than when they were on set before, and Shen Lei, while relieved, was also somewhat surprised.

    ¡ªIt seems that asking this guy to go find the girl he likes is effective.

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Wang Zhaoqiu pointed to the documents on the table but kept his eyes on Jiang Qi. ¡°I still want to stick to my previous idea; you are the most suitable person for the lead role in my new movie.¡±

    To know that he could say such words, actively ¡®inviting¡¯ a rookie actor to y the male lead in his movie, was basically unprecedented. But Jiang Qi was unaware of these intricacies; he just furrowed his brows, feeling somewhat awkward.

    Wang Zhaoqiu took advantage of the momentum, ¡°Do you want to take a look at the script?¡±

    Shen Lei discreetly tugged at Jiang Qi¡¯s sleeve. After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Qi reached out and took the script.

    ¡­

    After reading it, Jiang Qi ced the script back on the table and shook his head. Wang Zhaoqiu¡¯s expression changed instantly.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± Shen Lei¡¯s face also changed. He quickly grabbed Jiang Qi¡¯s shoulder, turning him around with a stern expression. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to think carefully before making a decision?¡±

    Could it be that this guy, after seeing Zhi Qi, decided to quit the entertainment industry?

    ¡°Brother Shen, I¡¯ve thought it over.¡± Jiang Qi brushed off the hand grabbing his shoulder, looking indifferent. ¡°I can¡¯t act in this movie.¡±

    Then, he turned to face the extremely gloomy and unpleasant Wang Zhaoqiu, earnestly exining, ¡°It¡¯s not that your script is bad, but it¡¯s my problem.¡±

    Wang Zhaoqiu took a deep breath, suppressing the heavy anger, and asked, ¡°What problem do you have?¡±

    Normally, if there was such an ¡®inexperienced¡¯ young person repeatedly challenging his authority, Wang Zhaoqiu would not be able to resist using some means to teach him a lesson. However, looking at Jiang Qi¡­ he finally understood what it meant to love talent and the frustration of not being able to find a rare gem. It was a feeling of being a talent scout but unable to discover a hidden talent, a desire to destroy yet yearning to possess.

    Wang Zhaoqiu had to soften his approach and seek rification.

    ¡°Brother Shen may not have told you, but I took on the role of ¡®Gazing at the Sky¡¯ because I can act. My mental state is an issue; at the age of sixteen, I was diagnosed with bipr disorder and anxiety by a doctor. Moreover, the reason I ended up in prison is because I indirectly killed my own father.¡±

    The young man spoke openly and even in the face of several surprised gazes, heughed coldly and unscrupulously, ¡°So, ying the lead role in ¡®Gazing at the Sky,¡¯ I can truly empathize.¡±

 Chapter 18: I Cant Act In Romantic Scenes

    Chapter 18: I Cant Act In Romantic Scenes

    Thank you Aly for your support! ?? Dear Readers, your continuous support is really appreciated????

    Jiang Qi¡¯s words were naturally understood by Wang Zhaoqiu¡ªthe implication was, ¡°If it¡¯s yours, I won¡¯t be able to act.¡±

    His script ¡°Approaching the Horizon¡± was filled with a lot of tender and delicate feelings of the male lead, psychological activities that were definitely not purely a mental disorder. For an ¡®experiential¡¯ actor like Jiang Qi, hecked those emotions. Refusing to act in this script was actually the young man¡¯s way of taking responsibility.

    In this extremely candid self-analysis, and even revealing some sensational ¡®rumors,¡¯ Wang Zhaoqiu found himself unable to say anything. Simrly, Shen Lei couldn¡¯t say anything either.

    After a moment of silence where everyone looked at each other, it was Jiang Qi who took the initiative to break the silence.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± the young man nodded slightly at Wang Zhaoqiu. ¡°I¡¯ll go first.¡±

    After saying that, he turned to leave.

    ¡°Wait!¡±

    Wang Zhaoqiu instinctively stopped him, and then, under Jiang Qi¡¯s surprised and indifferent gaze, he didn¡¯t know what to say.After a while, he figured out how to speak and tentatively asked, ¡°So, will you only y these specific types of roles for the rest of your life? Only the ones you can handle?¡±

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t repeat the words of ¡®quitting the entertainment industry and not acting anymore.¡¯ Instead, he thought silently for a moment and answered truthfully, ¡°At least for now, I can¡¯t act in romantic scenes with girls.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you give it a try?¡± Wang Zhaoqiu instinctively pursued, ¡°Actually, trying it might be simpler than you imagine.¡±

    After all, romantic scenes were easier than those extremelyplicated and extreme psychological scenes. As long as you truly ¡®get into the role.¡¯

    Jiang Qi shook his head without hesitation.

    Wang Zhaoqiu became frustrated again and asked in a deep voice, ¡°You refuse so quickly without even thinking about it?¡±

    Actually, he really wanted to say the words ¡®Do you know what you¡¯re rejecting?¡¯ But upon careful consideration, he felt that this statement might be a bit too much like a ¡®domineering CEO¡¯ for an old man like him.

    After some consideration, Wang Zhaoqiu restrained himself.

    ¡°No need to think. I just can¡¯t y romantic scenes,¡± Jiang Qi stubbornly said, ¡°I have someone I like.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t express those unspeakable feelings in front of Zhi Qi, so how could he be ¡®affectionate¡¯ towards other girls? That was simply impossible. So from the beginning, Jiang Qi would not agree to things he couldn¡¯t do.

    Wang Zhaoqiu stared at him, his Adam¡¯s apple rolling. After enduring and holding back, he suddenly asked¡ª

    ¡°What about those specific roles¡­ like, a person with gender identity issues? Can you y that?¡±

    Shen Lei was stunned at the words.

    And Jiang Qi looked at Wang Zhaoqiu in confusion and asked slowly, his voice deep, ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°This is Qiu Heng¡¯s business card.¡± Wang Zhaoqiu snorted, coldly taking out a business card and ¡®throwing¡¯ it to Shen Lei. The words he said seemed somewhat unwilling, ¡°Old Qiu is currently selecting roles for his new film. Let this kid give it a try. As for whether he can do it¡­ hmm, who knows.¡±

    This was probably the director¡¯s ¡®cherishing talent¡¯ sentiment. Even though Wang Zhaoqiu regretted that Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t act in his y, he unconsciously didn¡¯t think about introducing him to other projects.

    And the ¡®Qiu Heng¡¯ mentioned by Wang Zhaoqiu was the best director atst year¡¯s Man Kai Film Festival, a genius who achieved remarkable sess in the extremely niche field. He was also one of the work resources¡¯ in Wang Zhaoqiu¡¯s hands.

    In the entertainment industry, it¡¯s like awork; knowing one person leads to connections with many others. Shen Lei could only be considered an entry ticket. He could provideworking resources for Jiang Qi and maintain a reciprocal rtionship with the big directors after discovering this ¡®treasure.¡¯

    After Wang Zhaoqiu left, Shen Lei forcefully ¡®pressed¡¯ Jiang Qi to sit at the table and read the script.

    ¡°Anyway, you have to take a look. Wang Director definitely wants to push you for an audition with Qiu Heng.¡± Although Wang Zhaoqiu called Qiu Heng ¡®Old Qiu,¡¯ in reality, Qiu Heng was only a middle-aged man around forty and far from having the same prestige as Wang Zhaoqiu in the industry. Therefore, Shen Lei didn¡¯t call him ¡®Director Qiu.¡¯

    But that didn¡¯t mean Qiu Heng¡¯s scripts weren¡¯t valuable.

    On the contrary, Qiu Heng has been highly praised in recent years as a rising star. Landing a lead role in his film is just as prestigious as ying the lead in Shen Lei¡¯s production. That¡¯s why thetter insisted on having Jiang Qi take a look at the script, even if it meant holding him back.

    However, despite Jiang Qi sitting down, his mind was in chaos, and he felt genuinely anxious. He often nced at the phone on the table beside him. The script in front of him, written in Chinese characters, seemed like an unintelligible ancient text; he couldn¡¯t focus on a single word.

    Shen Lei noticed his fidgeting and furrowed his eyebrows, thoughtfully asking, ¡°Are you worried because of the hot search? Forget about all that. Just focus on securing the lead role with Qiu Heng; the tide will naturally turn.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Qi looked at him nkly. ¡°What hot search?¡±

    ¡°Huh? You don¡¯t know?¡± Shen Lei was somewhat bewildered.

    Because right after the fan meeting, under the media¡¯s criticism, the hashtag #Jiang Qi Invades Your Mother# had quickly climbed the trending charts, and predictably, it was apanied by the word #(explode)# .

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t even bother to ask what the hot search was about; he stared at his phone, feeling regretful for not getting Zhi Qi¡¯s contact information earlier. But perhaps they could use Weibo tomunicate? Thinking about it, Jiang Qi opened the private message conversation with Zhi Qi on Weibo and tentatively sent her a message.

    ¡°¡­¡± Shen Lei, who was watching from the side, was dumbfounded, feeling a bit suffocated. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    After sending the message, Jiang Qi put down his phone, picked up the script left by Wang Zhaoqiu, and pretended to read it seriously. However, as he read on, he became genuinely engrossed.

    ***

    The script was titled ¡°Jiao Si.¡±

    It tells the story of the protagonist, Chen Si, who has gender identity issues. Though clearly a boy, he faces discrimination due to his feminine stature, slender and delicate physique from childhoodpared to other boys.

    Other boys dislike him, but girls enjoy ying with Chen Si.

    ¡°Dresses, cakes, dolls¡ªthese are like a kind of ¡®redemption¡¯ in Chen Si¡¯s young mind. He likes dressing up like cute girls, enjoys the fragrance of swirling hair, and even dreams of bing a girl. This twisted environment and mentality give rise to a ¡®gender identity disorder,¡¯ causing Chen Si to think too much in his teens, eventually leading him to firmly believe he is a girl.

    Just a girl with something extra below.

    So, even as Chen Si grows taller and bes simr to a normal man, he insists on considering himself a female. Like girls, he controls his weight, maintaining a ¡®willow slender¡¯ figure. He speaks softly and gracefully, often mocked as ¡®feminine.¡¯

    Chen Si pays no mind, evenughing: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being feminine? I am a girl, after all.¡±

    Gender identity disorder patients persist in believing they are different from others; this is a ¡®psychological¡¯ condition. Unfortunately, no one tries to understand Chen Si¡¯s confusing thoughts. His parents even reject him, kicking him out of the house, disowning their ¡®son.¡¯

    Chen Si does makeup, wears dresses, and even has boyfriends, doing everything a girl can do, regardless of numerous insults calling him insane, perverted, abomination of being a man¡­

    So, Chen Si makes a decision. With his dangerously thin body, he bes an unconventional model and uses the savings to undergo gender reassignment surgery in Thand.

    In the end, Chen Si dies on the operating table.

    *

    This is an extremely radical and challenging story that even challenges ¡®broadcast censorship.¡¯ It tells the tragic and extreme life of Chen Si, which, fundamentally, has some simrities to Mu Xi from ¡®Gazing at the Sky.¡¯

    Both have significant psychological trauma from childhood, but Mu Xi bes the ¡®aggressor,¡¯ while Chen Si falls into a misconception and destroys himself. However, gender identity disorder is just an illness, not a mistake.

    After reading the script, Jiang Qi fell silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice: ¡®I will audition.¡¯¡±

    Shen Lei couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief after hearing that. Because he knew that Jiang Qi would only agree to audition for a role he was confident he could y. This indicated his determination to portray ¡®Chen Si.¡¯ Although the film reached an extreme level, and airing it would undoubtedly cause significant controversy, it was still Qiu Heng¡¯s work.

    As long as it¡¯s associated with a renowned director, human nature¡¯s admiration for strength would make all of Jiang Qi¡¯s shorings seem insignificant.

 Chapter 19: Foot Fetish

    Chapter 19: Foot Fetish

    Zhi Qi stayed in theboratory until nightfall, and only then did she have time to check her phone. The Weibo private message that popped up on the screen was from the afternoon, and when Zhi Qi saw the two characters ¡®Jiang Qi¡¯, her brow couldn¡¯t help but twitch.

    ¡ªThis guy actually replied to her through the official Weibo?

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help butugh and cry. After opening the message, it was the first message from Jiang Qi in over two months: [WeChat ID, okay?]

    Sure enough, it was typical of Jiang Qi¡¯s way of speaking.

    Bluntly stating the WeChat ID in front of her, yet the word ¡®okay?¡¯ were cautious enough to make Zhi Qi close her eyes and recall the high school days when Jiang Qi was with her, disying a hesitant and eager demeanor.

    At that time, the most ¡®daring¡¯ thing they did was holding hands.

    Oh, right, there was also¡­ feet.

    Thinking of some past incidents, Zhi Qi¡¯s fair ears couldn¡¯t help but blush a bit.

    In high school, she and Jiang Qi loved going to the rooftop of San Zhong when no one was around. Despite the scorching heat in the summer and the shivering cold in winter, the highest point remained quiet and serene, serving as their ¡®secret base.¡¯On the rooftop, there were several high steps where they could sit. Once, when Zhi Qi climbed up, the hook on the side of the stairs identally unhooked her shoes.

    It was summer, and the girl was wearing thin sandals. When her shoe fell, she instinctively eximed, ¡°Oh!¡±

    ¡°Sit down,¡± Jiang Qi said, jumping down to help her retrieve the shoe.

    The young man had a tall and slender figure, and when he bent over, the butterfly bone on his back protruded, resembling the elegant skeleton of a spreading butterfly.

    However, what Zhi Qi noticed was: Jiang Qi is really thin.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± So the young girl, chin in hand, looked at him with an almost worried expression. ¡°Why are you so skinny?¡±

    Jiang Qi was momentarily stunned. Then, he ambiguously smiled, not answering. Carrying the girl¡¯s dainty shoe, the boy climbed the steps and paused in front of her. Originally, he should have handed the shoe to Zhi Qi for her to put on herself, but as fate would have it, Jiang Qi inexplicably squatted down in front of the girl.

    The young man¡¯s long eyshes hung slightly, covering his emotionallyplex azure eyes. He stared nkly at the girl¡¯s delicate and exquisite foot.

    That foot was as fair as jade, so translucent that you could see the blue veins under the skin. The toes curled slightly, tender, smooth, and not even enough to fill a grasp. Although difficult to articte, this was the first time Jiang Qi had a vivid memory of the girl¡¯s feet, with even some indescribable desire.

    Unaware, Zhi Qi, seeing him squat down, naturally wiggled her small foot and said, ¡°Help me put it on.¡±

    .

    Jiang Qi wanted to be despicable, but he ¡®went with the flow.¡¯

    He pursed his lips, and his slender fingers gently grasped the girl¡¯s delicate ankle, feeling a sudden sensation of burning at his fingertips. Never before had he experienced this feeling, as if an inexplicable fire had burned from his fingertips to his heart.

    Involuntarily, Jiang Qi held onto the girl¡¯s foot. Zhi Qi hesitated for a moment, subconsciously wanting to retract but resisting the urge. Because¡­ Jiang Qi¡¯srge hand could actually envelop her entire foot, quite magical. The girl blinked her eyes in astonishment, staring nkly at him.

    After a brief standoff, Jiang Qi hastily released his hand and then helped Zhi Qi put on her shoes. In the awkward and stumbling movements, both of them couldn¡¯t help but blush a little. Later, there were a few more times when Jiang Qi helped her put on shoes.

    The young man seemed to enjoy this ¡°job¡± very much, looking like a true foot fetishist.

    Looking back now, it seems like the sensation of Jiang Qi holding her foot still lingers. Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but bite her lip unconsciously, curling her toes in her slippers.

    She sighed lightly and resignedly sent her WeChat ID to Jiang Qi. This could be considered as the two finally having a means of contact. From now on, the private messages on Weibo¡¯s ¡°Confession Box¡± would disappear.

    She felt a bit regretful, but when she thought about Jiang Qi having seen all those private messages himself, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit embarrassed. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her change of clothes from the bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

    By the time Zhi Qi emerged from the bathroom, covered in mist, it was almost nine o¡¯clock, and Meng Chunyu still hadn¡¯t returned. But Zhi Qi wasn¡¯t surprised¡ª that girl always liked to hang out in the ¡°night scene¡±, so she wouldn¡¯te back until just before curfew in the dormitory.

    Zhi Qi walked to the table, still drying her hair with a towel, and picked up her phone. She saw a new friend request notification on WeChat, with the nickname simply being a period (¡®.¡¯) and the profile picture nk.

    Without needing to think, Zhi Qi knew it was from Jiang Qi. The young girl smiled as she tossed aside the towel and epted his friend request.

    Jiang Qi was probably tinkering with his phone because he quickly sent a message, simply saying: ¡°[Qiqi].¡±

    Actually, many people called her by that name, but only when Jiang Qi called her that did Zhi Qi feel the most excited. The girl lightly chuckled and bit her lip, replying: ¡°[Hmm].¡±

    Even if she liked Jiang Qi in her heart, she didn¡¯t want to show it all too quickly. She had to keep herposure. Unless¡­ Jiang Qi was willing to confess everything to her, tell her the ins and outs of the bizarre and surreal events four years ago, the feeling of being kept in the dark all this time was really ufortable.

    [Jiang Qi: Can I send you messages often?]

    Jiang Qi was indeed Jiang Qi, always straightforward with his questions. Zhi Qi replied reservedly: [After ss.]

    If it were an ordinary guy, he would probably take the opportunity to ask for Zhi Qi¡¯s ss schedule. But Jiang Qi¡ª

    [Jiang Qi: Then I¡¯ll send you a message every hour, and you can reply whenever you have time.]

    ¡­

    While Zhi Qi was speechless, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit amused by Jiang Qi¡¯s straightforwardness. Jiang Qi probably didn¡¯t dare to ask her for her ss schedule.

    With a soft sigh, Zhi Qi replied: [Okay.]

    At the same time, a notification popped up on Weibo, and unfortunately, it was about Jiang Qi¡¯s trending hashtag.

    The words ¡°#JiangQiXInYourMom#¡± looked vulgar and malicious, causing Zhi Qi¡¯s eyebrows to furrow deeply.

    As her anger surged, she quickly took a screenshot and sent it to Jiang Qi: [What¡¯s going on?]

    Why does Jiang Qi always have so many weird trending topics? It¡¯s really infuriating. Zhi Qi was so angry that she almost couldn¡¯t help but pound the table.

    On the other side, Jiang Qi was realizing for the first time that these messy trending topics were quite annoying¡ªusually, he would just ignore them. After all, things he couldn¡¯t see or touch through the inte didn¡¯t affect him, so why bother exining? But if Zhi Qi misunderstood, then it would be different.

    Furrowing his brow, Jiang Qi regretted his careless words to the reporter at the fan meeting.

    But fundamentally, it all stemmed from the rumors about his ¡°attempted sexual assault on a teenage girl.¡± It seemed like it was time to clear things up.

    So Jiang Qi logged into Weibo directly and straightforwardly posted a ¡°statement¡±¡ª

    [@JiangQiV: No sexual assault. The reporter started the rumor first, then cursed at me. That¡¯s all.]

    After posting it straightforwardly, he didn¡¯t care about the aftermath and just closed Weibo.

    Then he went back to chatting with Zhi Qi on WeChat: [Exnation done.]

    This whole demeanor was like someone seeking praise. And the Weibo post he just made had naturally been pushed everywhere as a hot topic.

    Upon seeing it, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but reply to him with a chuckle: [Is this how you usually handle rumors?]

    [Jiang Qi: I don¡¯t usually handle rumors.]

    ¡­

    Zhi Qi was once again speechless. She suddenly felt that even though she was an outsider to this circle, a 2G girl who originally only paid attention to the entertainment industry because of him, she still seemed to be more mature than Jiang Qi.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this,¡± Zhi Qi told him earnestly. ¡°You need to have a better attitude, otherwise you¡¯ll just get criticized.¡±

    The slightly worried tone from the young girl made Jiang Qi unable to help but feel likeughing, because he felt that Zhi Qi was caring about him.

    As long as she could care for him, what did it matter if he was criticized by those people online? So Jiang Qi replied: [Okay.]

    What Zhi Qi didn¡¯t know was that Jiang Qi didn¡¯t care whether he could continue to thrive in the entertainment industry, or whether he offended anyone externally. To him, this fame and fortune arena was just a ce where he could leave at any time.

    But Zhi Qi thought that Jiang Qi wanted to take acting as a job. Thinking about the ¡°enlightenment¡± from Meng Chunyu in her ear during this period, the girl pretended to be mature and said to him:

    [Zhi Qi: You can¡¯t let those marketing ounts constantly criticize you. They¡¯re all, um, hiring water armies. Shouldn¡¯t you also sign with apany? That way you can counter the criticism.]

    She remembered Chunyu saying that Jiang Qi¡¯s current miserable situation of being criticized was not only because of his own scandals, but also because he hadn¡¯t signed with apany and had no one to hire a marketing agency to counter the criticism. So, if he signed with apany, would Jiang Qi¡¯s treatment on the inte be better? Actually, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t understand these things. She just listened to Meng Chunyu¡¯s ¡°guidance¡± as a fan girl.

    Not long after she sent the message, Jiang Qi replied.

    His obedient response: [Okay.]

    Actually, whether to sign with apany or not, whether anyone counter-criticized him, didn¡¯t matter to Jiang Qi. But since Zhi Qi hoped he would take his work seriously and follow the right path, then he might as well sign.

    So the next day, when Shen Lei took him to the audition at Qiu Heng¡¯s studio, before he could even say anything about the ¡°statement¡± fromst night, Jiang Qi asked him with a cigarette in his mouth, ¡°Does yourpany still want to sign me?¡±

    ¡­

    Shen Lei almost didn¡¯t brake the car in time, looking at him in astonishment. ¡°What did you say?¡±

    ¡°Signing with apany,¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s response confirmed that Shen Lei wasn¡¯t hearing things. He said indifferently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that I should sign with apany?¡±

    He didn¡¯t know which one to choose anyway, so he might as well sign with thepany where Shen Lei was.

    ¡°¡­Wait, how did your attitude change like this?¡± Shen Lei was both surprised and delighted, unable to help butugh. ¡°Are you really going to sign?¡±

    For Jiang Qi to have this kind of enlightenment, it felt like the sun was rising in the west?

    ¡°Really.¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s expression was surprisingly gentle as he pursed his lips. ¡°Zhi Qi told me to sign.¡±

    Since Shen Lei asked why he wanted to sign with apany, Jiang Qi wouldn¡¯t hide it. Anyway, Shen Lei also knew who Zhi Qi was, so there was nothing to hide. And upon hearing this, Shen Lei couldn¡¯t help but admire the girl named Zhi Qi from miles away.

    Just a few days, just one meeting, and she could change Jiang Qi¡¯s attitude from ¡°quitting the entertainment industry and opening a supermarket¡± to ¡°signing with apany.¡± She could tame Jiang Qi¡¯s temperament, which was as unruly as a wild donkey. Wasn¡¯t she amazing?

    Most importantly, with over a dozenpanies wanting to sign Jiang Qi, none of them had a chance topete, giving the Chen Ding Entertainment where he was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Tsk tsk, Shen Lei decided to suggest to thepany¡¯s high-levelster to treat Zhi Qi, whom he had never met, as a ¡°Buddha¡± and see how it went.

 Chapter 20: Just Exaggerate A Bit

    Chapter 20: Just Exaggerate A Bit

    But Jiang Qi¡¯s audition this time didn¡¯t go too smoothly.

    Wang Zhaoqiu should have informed Qiu Heng in advance. When Shen Lei and Jiang Qi arrived at the audition set for ¡°Jiao Si¡±, it was Qiu Heng¡¯s assistant, Huang Haofan, who personally came out to greet them.

    Qiu Heng was a director from Hong Kong, and so was his assistant. Before they even approached, Huang Haofan smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Shen.¡±

    ¡­Normally, Shen Lei should have responded with ¡°Mr. Huang,¡± but he felt awkward saying it that way, so he just said, ¡°Assistant Huang.¡±

    ¡°Director Qiu is waiting inside.¡± After Huang Haofan greeted Shen Lei, he nced up and down at Jiang Qi. During this time, who hadn¡¯t heard of Jiang Qi¡¯s name dominating the headlines? Who wasn¡¯t curious? Huang Haofan was naturally no exception, his gaze filled with interest as he smiled slightly. ¡°Let me take you over.¡±

    The three of them went to the audition set together. Qiu Heng was a man in histe thirties, unmarried, tall and slender. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed sses on his sharply defined face, and even in the noisy set, he wore a suit as if he were attending a formal dinner.

    Most Hong Kong men were good at taking care of themselves, and Qiu Heng looked like he was in his early thirties at most. He exuded a delicate, rigorous, and meticulous feeling.

    He stood up and shook hands with Shen Lei, but only nodded at Jiang Qi. In the entertainment industry, there was a clear distinction between seniors and juniors, as well as between superiors and subordinates. Qiu Heng clearly understood this principle well. He exuded an imposing aura in front of his juniors.

    In the industry, Shen Lei and Qiu Heng¡¯s positions were actually quite simr. Qiu Heng had won more awards, but Shen Lei had stronger box office performance. Butpared to Qiu Heng, Shen Lei was much more affable.¡°Old Shen.¡± Qiu Heng lightly pushed his sses with his long fingers and nced at Jiang Qi with his narrow eyes behind the lenses, smiling slightly. ¡°Is this the young man you¡¯ve discovered?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Lei also smiled and patted Jiang Qi¡¯s shoulder. He didn¡¯t hesitate to mention the most frequently discussed word in the industry recently. ¡°Purple Microstar.¡±

    ¡°Wang didn¡¯t say that. He just rmended this young man to you.¡± Qiu Heng¡¯s words were polite, but he didn¡¯t agree with Shen Lei¡¯s praise.

    He turned to Jiang Qi, his tone gentle as he asked, ¡°Young man, do you like the role of Chen Si?¡±

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t mind being called a ¡°young man¡± by Qiu Heng and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡±

    Qiu Heng was momentarily surprised. Jiang Qi hadn¡¯t yet adapted to the concept that ttery often found in the entertainment industry, so his straightforwardness could be somewhat choking. But sometimes, after getting used to the antics of those in the industry, one might find this kind of ¡°innocence without pretense¡± quite interesting. Qiu Heng raised an eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t like it? Then why bother auditioning?¡±

    This time, Jiang Qi replied confidently, ¡°Because I can y it.¡±

    Sometimes, auditioning for a role wasn¡¯t about whether you liked it or not, but whether you could portray it.

    Interesting, truly interesting.

    Qiu Heng couldn¡¯t help but smile, gesturing for Huang Haofan toe over and hand the script to Jiang Qi. Shen Lei breathed a sigh of relief on the side¡ªthis meant that Jiang Qi could audition.

    But as Jiang Qi watched, his clear and elegant brows slightly furrowed. Actually, the selected audition segment wasn¡¯t particrly difficult. It depicted Chen Si in the movie, who, after entering high school, still didn¡¯t like to y with boys, dressed very ¡°femininely,¡± and hung out with girls.

    At first, the girls felt awkward and ufortable, but in the end, they found it refreshing.

    It was during this time that Chen Si met the ¡°female lead¡± in the movie, Meng Li. There was no romantic storyline between her and the male lead. She was also an ¡°anomaly¡± among ordinary people, a homosexual, but she didn¡¯t dare to be as bold as Chen Si in expressing it.

    In the movie, Meng Li was more like another side of Chen Si. After she discovered Chen Si¡¯s uniqueness, she immersed herself in ¡°dressing him up¡± only.

    In the girl¡¯s clothes, the girl¡¯s makeup, Chen Si was present in the gentle demeanor. Hey on Meng Li¡¯sce bed, basking in the sunlight, caressing himself,pletely immersed in his imagination of ¡°gentledy.¡± Then, he had to portray the girl¡¯s smiling and naive demeanor, even though he didn¡¯t understand much about the world.

    The selected audition was this segment.

    Everything else was fine, except¡­

    As everyone knows, Jiang Qi doesn¡¯t smile.

    Even the hashtag #JiangQiNeverSmiledBefore# has trended, sparking widespread discussion.

    Recalling briefly, Shen Lei realized he had known Jiang Qi for almost two years and indeed had never seen the boy smile. With this realization, Shen Lei couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat worried. With a slight frown, Shen Lei watched Jiang Qi, after reading through the script, walk to the front of the camera.

    During auditions when other actors weren¡¯t avable to perform with, it was usually a solo performance, showcasing one¡¯s acting skills to the fullest. And Jiang Qi, despitecking professional training, was aplete ¡°natural¡± actor. As he stood in front of the camera, he effortlessly transformed into Chen Si.

    The script called for a silent and entric demeanor in school, with subtle gestures and expressions exuding a gentle ambiguity, reminiscent of a shy girl. Finally, after acting out the scene for quite some time, Jiang Qiy down on the bed.

    Shen Lei¡¯s heart skipped a beat. This was when Jiang Qi started to lose himself. His slender hands unconsciously clenched into fists. Sure enough, the thing he feared most happened.

    While Jiang Qi could portray the girl¡¯s demeanor reasonably well, his inherently mysterious and elusive aura made it easy for people to immerse themselves in the scene. However, making him genuinely smile and feel happy and satisfied¡­

    That was difficult. Shen Lei could see that the smile on Jiang Qi¡¯s face was forced and stiff.

    Just then, behind the camera, Qiu Heng called ¡°cut.¡±

    ¡°Very impressive,¡± Qiu Heng¡¯s refined face showed a smile, pleasantly surprised as he looked at Jiang Qi. ¡°The little friend indeed has some talent, but was thest part a bit out of character?¡±

    Listening to Qiu Heng¡¯s words with a stiff expression, Shen Lei knew Jiang Qi wasn¡¯t out of character. He might¡­ He might just not know how to smile. But why would someone not know how to smile? Was it a psychological reason or something else? Jiang Qi¡¯s expression was also grim. He shook his head at Qiu Heng.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± the young man said, ¡°I might not be able to perform well.¡±

    ¡°Who said that!¡± Qiu Heng seemed even more confident than Jiang Qi himself, shaking his head with a smile. ¡°You did great. It¡¯s just thest part that seemed a bit off.¡±

    He remained blindly optimistic.

    ¡°But thest part is a big problem,¡± Jiang Qi continued to shake his head, showing a sense of frustration towards himself. ¡°Director, I can¡¯t feel happy, satisfied, and naturally smile like the main character.¡±

    Qiu Heng¡¯s smile gradually stiffened, then furrowed his brows. ¡°Is this how you judge yourself?¡±

    It was the first time he had seen an actor being praised by the director after an audition but looking as if he had been rejected. This legendary ¡°Purple Micro Star¡± was indeed an odd one.

    Even more bizarre was Jiang Qi¡¯s response. After nodding in acknowledgment of Qiu Heng¡¯s words, he turned to leave. Before Qiu Heng could react, Shen Lei intercepted Jiang Qi.

    ¡°Do you want to be known as the director¡¯s rejector?¡± Shen Lei grabbed Jiang Qi and whispered, ¡°Do you still want to make it in this industry?¡±

    If Jiang Qi had said he couldn¡¯t perform earlier, that would have been one thing ¡ª but just half an hour ago, he had talked about signing with apany, indicating his desire to stay in the entertainment industry. If he wanted to stay, could he afford to be so stubborn?

    Offending directors like Wang Zhaoqiu and Qiu Heng ¡ª directors whose names alone could shake the industry ¡ª was not a wise move. Just thinking about it made Shen Lei¡¯s scalp tingle.

    Sometimes, extreme talentbined with a rebellious spirit could be a double-edged sword. Qiu Heng didn¡¯t hear what Shen Lei and Jiang Qi were saying. He just saw Jiang Qi hadn¡¯t left yet and hurried over. ¡°Why don¡¯t we try again? I really think you have the talent for this role.¡±

    In a capitalist society, some roles could be substituted with money, fame, and fortune. But faced with exceptional suitability, Qiu Heng found himself still yearning for perfection. He wanted this young man before him. Qiu Heng could almost envision the sess of the film with Jiang Qi as Chen Si.

    ¡°Director Qiu, it¡¯s lunchtime.¡± Shen Lei, fearing Jiang Qi would directly refuse Qiu Heng¡¯s suggestion, decided to speak up. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take a break and let Jiang Qi try again this afternoon?¡±

    ¡­

    Poor him, a renowned director, was now doing the job of a talent manager. It was time to find Jiang Qi a truly suitable talent manager.

    ¡°Okay.¡± After checking his watch, Qiu Heng nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s reconvene at 1:30.¡±

    With that, Qiu Heng dismissed the crew and instructed everyone to go eat.

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t want to embarrass Shen Lei, so he kept silent until everyone had left before furrowing his brows and saying, ¡°I really can¡¯t do it.¡±

    ¡°Just give it one more try, and then we¡¯ll see.¡± Shen Lei insisted before ushering Jiang Qi to the restaurant upstairs in the studio building.

    As the tall, slender figure of the young man walked away, Shen Lei stood there, contemting for a moment. A vague idea that had been forming in his mind suddenly grew like wild grass. He called Qiu Mi over and whispered a few words to him. As a result, Qiu Mi¡¯s expression became increasingly surprised, and his mouth involuntarily opened wide.

    ¡°Okay, go take care of this matter. Make sure to bring the person before 1:30,¡± Shen Lei said, smiling at him. There was a hint of threat in the whirlpool at the corner of his lips. ¡°Understand?¡±

    Qiu Mi couldn¡¯t help but shiver, hastily nodding. ¡°I¡¯ll go right away!¡±

    Sometimes, he really felt like Shen Lei was a god. He coulde up with ideas like this.

    Qiu Mi bought a sandwich on the way and drove to the entrance of Lin Lan University. After presenting his ID at the gate, Qiu Mi, inquired around the vast campus and finally headed straight to the female dormitory building. After informing the dormitory auntie and waiting for a while, Qiu Mi finally saw the true face of ¡°Zhi Qi¡± for the first time.

    The girl in the emerald green spaghetti strap dress descended from the steps, her slender figure gracefully moving, emitting an overall radiance. Her chestnut-colored hair was loosely tied up, with a few strands falling onto her distinct corbones. She wore a pair of linen-colored strapped sandals on her petite feet.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s ivory face was untouched by makeup, exhibiting a pure and innocent appearance with a hint of confusion. This appearance was even more beautiful than most of the female celebrities Qiu Mi had seen before, leaving the assistant momentarily stunned.

    It wasn¡¯t until the girl approached and softly asked the dormitory auntie who was looking for her that Qiu Mi snapped out of his daze. He finally understood why his usually calm and indifferent brother, Jiang Qi, would be disoriented with just a few pieces of information about this girl named Zhi Qi.

    ¡°It¡¯s me, it¡¯s me,¡± Qiu Mi realized the urgency of the matter and quickly walked over. ¡°Miss, are you Zhi Qi?¡±

    ¡°I am¡­¡± Zhi Qi looked at the unfamiliar young man in front of her with some surprise. ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Jiang Qi¡¯s assistant.¡±

    After saying this, he clearly saw a hint of surprise sh through the beautiful ck pupils of the girl in front of him. Qiu Mi remembered Shen Lei¡¯s instructions to use ¡°exaggeratednguage¡± and to do whatever it took to bring her over¡­

    So he suppressed his guilt and gritted his teeth. ¡°Um, can youe with me? There¡¯s something wrong with Brother Qi.¡±

    Qiu Mi didn¡¯t want to lie like this, but he remembered Shen Lei¡¯s exact words¡ª

    ¡°Jiang Qi must take on this role, otherwise he won¡¯t be able to survive in the industry.¡±

    ¡°So we must find a way to make himugh, by any means necessary.¡±

    ¡°Only that girl named Zhi Qi can make himugh, make him gentler. Go and bring her.¡±

    ¡°Well, just exaggerate a bit to trick her into thinking something¡¯s wrong with Jiang Qi.¡±

 Chapter 21: Putty In Her Hands

    Chapter 21: Putty In Her Hands

    Zhi Qi, with her porcin-white teeth biting her crimson lips, hadn¡¯t even had time to change her sandals as she rushed to the set with Qiu Mi. Her mind was nk along the way.

    At the moment she heard ¡°Jiang Qi¡¯s in trouble,¡± her mind conjured up many terrifying scenarios, frightening herself pale. Her voice trembled as she asked Qiu Mi about the situation ahead.

    But how could Qiu Mi exin?

    He could only keep a serious expression, pretending to be anxious. In fact, Qiu Mi was genuinely anxious. He had followed Shen Lei¡¯s orders to scare Zhi Qi intoing, but if Zhi Qi found out there was nothing wrong, she¡¯d be furious¡­ and Brother Qi would have to deal with him.

    Qiu Mi felt like he was between a rock and a hard ce, mentally exhausted. Now he had to ambiguously handle Zhi Qi.

    The set was quite far from Lan University. Qiu Mi thought about Shen Lei¡¯s warning to bring her by 1:30, and drove recklessly, almost running red lights. Finally, they arrived at 1:25.

    His impatience made Zhi Qi feel like something serious had happened to Jiang Qi. Her fingers involuntarily turned white as she clenched them together, feeling like an invisible hand was squeezing her heart, almost suffocating her.

    When they arrived at the set¡¯s entrance, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t wait for the car to stop before running out. Even though she was wearing strapped sandals, she moved as if she were wearing sneakers, swiftly stepping forward.

    ¡°Miss!¡± Qiu Mi realized something was wrong and hurriedly called out, ¡°Wait for me, you don¡¯t know where to go!¡±Zhi Qi had to force herself to ¡°brake¡± her pace.

    The two took the special elevator to the floor. The moment they stepped onto the set, Jiang Qi was preparing to get into character.

    Somewhat persuaded by Shen Lei¡¯s ¡°earnest advice,¡± Jiang Qi had closed his eyes, trying to recall the sweet and happy memories that could make him smile.

    But then he heard a chaotic noise. Whether it was his imagination or reality, Jiang Qi faintly heard Zhi Qi¡¯s voice. The girl¡¯s voice had always been soft and distinctive, with a hint of biting at the end.

    ¡°What¡¯s happened to him?¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s Jiang Qi?¡±

    ¡­

    Was it an illusion? Or was it real?

    Jiang Qi suddenly opened his eyes and saw the figure in dark green not far away through the mirror. He stood up abruptly, and his eyes met the startled pupils of Zhi Qi as she hurried over.

    ¡°Jiang Qi!¡± The girl ran up to him like a delicate butterfly, looking worriedly up and down at him. ¡°What happened to you?¡±

    What could he say? Jiang Qi was somewhat bewildered. But the sudden appearance of Zhi Qi, even if it was bewildering, was far from the joy that couldn¡¯t be suppressed in his heart.

    Before Jiang Qi could reply, Qiu Mi came panting over as well, awkwardlyughing to defuse the situation. ¡°Haha, Brother Qi is fine, he just wanted to see you.¡±

    Zhi Qi was stunned, asking nkly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Jiang Qi was in trouble?¡±

    ¡­

    The atmosphere became extremely awkward for a moment. Even if Jiang Qi was usually indifferent, there were seldom moments as ¡®frozen¡¯ as this one. Qiu Mi felt his hair stand on end,pletely at a loss. Oh dear, he was just following Director Shen¡¯s instructions! How did he end up taking the me?

    Qiu Mi felt numb from head to toe,pletely clueless.

    Fortunately, Zhi Qi was like an angel, and after she realized something was wrong with the atmosphere, she guessed what was going on. She breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt somewhat bemused. However, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze on the little assistant was quite intimidating.

    Zhi Qi thought for a moment, then reached out and tugged at Jiang Qi¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Hey.¡±

    One word could thaw the Arctic.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Qi forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart, adjusting his expression before turning his head to look at Zhi Qi, his eyes softening with a hint of hostility. The girl tilted her head slightly, her porcin-white teeth biting her lip gently, looking pure and obedient as she gazed at him.

    ¡°It¡¯s my first time on set.¡± Zhi Qi smiled. ¡°Could you show me around?¡±

    Qiu Mi was about to be moved to tears by her request!

    Of course, Jiang Qi would agree without hesitation. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Shen Lei, not far away, urged them.

    ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± the man called out.

    ¡­

    Jiang Qi felt another surge of anger in his heart, but unfortunately, it was truly one thirty now.

    Zhi Qi tilted her head, curious. ¡°Time for what?¡±

    ¡°An audition,¡± Jiang Qi said, hastily adding, ¡°It¡¯ll be quick. Can you¡­ wait for me?¡±

    His words seemed to imply a fear that Zhi Qi might just leave. Suppressing herughter, the girl nodded. ¡°Sure, is it your audition?¡±

    Jiang Qi made a sound of agreement.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Great, can I watch?¡±

    Jiang Qi certainly couldn¡¯t say no. After all, he never refused Zhi Qi, and he couldn¡¯t control her actions either. But¡­ for the first time in his brief ¡®acting career¡¯, he felt nervous, just at the thought of Zhi Qi watching him. Taking a deep breath, Jiang Qi adjusted his emotions several times, forcing himself to remember the script before walking towards the camera.

    Just before it officially began, Shen Lei saw Zhi Qi following behind him. His eyes lit up, and he grabbed Jiang Qi¡¯s arm, lowering his voice. ¡°If you can¡¯t smile at the end of the audition, look at your little girl.¡±

    Jiang Qi was slightly taken aback. He was extremely intelligent, but it wasn¡¯t until now that he realized why Zhi Qi was here.

    So everything was arranged by this old fox.

    Before stepping up, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but nce at Zhi Qi again. The girl stood next to Qiu Mi, her dark eyes fixed on him intently. With a mixture of affection and yfulness, she seemed to melt anyone¡¯s heart in an instant.

    In a daze, Jiang Qi seemed to have figured out how to ¡®smile¡¯.

    Just the thought of Zhi Qi made him smile naturally, and all the embarrassment and awkwardness from before disappeared in an instant. Jiang Qi walked up to the camera and began his solo performance. He followed the script methodically, almostpletely immersed in his own world.

    *

    The young man was slender, wearing only a thin shirt. When he faced the mirror, his straight back revealed the slight protrusion of his shoulder des, so thin that it almost evoked a sense of pity. But his expression between his eyebrows was not like this. Although the young man felt like he was a girl, there was a stubbornness in his softness.

    A famous actor once said that the most charming quality of male actors is the vulnerability that makes people want to destroy them, while female actors have a sense of stubbornness.

    Jiang Qi was a male actor, but his current role was a ¡®gender dysphoria patient,¡¯ so he needed to adjust his mindset to truly believe that the character he was ying was a girl. What he was seeking now was the stubbornness that female actors needed the most.

    Qu Heng, behind the camera, watched without blinking, realizing for the first time what a ¡®genius actor¡¯ was. These actors, relying solely on talent, were not constrained by the rules and regtions of teaching. They had an innate sensitivity and knew exactly what the audience wanted to see and expressed it most urately.

    That¡¯s what an actor is. Just two simple words, but some people can never achieve it in their lifetime, while others can understand it in an instant.

    God was unfair when creating people.

    The entire audition set was silent, with everyone staring nkly at Jiang Qi¡¯s performance, their thoughts drawn into the world he had created. And Zhi Qi was the only ¡®outsider¡¯ in the entire set. Here, she was the only one who didn¡¯t know the content of the audition script, so at first, she could only watch Jiang Qi¡¯s performance blindly, like feeling an elephant in the dark.

    She watched the young man sitting in front of the mirror, as if his whole demeanor had changed. The usually tough and aloof ¡®mad boy¡¯ softened, grooming himself in front of the mirror like a girl. This was a performance without props, without anyone to act with. The young man had to find his feelings all by himself.

    At first, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t understand what Jiang Qi was doing or how he became like a girl, but gradually, she got into it.

    Except for Jiang Qi in front of the camera, there was only a mirror and a bed. The young man didn¡¯t deliberately imitate the obvious features of a woman, such as affected walking postures, etc. He just seemed very satisfied after ¡®dressing up¡¯ in front of the mirror and walked around the room.

    Then the young man sat down, his long legs lightly crossed as he lit a cigarette. It was still the prestigious Huanhe brand he was used to. Jiang Qi bit the cigarette, held between two fingers. Only the knowledgeable could understand that this was the posture of a woman smoking.

    The young man didn¡¯t do it deliberately, but the details were meticulous¡ªJiang Qi¡¯s mind was extremely sharp, and basically all the small details were not particrly observed in daily life, but were recorded bit by bit. For example, during those days in prison, what couldn¡¯t be seen?

    After finishing a cigarette, the expression between the young man¡¯s brows seemed unusually content.

    Then he stood up, walked to the edge of the bed, opened his arms, and fell back, letting his body sprawl freely on therge bed. His movements were like a graceful bird, joyful and free. Unconsciously, it was time for the final scene of the audition.

    Jiang Qi needed to lie on the bed,ughing happily and contentedly.

    Shen Lei suddenly snapped out of the scene, bing nervous. He subconsciously looked towards the ¡®savior¡¯ he had brought in, but was surprised to find that at some point, tears were streaming down Zhi Qi¡¯s face.

    The young girl bit her finger joints to suppress her voice, but she couldn¡¯t help whimpering softly, and even her shoulders were trembling slightly. She didn¡¯t know what Jiang Qi was performing, but Zhi Qi could always sense his inner feelings, feeling Jiang Qi¡¯s loneliness and difort.

    Zhi Qi had already guessed that the character Jiang Qi was portraying was probably a unhappy and pitiful person, so she couldn¡¯t help but cry along with the performance. Shen Lei couldn¡¯t help but frown with a headache, thinking this was bad. If this girl cried, how could Jiang Qi still smile?

    ¡ªBut flowers can bloom on cliffs and steep slopes, and surprises often happen when least expected.

    In thest scene, Jiang Qi turned his head slightly and saw Zhi Qi¡¯s dark green figure from afar. Suddenly, his thoughts were drawn back to scenes from several years ago.

    He finally remembered the most beautiful moments.

    About himself and Zhi Qi¡ªmeeting, reuniting, liking each other, making promises. Jiang Qi smiled from the bottom of his heart, his light-colored eyes filled with madness and contentment. This was also the first smile captured by the media after he entered the public eye.

    But only a few people knew that he was just smiling at Zhi Qi.

 Chapter 22: Keeping Promises From Now On

    Chapter 22: Keeping Promises From Now On

    In the future, he will obediently keep his appointments.

    As Qiu Heng¡¯s trembling voice called ¡°Cut,¡± Jiang Qi instantly detached himself from the character.

    The smile on his face disappeared, and the camera captured the first thing the young man did was to quickly run to Zhi Qi¡¯s side and ask in a somewhat flustered voice, ¡°Why are you crying?¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s fingers hanging at his side moved slightly, as if he wanted to wipe away the tears from Zhi Qi¡¯s red eyes, but he hesitated. Zhi Qi sniffed and looked up at him, her eyes carrying a smile. The girl¡¯s voice was muffled as she said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Jiang Qi, you acted really well.¡±

    Jiang Qi had heard this kind of praise many times before, and he had even received exaggeratedpliments that felt sincere, but this time his ears felt a bit warm. Feeling Zhi Qi¡¯s somewhat ¡®admiring¡¯ gaze, Jiang Qi shyly pursed his lips, his expression resembling shyness.

    ¡­

    Wow, Shen Lei couldn¡¯t help but exim, wow.

    Is this the same Jiang Qi he knows, so ¡®gentle and warm¡¯?

    Meanwhile, QIu Heng carefully saved the audition footage and then excitedly ran over.¡°This time was great! Really great!¡± QIu Heng didn¡¯t even notice Zhi Qi, focusing entirely on Jiang Qi. The light in his eyes was like a wolf staring at amb, or a nouveau riche eyeing a gold brick. His demeanor waspletely different from the strict and schrly attitude he had shown earlier.

    QIu Heng couldn¡¯t wait to say, ¡°There¡¯s no need to audition anyone else. No one will be more suitable for the role of Chen Si than you. Let¡¯s sign the contract today.¡±

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t feel the ¡®joy of hitting the jackpot¡¯ but instead thought for a moment before responsibly and earnestly saying to him, ¡°Actually, myughter just now was a coincidence. It¡¯s not certain that I¡¯ll be in that state throughout the entire movie.¡±

    He couldugh because Zhi Qi was there.

    But Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t always be there; it was as simple as that. Shen Lei actually understood this truth as well, couldn¡¯t help but sigh with some regret.

    But QIu Heng was unusually persistent, ¡°Since you were able to find that state just now, it means you can find it again in the future. I¡¯m willing to trust you.¡±

    ¡­

    But he doesn¡¯t really trust himself.

    Jiang Qi frowned with some difficulty, lips pressed together in silence.

    Zhi Qi quietly listened on the side. She hade to know Shen Lei through relentless rmendations from Meng Chunyu, but she couldn¡¯t recognize QIu Heng¡¯s face¡ªafter all, in the entertainment industry, directors¡¯ faces weren¡¯t as ubiquitous as those of popr idols.

    However, she could still roughly guess what was happening. The man in front of her was inviting Jiang Qi to y the male lead, and Jiang Qi was hesitating because of his ability to ¡®smile¡¯.

    It seemed that this movie required Jiang Qi to smile frequently, but he was afraid he couldn¡¯t do it. But why? Zhi Qi remembered the trending hashtag #JiangQiNeverSmiles. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

    Upon closer thought, Jiang Qi indeed rarely smiled before. Even in front of her, his eyes were calm, his indulgence limitless, with just a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips. And when facing others, he didn¡¯t even show a trace of a smile. Not liking to smile was far from ¡®unable to smile¡¯. There was a fundamental difference between the two.

    Could it be because of those three years in prison¡­?

    At this thought, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang in her heart. Her small hand, hanging by her side, instinctively grabbed Jiang Qi¡¯s long, cold hand. This was their only ¡®intimate¡¯ gesture in the past few years. The tender touch caught him off guard, and Jiang Qi paused slightly, looking down at the girl¡¯s ivory-white fingertips, unable to help but smile.

    This was the second time he had smiled in front of others.

    QIu Heng keenly caught this moment. Amidst his surprise, he saw the boy holding the girl¡¯s hand and suddenly understood why this young girl had appeared. This was the first time QIu Heng took a serious look at Zhi Qi.

    The girl in the dark green dress tilted her head slightly, her eyes blinking as she looked at Jiang Qi, full of concern and worry almost overflowing¡­ So, this guy had a girlfriend?

    He had been to prison, was rebellious, didn¡¯t act in emotional scenes, and had a girlfriend.

    Jiang Qi possessed almost all the ¡®ws¡¯ that male celebrities could have, and each one was basically andmine. In reality, such a person wasn¡¯t the best choice for a male lead, but¡­ Qiu Heng was determined to challenge the ¡®high difficulty¡¯.

    In the blink of an eye, an indistinct idea formed in Qiu Heng¡¯s mind.

    Yet he felt it was feasible.

    ¡°Anyway, on behalf of the entire cast and crew of ¡®Jiao Si¡¯, I earnestly invite you to y the role,¡± Qiu Heng pondered for a moment before extending his hand to Jiang Qi. ¡°How about this, will you consider it? Take a week to think it over, and I¡¯ll wait for your answer.¡±

    Huang Haofan, who had followed Qiu Heng for several years, was taken aback seeing his boss¡¯s unprecedented enthusiasm for an actor in the industry, staring at him in astonishment.

    Qiu Heng¡¯s sincere words made it impossible for Jiang Qi to continue stubbornly refusing, so he reluctantly reached out and shook hands with him. However, his other hand, which had been holding Zhi Qi¡¯s hand, didn¡¯t let go, gripping it with almost greedy enthusiasm.

    *

    After the two left the set and got into the car, Zhi Qi¡¯s fair hand was noticeably red from being held tightly. The young girl looked a bit embarrassed, her ck eyes still moist from crying earlier, with redness around the corners of her eyes, giving her a peach blossom-like appearance. She stared nkly at Jiang Qi.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s slender hand rested on the steering wheel in a manner to disguise it, but he didn¡¯t start the car. His gaze was evasive, as if he didn¡¯t dare to meet the girl¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Jiang Qi,¡± Zhi Qi¡¯s voice was gentle as she tentatively asked him, ¡°What role were you ying just now?¡±

    She had been curious about this question since earlier, but she hadn¡¯t had the chance to ask. So Jiang Qi briefly exined the synopsis of the script and the role he needed to y to Zhi Qi.

    During the process, Jiang Qi actually felt a bit ¡®apprehensive¡¯.

    Because the ¡®male lead¡¯ in this script had always fantasized about being a girl, and when he had to y the role, he would definitely have to switch states. He didn¡¯t know if Zhi Qi would dislike his feminine side, his effeminacy. But as Zhi Qi listened, her initially pure and confused eyes gradually widened, with a hint of surprise and admiration in them.

    ¡°That¡¯s a very good theme, exploring the gender identity obstacles that are rarely seen in society¡­¡± Zhi Qi¡¯s eyes lit up, looking at Jiang Qi with excitement. ¡°If the movie bes popr, this type ofmunity will definitely receive attention!¡±

    Jiang Qi was slightly taken aback.

    He realized that he had underestimated Zhi Qi¡¯s perspective.

    After listening, what she cared about wasn¡¯t the ¡®effeminate¡¯ or ¡®feminine¡¯ aspects of his character, but rather the deeper meaning behind the script. Zhi Qi¡¯s mindset was different from the online gossiping masses who only knew how to talk big.

    In an instant, Jiang Qi reflected on his previous worries and felt that he had been too narrow-minded. In fact, Zhi Qi had always been such a person¡ªmild-mannered and seemingly insignificant, but always wanting to give something back to society, even if it was just a little bit. That¡¯s why she chose to study ¡®Wildlife and Nature Reserve Management¡¯, a remote and niche major.

    After graduating from this major, most people couldn¡¯t find a job and ended up struggling for prospect. But there were still some who persisted, and Zhi Qi was one of them.

    Jiang Qi knew that her dream had never changed, because when the girl was in high school, her tender voice had once said, ¡°My dream, hehe, I want to protect wild animals in the future¡­ Does it sound like a too naive?¡±

    Zhi Qi had a dream, and she had always been able to persist in it consistently. While Jiang Qi didn¡¯t have a dream of his own, he was willing to follow Zhi Qi¡¯s ideals in both body and mind, even if it meant striving to be more like her.

    So¡­ the young man turned his head and looked at Zhi Qi. ¡°Do you want me to take the role?¡±

    ¡°I do.¡± Zhi Qi nodded without hesitation, but then she smiled a bit shyly, her long eyshes drooping slightly. ¡°Because I think you act really well.¡±

    During Jiang Qi¡¯s audition just now, she had already beenpletely immersed in his performance. And now, after hearing Jiang Qi outline the storyline, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but anticipate how this peculiarly tragic yet beautifully ending story of the protagonist would unfold before the audience.

    Jiang Qi would surely perform it exceptionally well.

    Having watched his recent performance, Zhi Qi felt confident about this¡ªalthough she wouldn¡¯t say it out loud, as it would only add pressure to the young man.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Qi nodded and looked at her with a soft voice. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the role.¡±

    It seemed like all the messy baggage could finally be set aside. Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but smile. But as she smiled, she noticed Jiang Qi¡¯s translucent eyes, which were blinking at her without pause. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she turned away.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze was always like this. When he looked at her, it was as if she were the only one in the world, and everything else gradually faded away, bing insignificant. So the young girl turned her head away, and even took off her headband, letting her chestnut-colored hair fall down and cover her slightly flushed ears.

    In her soft voice, she scolded, ¡°You, take me back to school.¡±

    So soon she had to go back?

    Jiang Qi felt a bit disappointed, but still obediently replied, ¡°Okay,¡± and started the car to take her back to school.

    Fortunately, Lin Lan University was quite far from the set, so Jiang Qi could drive slowly, and he could also have the chance to spend a little more time with Zhi Qi.

    But unfortunately, he was not very articte. Even if he deliberately prolonged the time, he didn¡¯t know what to say to make the girl happy. However, just being able to be with Zhi Qi made the surrounding atmosphere seem softer and morefortable.

    It had been a very long time since Jiang Qi had felt this purely rxed state.

    Lin Lan was raining again, the sound of raindrops tapping on the car was crisp and pleasant.

    Unfortunately, no matter how slow the car went, it would eventually reach its destination. When they reached the bustling section of the city, surrounded by the vibrant colors of flowers and trees, the familiar sense of restlessness surged in Jiang Qi¡¯s heart once again.

    ¡ªUntil they stopped at a red light, and Jiang Qi saw a bubble tea shop outside the window.

    In an instant, the private message that Zhi Qi had once sent him on Weibo shed through his mind: [You said you would buy me red bean bubble tea to drink on every rainy day.]

    Yes, he had indeed said that, and he had broken that promise for many years. So Jiang Qi pursed his lips, turned the steering wheel, and stopped the car on the side of the road. Then, he opened the car door and ran out in the rain.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhi Qi was drowsy from the warmth inside the car, until a cold breeze blew in through the car door, making her shiver. She heard a ¡®bang¡¯ beside her, and then realized that Jiang Qi had stopped the car and ran out.

    Where did Jiang Qi go?

    Zhi Qi waspletely awake now, but through the misty rain, she couldn¡¯t see his slender figure anywhere.

    It wasn¡¯t until almost ten minutester that the young man returned to the car, drenched in water. Jiang Qi¡¯s amber-like eyes glistened as he smiled gently at the girl¡¯s puzzled expression, and then his slender hand passed her a cup.

    ¡°Red bean bubble tea,¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s voice was soft but determined. ¡°For you.¡±

    *In the future, he would keep his promises.

 Chapter 23: Girl With Fiery Spirit

    Chapter 23: Girl With Fiery Spirit

    The girl Jiang Qi liked, it turned out, was only superficial¡­

    As for the matter of red bean bubble tea, it was actually Zhi Qi¡¯s unreasonable request when she was sixteen.

    It was another rainy day at Lin Lan, and Zhi Qi always found rainy days romantic when she was in a good mood. But when his mood wasn¡¯t great, it just made her irritable.

    For example, girls experiencing menstrual cramps would feel particrly irritable. During lunch break, when most of the ssmates had gone to eat, Zhi Qi was lying on her desk, pale-faced. Unconsciously biting her lips due to cramps, she pressed her small hands against her abdomen, trying not to whimper in pain.

    Until most of the ssmates had left the ssroom, Jiang Qi returned from the restroom and noticed the girl¡¯s abnormal condition. Seeing Zhi Qi¡¯s face so pale and her breathing so weak, Jiang Qi¡¯s eyebrows immediately furrowed with concern as he walked quickly over. He thought the girl had a fever, so he touched Zhi Qi¡¯s forehead with his hand, which was still cold from washing, causing her to shiver.

    ¡°Hey.¡± Most girls on their periods were in a bad mood. Zhi Qi angrily swatted Jiang Qi¡¯s hand away, weakly scolding, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±

    Frowning, Jiang Qi asked, ¡°Are you running a fever?¡±

    Zhi Qi remained silent.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Jiang Qi took off his school jacket and draped it over Zhi Qi, as if he was about to bend down and carry her on his back. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡±¡ª

    Wrapped up in the boy¡¯s oversized school uniform like a ¡°quail,¡± the girl felt speechless.

    How was she supposed to exin to a clueless boy who knew nothing about these matters that she wasn¡¯t running a fever, but was experiencing something she was too shy to talk about?

    Her stomach was already in excruciating pain, and now she had to think about these things.

    Feeling even more annoyed, Zhi Qi pulled the uniform up over her head like a child and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m not going, I¡¯m not feverish!¡±

    ¡ª

    Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit at a loss. After a while, he clumsily and cautiously asked, ¡°Qiqi, where exactly does it hurt?¡±

    Silence.

    After a long while, he finally heard Zhi Qi¡¯s muffled voice, ¡°My stomach hurts.¡±

    Jiang Qi hesitated for a moment, then couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit embarrassed. He wasn¡¯t stupid. When Zhi Qi spoke awkwardly and shyly like that, could he still not know the reason? Like all ordinary boys, Jiang Qi was at a loss when faced with the issue of his favorite girl being on her period.

    He thought for a long time, then gently pulled down the school uniform covering the girl¡¯s head. Sure enough, her pale face from earlier now had a slight blush of embarrassment. Her ck eyes were shining as she looked at him, whether from pain or embarrassment, he couldn¡¯t tell.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple involuntarily bobbed.

    ¡°Um¡­¡± he didn¡¯t realize it, but his usually cool voice became a bit hoarse, ¡°shall I go get you some hot water?¡±

    He didn¡¯t understand these things about girls, but it seemed like drinking hot water during her period was always a good idea, right?

    But the girl didn¡¯t want to drink tasteless hot water.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink that,¡± Zhi Qi looked at him with her big eyes, acting spoiled because of her period, her voice soft and gentle, ¡°I want red bean milk tea.¡±

    Milk tea with red beans, her favoritebination.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Jiang Qi agreed without hesitation, then added after a moment¡¯s thought, ¡°but it has to be hot.¡±

    Zhi Qi smiled, ¡°Will you buy it for me?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Jiang Qi replied.

    ¡°You¡¯re really nice,¡± Zhi Qi said naturally, not noticing Jiang Qi¡¯s embarrassed expression, then couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Are you only this nice to me when I¡¯m in pain? You¡¯re never like this usually.¡±

    Perhaps when girls were in a bad mood, they tended to overthink things. After hearing this, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but feel amused and exasperated. Zhi Qi was just talking nonsense. If he could, he would listen to her forever.

    Although the phrase ¡°forever¡± sounded distant and elusiveing from a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, Jiang Qi truly felt that way.

    Emotions churned in Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes for a moment, but he didn¡¯t say anything as he stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go buy it for you.¡±

    ¡°Forget it,¡± Zhi Qi said, actually just being difficult. She nced out the window and stopped Jiang Qi, ¡°It¡¯s still raining outside.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Jiang Qi shrugged it off, but before leaving, something came to mind. He turned back to Zhi Qi and said earnestly, ¡°From now on, every rainy day, I¡¯ll buy you milk tea to drink.¡±

    The young man wanted to subtly express to Zhi Qi that he absolutely wasn¡¯t only considerate towards her during her period. As long as Zhi Qi wished, he would do everything within his power to fulfill her requests.

    Not to mention a cup of red bean milk tea.

    That day, the rain in Lin Lan was quite heavy. In the end, the young man returned with a cup of milk tea, soaked but still protecting it.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s ck hair was wet, sticking to his forehead. His eyes were brighter than gems as he handed the still warm milk tea to thezy girl, his voice cool, ¡°Zhi Qi, drink it. It¡¯s still hot.¡±

    ¡­

    Memories seemed to ovep with the present.

    The same person, milk tea, eyes, and the same words.

    ¡°Zhi Qi, drink it. It¡¯s red bean vored.¡±

    Zhi Qi silently took the cup of milk tea, still warm to the touch, her expression dazed. For some reason, as she looked into the pure and hopeful eyes of the young man, her ck eyes blinked, and tears uncontrobly fell down her cheeks. Like beads falling off a broken string, crystal clear and silent.

    Zhi Qi suddenly felt that she shouldn¡¯t have been so temperamental with Jiang Qi.

    Although this guy always made her angry by leaving without notice, Jiang Qi¡¯s life must be a hundred or a thousand times more difficult than hers. And now that they finally met, she was still ying games with him.

    Whenever Zhi Qi cried, Jiang Qi would panic.

    He frantically took out tissues from thepartment in the car but couldn¡¯t find the right words tofort her, so he awkwardly handed them to Zhi Qi. The girl didn¡¯t take them and just kept crying with her head down, so Jiang Qi had no choice but to lean in and gently wipe her tears.

    His movements were as gentle as if he were handling fragile porcin, delicate and tender. But being too cautious could also be demeaning. Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want Jiang Qi to appear so submissive in front of her, but it seemed that the young man couldn¡¯t change.

    Sighing silently, Zhi Qi sniffled and forced herself to swallow her bitter emotions. She shouldn¡¯t affect Jiang Qi, shouldn¡¯t make him worry.

    Zhi Qi suppressed the urge to ask Jiang Qi about what had happened in the past and how he had spent these years in prison. After a moment of silence, her voice slightly hoarse, she asked, ¡°Can Ie to the set to see you in the future?¡±

    This time, she wanted to gradually integrate into Jiang Qi¡¯s life, to make him understand that they were equals, that neither of them was superior to the other, and that she would admire him as well. Jiang Qi looked at her in surprise, as if not understanding what she meant.

    After a while, he asked, ¡°Are you really willing toe?¡±

    Zhi Qi smiled through her tears, ¡°Of course I am, but you don¡¯t have to¡­ don¡¯t have to wait for me all the time.¡±

    She understood Jiang Qi¡¯s stubbornness. If she didn¡¯t make it clear, he might wait for her every day. But she couldn¡¯t guarantee that she woulde often. All she could say was ¡°try her best.¡±

    But even so, it was enough to make Jiang Qi happy. A somewhat obscure joy shed in the young man¡¯s eyes, and he nodded vigorously in response.

    Zhi Qi didn¡¯t expect to receive a call from Shen Lei after returning to school. When she answered the call from an unknown number and heard the smooth self-introduction on the other end, she was momentarily stunned until the man on the line identified himself as Shen Lei.

    ¡°Director Shen¡­¡± Zhi Qi greeted somewhat perplexed. ¡°Hello.¡±

    Although the girl was puzzled, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder how her phone number had been obtained. Could it be true what Meng Chunyu had said, that the big shots could find out anything?

    After Shen Lei politely exchanged greetings, he quickly got to the point. First, he apologized to her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was me who had my assistant bring you over,¡± the man said somewhat embarrassedly. ¡°I apologize for making you worry.¡±

    In fact, Zhi Qi had already guessed this, but what she didn¡¯t understand was why Shen Lei had deceived her intoing over. Why was he so urgent to have her see Jiang Qi?

    But Shen Lei was quick to rify her doubts.

    ¡°Miss Zhi Qi, to be frank, this audition is quite important for Jiang Qi,¡± Shen Lei sighed and exined briefly about Jiang Qi¡¯s previous refusal of Wang Zhaoqiu¡¯s offer, as well as his less sessful first audition with Qiu Heng, and so on. He continued, ¡°He couldn¡¯t get into character in thest scene, and couldn¡¯t manage to smile.¡±

    ¡°So I had to resort to bringing his beloved here, thinking that maybe seeing you would help.¡±

    And indeed, Shen Lei¡¯s bold attempt proved to be effective.

    But Zhi Qi felt a bit embarrassed at his use of the term ¡°beloved,¡± although she didn¡¯t deny it. She simply blushed shyly and remained silent. However, Shen Lei¡¯s purpose for calling this time was not just to express gratitude.

    The man remembered the ¡°n¡± he had discussed with Qu Heng earlier and tentatively asked Zhi Qi, ¡°Miss Zhi Qi, forgive me for being forward¡­ Would you be able toe to the set more often in the future to see Jiang Qi?¡±

    Zhi Qi was momentarily stunned, her eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    She didn¡¯t quite understand.

    ¡°Well, to be more straightforward, Jiang Qi is currently struggling with expressing happiness, joy, and contentment. He¡¯s doing well with other emotional performances, but he just can¡¯t seem to smile naturally,¡± Shen Lei sighed. ¡°Today, luckily, you came, otherwise he might not have seeded in the final smiling shot.¡±

    This time, Zhi Qi understood Shen Lei¡¯s meaning.

    So, Shen Lei¡¯s intention was to have Zhi Qi ¡°help¡± Jiang Qiplete this film by apanying him on set when he needed to portray those emotions of ¡°happiness and contentment.¡± Understanding this, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help butugh.

    ¡°Director Shen, do you not trust Jiang Qi?¡± Zhi Qi¡¯s question made Shen Lei pause for a moment, and he instinctively refuted, ¡°How could that be?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand how your entertainment industry works, but I believe in Jiang Qi,¡± Zhi Qi said firmly and earnestly. ¡°He¡¯s capable of portraying a character independently, without anyone¡¯s help.¡±

    Perhaps sensing Zhi Qi¡¯s displeasure, Shen Lei endured the embarrassment of being contradicted and exined weakly, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡±

    He somewhat regretted agreeing to Qiu Heng¡¯s proposal to ¡°persuade¡± Zhi Qi toe over.

    ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not just anyone¡¯sckey, I won¡¯t be at anyone¡¯s beck and call,¡± Zhi Qi said calmly, even though she had actually agreed to Jiang Qi¡¯s request toe see him often. But in front of others, Zhi Qi wouldn¡¯t give any promises that could be considered shackles to herself. She continued, ¡°I also have my own things to do, Director Shen. Please trust Jiang Qi, and thank you for your suggestion.¡±

    With that, she hung up the phone.

    On the other end of the phone, Shen Lei listened to the beep of the phone, and after a while, he only had one thought in his mind¡ª the girl Jiang Qi liked, on the surface, seemed obedient, but deep down, she harbored a strong and independent spirit.

 Chapter 24: She Also Wants To Take Care Of Jiang Qi

    Chapter 24: She Also Wants To Take Care Of Jiang Qi

    On weekends, Zhi Qi went back home.

    Her home was in the East District, quite a distance from the university town. Zhi Qi didn¡¯t call the family driver to pick her up, but instead, she rented a car back early in the morning.

    It was almost a two-hour journey, and it was after nine o¡¯clock when Zhi Qi entered the door and found silence inside. As she was taking off her shoes, Mei Ran came downstairs wearing silk pajamas. The woman must have just woken up, her fluffy hair was not meticulously tied up as usual, and her eyes were sleepy.

    Seeing Zhi Qi, she immediately became alert.

    ¡°Darling? When did youe back?¡± Mei Ran hurried downstairs to Zhi Qi, her eyes holding a hint of surprise. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell Mom, so Uncle Liu could pick you up.¡±

    Uncle Liu was the family¡¯s driver.

    ¡°No need, it¡¯s troublesome,¡± Zhi Qi muttered, walking to the sofa and sitting down. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend, so I came back.¡±

    ¡°You still remember toe back, you ungrateful child.¡± Mei Ran quickly asked the housekeeper to bring over the chilled bird¡¯s nest drink from the refrigerator, but couldn¡¯t help butin. ¡°You haven¡¯t been back for almost a month this time. Are you so busy with your studies?¡±

    At Mei Ran¡¯s words, Zhi Qi almost choked on the bird¡¯s nest she was drinking. A hint of guilt shed through her lowered eyes. Actually, this month, she wasn¡¯t as busy with her studies as before. She had just spent this time¡­ chasing stars.Zhi Qi vaguely replied with an ¡°um.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve bought you a bunch of stuff during this time, clothes and electronic products, I¡¯ll bring them backter.¡± Ever since Mei Ran became familiar with online shopping, her greatest pleasure was buying things every day, especially buying various new clothes, essories, and electronic products for Zhi Qi¡ªand hypocritically not buying them for Zhi Qi¡¯s brother.

    She only treated her daughter like a little princess and her son like a porter.

    Mei Ran said confidently, ¡°If you hadn¡¯te back today, I was thinking of having your brother send them to you in a couple of days.¡±

    ¡­

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but feel amused and helpless, slowly sipping the bird¡¯s nest.

    ¡°Don¡¯t trouble your brother,¡± she said obediently. ¡°I¡¯ll take them back myself.¡±

    In fact, most of the things Mei Ran bought for her were things she couldn¡¯t use. Many of them were gathering dust under her dormitory bed. But she was willing to buy them, and Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want to ruin her mother¡¯s enthusiasm.

    Moreover, these things could be ¡°put to good use¡± now. Some of them could be given to Jiang Qi. For example, the Kindle could be used by him to read scripts, and the wireless earphones could be worn by Jiang Qi. Also, things like the Apple Watch, she couldn¡¯t use them, so she could send them over for Jiang Qi to use¡­

    Zhi Qi finally understood why there were so many fans crazily sending gifts to their favorite ¡°idols¡±.

    She really wanted to ¡°sponsor¡± Jiang Qi, preferably to take charge of everything ording to her own aesthetic tastes.

    Zhi Qi chuckled at her own imagination.

    As if in line with what Zhi Qi was thinking, therge TV in front of the sofa happened to be ying the entertainment channel of the local Lin Lan TV station, and there was coincidentally news about Jiang Qi¡ª

    The host was talking incessantly, ¡°Recently, due to the sudden fame of ¡®Gazing at the Sky,¡¯ the neer Jiang Qi has been sought after by majorpanies for signing contracts. However, it¡¯s rumored that he has already signed with ¡®Chen Ding Entertainment,¡¯ and his next film will be the new movie being prepared by Director Qiu Heng¡­¡±

    Apanied by the host¡¯s clear voice, the TV also shed several paparazzi photos of Jiang Qi. The young man wore a cap, and his half-profile under the dim light revealed sharp and delicate lines.

    The living room of the Zhi family suddenly fell silent. It was not just because the name Jiang Qi held profound meaning for Zhi Qi, but because everyone in the Zhi family was too familiar with him. Zhi Qi listened in a daze, unconsciously gripping the porcin bowl in her hand tighter, almost afraid to turn around and see Mei Ran¡¯s expression.

    Because she was afraid of seeing disgust on the woman¡¯s face.

    Zhi Qi knew that before she was seventeen, Mei Ran and Zhi Minglin were actually not against her association with Jiang Qi, after all, the young man was her ¡°savior.¡±

    But in the second year of high school, everything changed. Zhi Qi didn¡¯t know if her parents¡¯ thoughts were the same as her brother¡¯s now¡ªthey all considered Jiang Qi, who had been in prison, ¡°dangerous and scary.¡±

    After a while, Zhi Qi heard Mei Ran seem to let out a soft sigh.

    ¡°I actually wanted to ask you about this before, but then I forgot.¡± Mei Ran stared at the screen, her voice faint, without any discernible emotion. ¡°This kid is a star now, huh.¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s nails involuntarily sank into her palm, unsure of how to respond.

    ¡°Qiqi,¡± Mei Ran asked calmly, ¡°Do you still have contact with Jiang Qi? Have you met?¡±

    Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want to lie, but she also didn¡¯t want to¡­ tell the truth.

    But sometimes, silence actually equaled agreement.

    ¡°Qiqi, look at me.¡± Mei Ran forcefully turned the girl¡¯s face towards her, her beautiful bare face serious. ¡°Whatever happened before is one thing, if you like Jiang Qi, your father and I don¡¯t object. But the premise is that he hasn¡¯tmitted any crimes, and now¡­¡±

    ¡°Mom, he hasn¡¯tmitted any crimes.¡± Zhi Qi¡¯s voice trembled, her ck eyes stubbornly staring at the woman. ¡°You know, he hasn¡¯tmitted any crimes.¡±

    Seeing her daughter about to burst into tears in the next moment, Mei Ran was momentarily speechless.

    The woman pursed her lips and finally told Zhi Qi a in fact with determination: ¡°Involuntary manughter is also a crime.¡±

    The implication in Mei Ran¡¯s hesitant words made Zhi Qi¡¯s pupils contract sharply.

    No one had been willing to tell her the full story of what happened four years ago, everything was always vague and ambiguous. Even after Jiang Qi got into trouble, Zhi Minglin and Mei Ran directly transferred her to another school, cutting off any possibility of contact with Jiang Qi. Later, when Zhi Qi finally managed to find out about Jiang Qi¡¯s only rtive, his uncle Jiang Shi, he didn¡¯t say anything either¡­

    Her contact with Jiang Qi was forcibly severed, to the extent that Zhi Qi had been kept in the dark for so many years. Zhi Qi understood her parents¡¯ efforts to focus on her studies, but that didn¡¯t mean she could condone their arbitrary decisions.

    Back then, did Zhi Qi ever not oppose and resist? But as a seventeen-year-old girl, everything she did was futile.

    Until today, Zhi Qi finally couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What crime did Jiang Qi actuallymit?¡±

    She really wanted to know what happened back then. The reason she didn¡¯t ask Jiang Qi was because she was afraid of triggering his bad memories. But faced with Mei Ran, who seemed to know the whole truth, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t hold back anymore.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics either,¡± Mei Ran sighed, her gazeplex. ¡°But the police verdict back then was ¡®violent self-defense resulting in manughter.¡¯ This couldn¡¯t possibly be a wrongful conviction.¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, lips pursed in silence.

    ¡°Qiqi, promise Mom.¡± Mei Ran held Zhi Qi¡¯s tender hand, her gaze hopeful, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°Stop having contact with Jiang Qi, okay? I¡¯m very grateful to him for saving you back then, our whole family is grateful too. But, he¡¯s a dangerous person.¡±

    ¡°Even if he hasn¡¯tmitted crimes and been to prison, you can see from his eyes, Jiang Qi is not an ordinary teenager.¡±

    Perhaps all parents under the sun simply want their children to be safe and sound, free from cmities and misfortunes. However, a girl like Jiang Qi seemed out of ce with these keywords like ¡®happiness¡¯ and ¡®peace.¡¯ Mei Ran couldn¡¯t convince herself to let go of her worries, even though she knew Jiang Qi had indeed helped their family.

    But if she needed to ¡®repay¡¯ him, Mei Ran was willing to do it with money or anything else¡­ except for Zhi Qi. Even though Mei Ran knew her daughter actually liked that dangerous teenager.

    But can youthful passion withstand the test of time?

    The morning sunlight poured into the living room, warm and cozy, but Zhi Qi¡¯s heart felt as if it had been covered with ayer of frost, cold. The girl sniffed, thinking to herself that as expected, Mei Ran was biased against Jiang Qi. But¡­

    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re wrong.¡± After a while, Zhi Qi gently freed her hand from Mei Ran¡¯s grasp and smiled faintly.

    ¡°Jiang Qi is not a dangerous person.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen him, he¡¯s still the same good person.¡±

    She could doubt if the stars were torches, if the sun would change its course, if truth was falsehood. But Jiang Qi would never hurt her, and Zhi Qi wouldn¡¯t doubt that.

    *

    Staying at home until the afternoon, Zhi Qi and Mei Ran actually parted on bad terms.

    When Zhi Qi carried arge box of things back to the dormitory, Meng Chunyu was applying a face mask. She saw Zhi Qi¡¯s tense expression and asked in a muffled voice, ¡°Darling, are you back home?¡±

    Every time Zhi Qi came back home, she brought back a box of things, and after three years, Meng Chunyu had gotten used to it.

    ¡­and she had also gotten used to waiting for the little fairy to feed her.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zhi Qi smiled, taking out a bunch of ¡°inte-famous snacks¡± from the box and tossing them to Meng Chunyu.

    Mei Ran was willing to buy anything she saw, especially snacks for her, but Zhi Qi had a small appetite and didn¡¯t like most of the things. Then she leisurely organized the things in the box while Meng Chunyu exaggeratedly cheered on the side. Zhi Qi was petite, and when she crouched beside the box, she looked almost smaller than the box itself, like a pitiful little hamster¡ªthen she stretched out her little paws.

    The girl sorted out the headphones, watches, and the previously dusty Kindle from the box, intending to give them all to Jiang Qi the next time she went to see him.

    Meng Chunyu, beside her, was so charmed by her appearance that she subconsciously took out her phone and snapped a picture. Zhi Qi heard the sound and looked up, ring at her.

    ¡°Sweetie,¡± Meng Chunyu finally took off the face mask and could speak freely, immediately skipping over to Zhi Qi¡¯s side to share her ¡°masterpiece,¡± eximing, ¡°You look so adorable in this!¡±

    Under the dim light of the phone screen, the long-haired girl crouched beside the box, her arms and legs slender, her slightly upturned face delicate and gentle.

    Theposition of the whole photo had a strong ¡°atmosphere,¡± like those old photos printed instantly.

    Zhi Qi looked at it and suddenly said, ¡°Send it to me.¡±

    Then she went to send it to Jiang Qi.

    *

    After finishing work in the evening and returning to the car, Jiang Qi, his stomach slightly aching, saw the WeChat message sent by Zhi Qi.

    It was just a photo of the girl.

    After staring at it for a while with a dumbfounded expression, Jiang Qi finally rxed his furrowed brows and chuckled softly. The photo sent by Zhi Qi seemed like spiritual nourishment. His stomach, which had been hurting as if he hadn¡¯t eaten all day, didn¡¯t ache as much anymore. Jiang Qi earnestly saved this photo of the girl in his album.

    It became the first photo in his phone¡¯s album.

    ¡ªLike a hamster, a cute girl.

 Chapter 25: He Is So Jealous

    Chapter 25: He Is So Jealous

    Zhi Qi¡¯s second visit to the set to see Jiang Qi was a weekter. She had given advance notice, and when she arrived at Hengdian, it was Qiu Mi who came down to pick her up personally. The young assistant still had a joyful smile on his face. He apologized to Zhi Qi for deceiving herst time.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Zhi Qi replied with a good temper, then asked him, ¡°Is Jiang Qi filming now?¡±

    ¡°Not yet. Right now, he¡¯s in the stage of studying the script,¡± Qiu Mi obediently answered. He noticed the box in Zhi Qi¡¯s arms and took the initiative to offer help, saying, ¡°Miss Zhi Qi, let me hold it for you.¡±

    Now that Jiang Qi had signed a contract with Chen Ding, Qiu Mi had also be an official assistant from being a temporary one. He knew that this girl in front of him was Jiang Qi¡¯s sweetheart, so he had to please her. After all, he would be spending time with Jiang Qi in the future.

    It wasmon for boys to help girls carry things. Since Zhi Qi had been treated with ¡°others rushing to help carry her luggage¡± since her first day of college, she didn¡¯t refuse Qiu Mi¡¯s help when he insisted.

    The box wasn¡¯t heavy, and after Qiu Mi weighed it for a moment, he tried to break the silence in the elevator by asking, ¡°Miss Zhi Qi, what are you carrying?¡±

    ¡°Just call me Zhi Qi,¡± the address of ¡®Miss Zhi Qi¡¯ felt too formal for Zhi Qi¡¯s liking, so she exined with a light smile, ¡°These are things for Jiang Qi.¡±

    ¡°For Brother Qi?¡± Qiu Mi was genuinely curious now, unable to help butugh. ¡°What are they?¡±

    ¡°Just some electronic products and such, which I don¡¯t usually use much,¡± Zhi Qi pursed her lips, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°Maybe Jiang Qi will have a use for them.¡±After all, they were just gathering dust at her ce. Zhi Qi silently found excuses for herself. But upon hearing this, Qiu Mi couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Jiang Qi¡­ using electronic products?

    ¡°Miss Zhi Qi, you might be mistaken,¡± Qiu Mi still addressed her as Miss Zhi Qi,ughing as he spoke. ¡°Brother Qi doesn¡¯t use electronic products at all. He hardly even uses his phone. He just got Weibo and WeChat a few days ago, and his phone is almost like an old-fashioned one.¡±

    Zhi Qi was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly asked, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Jiang Qi use them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Qiu Mi shrugged. ¡°Maybe Brother Qi just doesn¡¯t like them. He usually spends his time sleeping and doesn¡¯t look at his phone much. But recently, maybe because of you, he¡¯s been using it more often.¡±

    In reality, Jiang Qi had recently be like a teenager addicted to the inte. Qiu Mi was astute enough to know what to say to tter her.

    As they talked, the elevator reached the eighth floor of Hengdian and stopped.

    Unlike the noisy and chaotic environment on the lower floors, the eighth floor was a reading room. It was more like arge office space, and luckily, everyone was out for lunch, making it quieter here. Zhi Qi¡¯s emotions were fluctuating after hearing Qiu Mi¡¯s words, but she was led by him through a side door to the reading room of the ¡°Jiao Si¡± crew.

    Gently pushing the door open, she saw Jiang Qi leaning on the sofa, eyes closed as if resting. It was hard to tell if the boy was asleep or not, but he looked quiet and obedient. Zhi Qi was surprised to find thatpared to thest time they met, Jiang Qi seemed to have lost a lot of weight in just one week.

    Dressed in a ck shirt and khaki pants, the boy leaned on the sofa, looking almost skeletal ¡ª Jiang Qi was naturally thin, but now it seemed like he had reached a state of malnutrition, with a very paleplexion.

    ¡°Jiang Qi,¡± Zhi Qi was suddenly anxious, walking over and standing in front of him, furrowing her brows as she asked, ¡°Why did you lose so much weight?¡±

    Jiang Qi opened his eyes and saw the girl¡¯s face, clearly disying her worry.

    As the weather cooled down, Zhi Qi was wearing a pure white hoodie, paired with white jeans. However, her ivory-like face, with only a pair of sparkling ck pupils, contrasted with the white outfit. Jiang Qi¡¯s vision blurred with hunger, but he managed a weak smile upon seeing her.

    Qiu Mi, who hadn¡¯t left yet, hurriedly exined, ¡°Miss Zhi Qi, don¡¯t misunderstand. Brother Qi is just on a diet.¡±

    ¡°On a diet for what?¡± Zhi Qi became even angrier upon hearing this, looking at Jiang Qi indignantly. ¡°You¡¯re already thin enough as it is!¡±

    What was happening in this world? Were guys more aggressive in dieting than girls now?

    Was it because of the entertainment industry? What was attractive about looking like a ghost? Zhi Qi red at Jiang Qi and said stubbornly, ¡°No more dieting!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s required by the script,¡± Jiang Qi shook his head, indicating that it wasn¡¯t his own deliberate choice to ¡®beautify¡¯ himself by dieting, and smiled helplessly. ¡°I have to lose ten kilograms by the end of the month.¡±

    So apart from starving himself, it seemed there was no other way.

    Actually, Jiang Qi was already quite thin, but unfortunately, the character Chen Si in the script was depicted as someone who almost obsessively controlled his weight, with a willow-like figure, even bordering on a sickly appearance.

    After evaluating, Qiu Heng requested Jiang Qi to lose another ten kilograms. Jiang Qi was the kind of person who either wouldn¡¯t take on a role or would be very dedicated once he did. So he had no objections to Qiu Heng¡¯s request and quietly went on a diet.

    After hearing the whole story, Zhi Qi felt both heartache and a sense of helplessness.

    ¡°So you¡¯re just going to starve yourself¡­¡± Zhi Qi murmured, her previously cheerful demeanor suddenly wilted, like a frostbitten eggnt.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t bear to see her worry about him, so he straightened up a bit and pretended everything was fine. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not that hungry.¡±

    ¡°Now it seems being an actor isn¡¯t easy for you guys either,¡± Zhi Qi sighed, realizing that behind the morous facade of the stars seen on TV and the inte, there was a lot of hard work and suffering ¡ª starting with starving oneself for weight loss, which she could never do.

    The girl leaned to the side and took out a piece ofpressed biscuit from her bag, handing it to Jiang Qi.

    ¡°Here, I always carry this with me,¡± Zhi Qi smiled. ¡°Having a piece ofpressed biscuit shouldn¡¯t hurt, right?¡±

    During her sophomore year, Zhi Qi often went on trips with the school¡¯s research team to various mountains in different cities to observe animals. Sometimes, they wouldn¡¯t find a ce to eat all day, and she couldn¡¯t carry too much bulky food in her bag. Over time, Zhi Qi developed the habit of always carrying a few pieces ofpressed biscuits in her bag.

    Jiang Qi took them and ate, gradually feeling a sense of fullness in his stomach. His eyes became much clearer as he quietly watched Zhi Qi continuously stuffing snacks,pressed biscuits, and small breads that could stave off hunger into his hands, like a little animal ferrying food.

    But suddenly, Jiang Qi asked, ¡°Zhi Qi, do you often skip meals?¡±

    Normally, someone with a very regr meal schedule wouldn¡¯t carry these things in their bag. Zhi Qi didn¡¯t expect Jiang Qi to be so observant, and her fingers paused for a moment.

    After a moment, she smiled and shook her head. ¡°No, not at all. I¡¯m not like you, very disciplined.¡±

    She only didn¡¯t eat properly when she went on trips with her supervisor, but usually, she was quite regr with her meals. There was no need to mention it and worry Jiang Qi.

    ¡ªThe boy tended to worry excessively when it came to her affairs.

    Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want to continue this topic, so she simply opened the box she brought and took out an Apple Watch to put on Jiang Qi. With her slender fingertips, the girl earnestly helped him fasten it, then patted his wrist as she looked into his surprised eyes. ¡°From now on, when I call you or send messages, you can receive them with this.¡±

    However, the young man, who hadgged behind society for several years, didn¡¯t know the functions of these gadgets. He blinked in confusion and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a watch?¡±

    ¡°It is a watch, but with more functions,¡± Zhi Qi smiled and then handed Jiang Qi a pair of wireless earphones. ¡°You don¡¯t need to connect it to your phone. Just wear it and listen to scripts.¡±

    With that, Zhi Qi took out a Kindle and taught Jiang Qi how to use it, exining confidently,

    ¡°You can also read scripts on this. Have your assistant upload them for you. It¡¯s easier on the eyes.¡±

    Jiang Qi inexplicably felt like his entire outfit had been ¡°taken over¡± by Zhi Qi.

    He pursed his lips and said awkwardly, ¡°Zhi Qi, you don¡¯t have to buy me these.¡±

    In theory, he should be the one buying things for Zhi Qi. How did the situation reverse? He felt more useless the more he thought about it.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t buy them for you; someone else gave them to me. I don¡¯t need them,¡± Zhi Qi said casually, fearing Jiang Qi¡¯s refusal. ¡°They¡¯re just lying around at my ce.¡±

    However, Jiang Qi¡¯s focus was different from Zhi Qi¡¯s.

    His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and after a weird silence, he asked slowly, ¡°Who gave these to you?¡±

    Zhi Qi didn¡¯t catch his muffled question. ¡°Hm?¡±

    Jiang Qi took a deep breath. ¡°Were they given by guys or girls?¡±

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help butugh, finally understanding his meaning.

    He could even feel jealous about this? Jiang Qi was truly something.

    ¡°Girls,¡± Zhi Qi suppressed herughter and reassured him, ¡°Girls, alright? Don¡¯t worry, no guys have given me anything.¡±

    Actually, Zhi Qi was kind of lying¡ªpeople did give her things, she just didn¡¯t ept them. But she had to lie; otherwise, she guessed Jiang Qi would feel ufortable with jealousy.

    However, even so, Jiang Qi was somewhat unwilling.

    He muttered to himself, ¡°I also want to give you some things.¡±

    He had never given Zhi Qi anything decent before. In the past, he didn¡¯t have the means. Even fifty yuan would take him a long time to save up before he could return it to Zhi Qi.

    But now it was different. Jiang Qi wanted to give the girl a ¡°unique¡± gift that only he could give. In the blink of an eye, he suddenly thought of something very special.

    After pondering for a moment, Jiang Qi looked at the girl and asked, ¡°Zhi Qi, would you apany me to¡­ um, I forgot what award ceremony it was.¡±

    Shen Lei mentioned it to him yesterday, rambling on about how many whatnots he might win and how he should prepare to attend a film festival. Unfortunately, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t remember the name of the ceremony.

    Zhi Qi asked curiously, ¡°Why do you want to go?¡±

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll win some award,¡± Jiang Qi didn¡¯t really care about what award he might receive. His focus was on what he would do after winning. He said earnestly, ¡°I¡¯ll give you the trophy then.¡±

    After all, that was something only he could give, something others couldn¡¯t give to Zhi Qi.

    And it seemed quite precious.

    Zhi Qi was stunned for a moment, then couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    ¡°Jiang Qi, why are you so childish?¡± Her dark pupils curved as she smiled softly, looking at him with tender emotions. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll apany you.¡±

    Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want Jiang Qi¡¯s trophy; she just knew he would definitely win. And she wanted to be by his side, witnessing the moment when he received the award with her own eyes.

 Chapter 26: Arrogant and Gorgeous Vampire

    Chapter 26: Arrogant and Gorgeous Vampire

    ¡°If you shed tears when you lose the sun, you also lose the stars.¡± ¨C Tagore

    ns can¡¯t keep up with changes. Although Zhi Qi agreed to apany the boy to attend the Golden Tree Awards ceremony and wanted to see Jiang Qi receive the award, after all, she was a student.

    Sometimes, with just onemand from her mentor, she had to¡­ roam the meadow.

    In their ¡°arduous profession,¡± opportunities to establish specialized practice groups were rare. They needed to conduct field research on various animals, involving biodiversity surveys, and this time the destination was the wends in the rainforest of Yunnan.

    It could also be considered an internship task. The orders were quite urgent, and even Zhi Qi only received the notification from her mentor two days before departure. She almost felt dizzy as if she had been hit on the head with a stick.

    As soon as she heard that they would be gone for about half a month, Zhi Qi immediately thought that this trip would probably sh with the awards ceremony that Jiang Qi mentioned.

    ¡­Oh no, what should she do now?

    Zhi Qi unconsciously frowned, clearly showing a troubled look. Seeing this, the mentor raised an eyebrow in surprise and asked, ¡°We¡¯re leaving the day after tomorrow. Any problem?¡±

    ¡°¡­No problem.¡± Of course, she couldn¡¯t say there was a problem.After watching her mentor leave, Zhi Qi drummed her cheeks in distress. How could she exin this to Jiang Qi?

    Although the boy definitely wouldn¡¯t me her, she couldn¡¯t help feeling regretful. What if Jiang Qi won an award? It would be such a pity not to see it with her own eyes.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s childish heart roared a few times, but after the roar, she could only silently sigh and send a message to Jiang Qi: [crying face]

    Jiang Qi was probably ying with his phone at this time and instantly replied: [Hmm?]

    [Zhi Qi: I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t apany you to the awards ceremony.]

    Just at this moment, Jiang Qi, who was listening to his agent talk about the Golden Tree Awards in the office, was stunned for a moment, his slender fingertips frozen on the phone screen for a few seconds. Before he could figure out how to reply, the girl sent another message, seemingly feeling wronged in her words ¡ª

    [Zhi Qi: Wuu wuu wuu, my mentor asked me to join the experimental group, it was a sudden notice, I have to go to Yunnan for half a month.]

    And the Golden Tree Awards were next week, so naturally, she wouldn¡¯t be able to make it.

    But Jiang Qi found that what he regretted more after hearing this wasn¡¯t ¡°Zhi Qi can¡¯t apany him,¡± but rather ¡°not being able to see Zhi Qi for half a month.¡±

    The young man¡¯s long eyshes drooped with a hint of disappointment, casting a shallow shadow on his fair lower eyelids.

    He emitted an atmosphere of ¡®disappointment¡¯, sinister and gloomy. Jiang Qi could clearly feel a vague restlessness in his own emotions, his throat unconsciously rolling, but his reply to Zhi Qi was very restrained: ¡°[Stay safe, waiting for your return].¡±

    He couldn¡¯t show his negative emotions in front of Zhi Qi, she would worry.

    But facing others¡­ there was no need to hide. So much so that when the agent in front of Jiang Qi kept talking incessantly, he found his gloomyplexion frightening. The agent was specially assigned by thepany to Jiang Qi after signing with Chen Ding, a professional named Xiao Yongfei, also known as Chen Ding¡¯s ¡®Gold Medal Agent¡¯.

    Xiao Yongfei had been in this line of work since his twenties, climbing up from the bottom for more than a decade. What kind of person hadn¡¯t he seen or dealt with? So, without doubt, thepany naturally entrusted Jiang Qi, this ¡®difficult character¡¯, to him.

    But after spending a few days together, Xiao Yongfei felt that this boy Jiang Qi, apart from being a bit reserved and cold, wasn¡¯t as difficult to deal with as the rumors had it. He was quite professional in handling various schedules and readily agreed to them.

    Until today, Xiao Yongfei discovered Jiang Qi¡¯s unknown stubbornness.

    For example, his current manner of speaking. It was evident that the youth in front of him was absent-minded, his words going in one ear and out the other ¡ª and hisplexion looked extremely ugly. Could it be that he had unintentionally said something harsh just now?

    Xiao Yongfei frowned, not believing that he couldn¡¯t handle this naive youth.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± The man curled his fingers, knocking on the table with his knuckles heavily, his voice sharp: ¡°Did you understand what I just said?¡±

    Generally, agents wouldn¡¯t be so polite to artists, especially neers. It was normal to scold and shout at them. But Jiang Qi was someone rmended by Shen Lei, and he was also the ¡®Purple Micro Star¡¯ that thepany had worked hard to sign. So even the usually bad-tempered Xiao Yongfei was rtively polite. He didn¡¯t even get angry when Jiang Qi was obviously absent-minded while he spoke.

    However, Jiang Qi seemed somewhat ¡®ignorant¡¯.

    He remained silent for a while, then shook his head. ¡°I understood, but I don¡¯t intend to walk the red carpet with those two female stars.¡±

    Just now, Xiao Yongfei had talked to him about walking the red carpet at the Golden Tree Awards ceremony. First, he talked about a bunch of sponsorship brands that Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t understand at all, then asked him which high-end brand he would wear. After Jiang Qi casually responded, Xiao Yongfei brought up the ¡®partner¡¯ for walking the red carpet.

    He said that for a neer like himself, walking the red carpet with a female star would attract more attention and discussion, and he gave him two ¡®options¡¯¡­ But Jiang Qi didn¡¯t care about such topics, and he didn¡¯t want to walk the red carpet with any female star.

    In fact, he didn¡¯t even want to walk it alone.

    As soon as he heard that Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want to go, Jiang Qi instantly felt like he had lost the soul of attending this event.

    ¡°You want to walk alone?¡± Xiao Yongfei frowned, not understanding why Jiang Qi would ignore such an obvious opportunity to hype things up, which went against his ¡®career n¡¯. Unable to hold back, he said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you walk with Xue Ling? She¡¯s the female lead in your and Director Qiu¡¯s new movie. Walking together could also hype up the new film before the official announcement.¡±

    Jiang Qi still shook his head, looking unusually stubborn.

    ¡­

    Xiao Yongfei felt like he was going to be driven crazy by him, silently covering his chest with his big hand.

    ¡°Alright, if not with Xue Ling, then what about Yue Yuan?¡± Xiao Yongfei ordered himself to stay calm, suppressing his impatience, took a deep breath, and earnestly exined the facts: ¡°Yue Yuan heard that you would attend the Golden Tree Awards and took the initiative to extend an olive branch, wanting to walk the red carpet with you. She¡¯s currently the hottest star, a resource powerhouse. Why are you refusing?¡±

    Though Xiao Yongfei didn¡¯t know why the resource ¡®princess¡¯ Yue Yuan from the neighboringpany wanted to walk the red carpet with Jiang Qi, it was obviously a talking point!

    With so many good opportunities being declined one after another, he simply couldn¡¯t understand what Jiang Qi was thinking!

    But simrly, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t understand why Xiao Yongfei was upset.

    ¡°Why should I agree?¡± The youth looked up at Xiao Yongfei with confusion, his gaze sincere and pure, his refusal straightforward: ¡°I don¡¯t even know her.¡±

    Who is Xue Ling, Yue Yuan? He doesn¡¯t know any of them. Why should he hold hands with them and show off in front of the cameras? It¡¯s unnecessary.

    ¡­

    Talking to a brick wall, Xiao Yongfei finally understood what it truly meant. He felt like he was talking to a wall, thinking Jiang Qi was impossible tomunicate with. His face turned white with anger, but he couldn¡¯t unleash his frustration.

    So, all he could do was exchange stares with Jiang Qi ¨C the scene was almostical.

    After a while, fearing he might anger himself to death, Xiao Yongfei angrily left. And Jiang Qi had no self-awareness about how infuriating he actually was. Because he only wanted to walk the red carpet with Zhi Qi, nothing else mattered to him. The youth scoffed indifferently, not regretting the ¡®poprity¡¯ he lost.

    *

    In the blink of an eye, a week passed, and it was the day of the Golden Tree Awards ceremony.

    The Golden Tree Awards is one of the top three film awards in the country, established for over sixty years, and is among the most influential and credible. On the day of the ceremony, almost half of the entertainment industry attends.

    Although Xiao Yongfei has many artists under his wing, this year only Jiang Qi was nominated ¨C and for Best Actor.

    Just imagine, a remarkably handsome neer with a legendary background making his debut in movies for the first time, and he¡¯s nominated for Best Actor. How massive is the hype?

    The entire entertainment industry treated this award ceremony as a nonbative publicity battle.

    Early in the morning, Jiang Qi was dragged out of his home by Xiao Yongfei and Qiu Mi.

    He yawned faintly, his eyelids still fighting to stay open, and he was dragged all the way to the studio for styling. The outfit had already been chosen, an early autumn haute couture by Armani. A pure ck shawl-style suit, with a slightly flipped cut, perfectlyplementing Jiang Qi¡¯s inherently ambiguous aura.

    His jet-ck short hair was swept upwards, his sharp brows and starry eyes on full disy, his refined features almost sharp enough to pierce through the screen.

    As the makeup artist brushed up Jiang Qi¡¯s appearance, they couldn¡¯t help but secretly admire¡ªespecially when Jiang Qi asionally opened his eyes. Those light-colored eyes, like ss jewels, seemed to have a captivating power when they nced over.

    He was tall and slender, with a paleplexion, resembling a gorgeous vampire, naturally the most eye-catching presence on the red carpet.

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t know when he would make his appearance on the red carpet, whether he would be first orst, or the details of those meticulous considerations. Anyway, whenever Xiao Yongfei told him to go up, he would go.

    He had no sense of ¡®business¡¯, silentlypleting the long red carpet of the Golden Tree Awards.

    Although he could hear the deafening screams and see countless cameras shing at him, Jiang Qi¡¯s expression remained indifferent throughout. Yet this indifference was often misinterpreted as ¡®sour-faced¡¯, unhappiness, or not valuing the Golden Tree Awards¡ªleading to another round of sarcasticments and criticism, turning into a battle between fans and anti-fans.

    Meanwhile, Zhi Qi, thousands of miles away, watched the live broadcast of the Golden Tree Awards while eating instant noodles, almost jumping up when she saw Jiang Qi appear.

    ¡°What the heck?¡± Her roommate in the hotel room was startled by her, nearly spilling her noodles. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°Jiang Qi, Jiang Qi!¡± Zhi Qi pointed at the TV screen, where a young man in a ck suit, exceptionally handsome, caught her infatuated excitement. ¡°I really like him!¡±

    In front of others, Zhi Qi hardly ever concealed her love for Jiang Qi and her ¡®fan identity¡¯.

    ¡°Oh, Jiang Qi.¡± The roommate also knew about this recently controversial figure. She nced at him, sighed, andmented, ¡°Indeed, he¡¯s handsome, but his face is too sour. He seems to always be like this. How can you fans bear it?¡±

    In her roommate¡¯s view, being a fan essentially meant enjoying the star¡¯s performance and bringing joy to oneself. But someone like Jiang Qi¡­

    Sure, he¡¯s good-looking, but just being the target of so much criticism could be exhausting. Plus, he¡¯s so arrogant and doesn¡¯t even crack a smile. Why bother supporting such an ¡®idol¡¯? Wouldn¡¯t it just bring frustration?

    As she listened to her roommate¡¯s analytical criticism, Zhi Qi¡¯s smile gradually faded away.

    The young girl¡¯s dark eyes stared unblinkingly at Jiang Qi on the screen until he finished walking the red carpet and left. Then, she quietly found an excuse to defend Jiang Qi, ¡°But he¡¯s a great actor, good-looking, and has other likable qualities.¡±

    ¡°Many actors are good-looking and talented.¡± Her roommate shrugged dismissively. ¡°But not many are as arrogant as him. Look at him, not even a smile when walking the red carpet. If he¡¯s so unhappy, why bothering? As a public figure, doesn¡¯t he know negative energy spreads?¡±

    ¡°How do you know he¡¯s unhappy?¡± Zhi Qi retorted, somewhat annoyed. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just naturally not inclined to smile.¡±

    Jiang Qi has been like this since childhood, what does an inte critic know?

    But even as she argued, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit uneasy this time.

    Because¡­ maybe Jiang Qi actually had a reason to be unhappy. After all, she ¡®stood him up¡¯, so could his unhappiness today be because of her?

    With her phone in hand, Zhi Qi hesitated for a moment, then sent a WeChat message to Jiang Qi: [If you shed tears when you lose the sun, you also lose the stars. Jiang Qi, I¡¯m watching you win.]

    Though she didn¡¯t know if the youth amidst the chaos of fame would receive this message, Zhi Qi wanted to send her well-wishes in advance. Hopefully, she could be the legendary ¡®lucky carp¡¯, bringing him good luck with her words.

 Chapter 27: The Correct Way To Be Recognized As A Show-Off

    Chapter 27: The Correct Way To Be Recognized As A Show-Off

    ?? Thank you, Helga, Crystal, Shonna and Etin, for your novel donation! ?? Dear Lovely Readers, your continuous support keeps me going. ?? Sorry for the dy due to sickness. More updates soon! Happy Reading! ????

    Celebrities who haven¡¯t attended the Golden Tree Awards often long for it, but those who have know that the process is actually long and boring, with only a brief moment of excitement when each award is announced, like brilliant fireworks after a long wait.

    But most people are willing to wait for that moment, over and over again.

    Because they are all ¡°insiders.¡±

    Jiang Qi thought he was an outsider, watching as winners rejoiced and losers disappointed with icy stares¡ªuntil he absentmindedly nced at his phone and saw a message from Zhi Qi.

    The girl said she was waiting for him to win an award.

    This single-minded trust made Jiang Qi also be an ¡°insider.¡±

    What was originally considered an optional award suddenly became something he really wanted to win. Jiang Qi pursed his lips, replied to Zhi Qi¡¯s message, and then, for the first time, turned to Shen Lei sitting beside him and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the probability of me winning the award?¡±

    Shen Lei seemed to have talked to him about a lot of these things before, but unfortunately, he didn¡¯t pay much attention.¡°It¡¯s about eighty percent.¡± Shen Lei smiled confidently when he mentioned this, almost as if he had everything under control. ¡°There are eight indicators before the Golden Tree Awards. If you¡¯ve won six of them, unless someone with backstage connections buys the award, it¡¯s almost certain you¡¯ll win.¡±

    But the only uncontroble factor in this year¡¯s Golden Tree Awards is having a ¡°backstage connection.¡±

    Among the five nominees, one has been nominated five times for the Golden Tree Awards but has always ¡°missed out¡± ¨C Jing Yingxi. He¡¯s only in his thirties, his acting skills are nothing special, but he¡¯s been nominated five times for the Golden Tree Awards, mainly because he¡¯s highly supported in Taiwan.

    Over there, things are declining. In recent years, a young actor with an eptable appearance and acting skills has emerged. Naturally, there¡¯s a concerted effort to promote Jing Yingxi as a ¡°master of acting¡± with all the resources at hand.

    First, they won awards, then used inte armies for publicity. In a few years, they¡¯ll naturally brainwash people into seeing him as a true movie emperor. Unfortunately, although Taiwan¡¯s new media n is excellent, Jing Yingxi is like mud that can¡¯t be propped up. While the Golden Tree Awards can manipte nominations, they can¡¯t manipte the actual awards during the ceremony.

    Over time, Jing Yingxi has almost be a ¡°best supporting actor¡± in the eyes of many.

    This isn¡¯t a good reputation, so people online have been specting whether the industry will just buy him an award directly.

    After all, this year, Jing Yingxi¡¯s performance in this artistic film is considered delicate enough to not be mocked too much if he wins an award. Plus, this year isn¡¯t a big year forpetition¡­ But who knew that Jiang Qi would suddenly emerge?

    Anyone with eyes can see the difference in performance between Jiang Qi and Jing Yingxi¡ªone is frivolous, the other, calm.

    Who this Best Actor award should go to is actually clear to everyone. But the difference lies in Jiang Qi¡¯s shady past, and with Jing Yingxi being supported by certain forces, under various external pressures, the purity of the awards is no longer certain.

    Listening to Shen Lei¡¯s exnation of these intricate details, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but nce at Jing Yingxi¡¯s direction¡ªactually, he didn¡¯t know this legendary petitor¡±, but the seating arrangement at the Golden Tree Awards ced all Best Actor nominees in one area, and the chairs had names, so it was easy to see.

    Perhaps because the award for ¡°Best Actor¡± was about to be announced, coincidentally, Jing Yingxi also looked over, and their gazes met.

    Jing Yingxi is over ten years older than Jiang Qi, but having been immersed in the entertainment industry for years, he naturally exudes a slick demeanor and a casual humility. Men naturally don¡¯t show their age, and coupled with Jing Yingxi¡¯s excellent maintenance, there¡¯s not a single wrinkle on his face.

    He met Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze and smiled meaningfully¡­ but no matter how you look at that smile, it¡¯s far from being benign.

    Shen Lei, watching from the side, couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue.

    ¡°No need to look at him,¡± the man turned Jiang Qi¡¯s head, his voice calm, ¡°What mind games is he ying? If it weren¡¯t for some people¡¯s support, his acting wouldn¡¯t even qualify for a nomination.¡±

    Shen Lei is straightforward, but when he said this, he also lowered his voice in Jiang Qi¡¯s ear.

    After all, walls have ears, and who knows how many eyes are watching here.

    Soon, it was time to present the ¡°Best Director¡± award.

    Jiang Qi, who had been nonchnt all along, straightened up slightly at this moment, looking somewhat expectantly at Shen Lei beside him¡ªShen Lei was also nominated for Best Director.

    On stage, the award was presented by the winner of the previous year¡¯s Best Director. He first rambled on for a while before announcing the nominations, which everyone already knew. Then, he pretended to be mysterious before slowly saying, ¡°The winner of the 62nd Golden Tree Award for Best Director is¡­¡±

    ¡°Wei Yunti!¡±

    As this name was called out, amidst the apuse, Jiang Qi suddenly turned his head to look at Shen Lei.

    Thetter had a faint smile on his face, and he was pping along with the crowd, seeming not at all disappointed.

    ¡°Silly child, I won it just two years ago,¡± Shen Lei pped and smiled as he spoke to Jiang Qi, ¡°Do you think the Golden Tree Awards are so easily won?¡±

    Besides, in the movie ¡°Gazing at the Sky,¡± the most eye-catching aspect isn¡¯t the story itself or his atmospheric construction of the film, but simply ¡°Jiang Qi.¡±

    If he couldn¡¯t win Best Director, Shen Lei didn¡¯t feel regretful, because Wei Yunti¡¯s directing was also outstanding. But if Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t win the Best Actor, Shen Lei would have the urge to ¡°anonymously report the Film Association.¡±

    The Golden Tree Awards¡¯ Best Actor category has always been the most anticipated.

    Because everyone loves drama and wants to see if Jiang Qi, the notorious actor, can ¡°show his true colors.¡±

    Finally, under the spotlight, it was time for the ¡°Best Actor¡± award.

    Presenting the award wasst year¡¯s Best Actor, Xin Wei, a veteran in the entertainment industry. With his steady tone, everyone, including Zhi Qi watching in front of the TV, held their breath. The young girl stared at the old man on the TV screen without blinking, listening as he announced the nominees and praised them one by one.

    ¡°This year¡¯s most recognized gentlemen have all delivered exceptional performances, moving me deeply. Especially the younger ones, injecting fresh blood into the art world¡­¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s nails almost turned white as she clenched them, biting her lip deeply.

    ¡°Finally, I announce this year¡¯s Best Actor is¡­¡± Xin Wei pulled out the card from the envelope, his smile seeming unsurprised. He announced loudly, ¡°Jiang Qi!¡±

    !

    !!

    Zhi Qi jumped out of bed again, fortunately her roommate wasn¡¯t in the room this time.

    For the first time, the girl realized that people really could be ¡°moved to tears.¡±

    Zhi Qi tearfully watched as almost all the cameras focused on Jiang Qi.

    The indifferent handsome face of the young man seemed a bit dazed. He stood up surrounded by others, amidst the deafening apuse, Zhi Qi saw Jiang Qi hug Shen Lei beside him, then calmly walk up to the stage.

    Step by step, he ascended the stage, with the official script ying in the background¡ª

    ¡°Emerging neer Jiang Qi, with his role as Mu Xi in the suspense thriller ¡®Gazing at the Sky,¡¯ sessfully interpreted the sevenyered personality of a twisted young man, presenting the audience with an ultimate visual impact¡­¡±

    Amidst the praise and apuse, Jiang Qi ascended the stage and received the heavy trophy from veteran Xin Wei, the trophy belonging to the Best Actor.

    Although the young man was calm, hecked the experience to handle such asions. Under the scrutiny of everyone, he could only tly say the words that Xiao Yongfei had taught him to say if he won: ¡°Thanks to Director Shen Lei, thanks to the production team, thanks¡­ Qiqi.¡±

    Thest two words he said were barely audible, and no one knew who ¡°Qiqi¡± was, and few people even heard it clearly. But only a few people knew that Jiang Qi, under the gaze of the crowd, called out the name of his beloved girl.

    This kind of behavior was bold beyond imagination, leaving Zhi Qi stunned in front of the television.

    Then, her face turned pink, as she certainly knew that when Jiang Qi said ¡°Qiqi,¡± he was referring to her.

    Jiang Qi quickly finished speaking and stepped down from the stage. With only three sentences, it could be considered the shortest eptance speech in history for a Best Actor award. Since the day he appeared in the public eye, this man had always been extremely individualistic, leaving the onlookers amazed time and time again.

    In just a few minutes, hashtags like #JiangQiGoldTreeAwardBestActor#, #WhoIsQiqi#, #JiangQiShortesteptanceSpeechInHistory#, and so on, flooded Weibo.

    A bunch of trending topics, whether rted or not, soared to the top of the trending list at rocket speed.

    It¡¯s unclear whether it was nned by Chen Ding Entertainment or if it happened naturally.

    But regardless, the fact that Jiang Qi, an oddball who had served time in prison before bing an actor, won the Best Actor award had caused a sensation across the entire inte¡ªso much so that no one even cared about the subsequent awards for Best Actress and Best Picture.

    For a while, all forums were dominated by keywords such as Jiang Qi, Gold Tree Award, Best Actor, Shen Lei, Qiqi¡­ These terms were flooding the screens.

    Even the stock of Chen Ding Entertainment soared to a new high.

    *

    Yet Jiang Qi was oblivious to all the attention he was receiving. He looked at the golden trophy in his hand and couldn¡¯t help but wish he could give it to Zhi Qi.

    To him, it was just a trinket.

    The Best Actor award, which everyone coveted, was honestly just decided by a few judges, right? Jiang Qi didn¡¯t really think he was that amazing. He was a little happy to receive the award, but only because Zhi Qi wanted him to have it.

    He would just give it to her when his girl came back.

    He wasn¡¯t going to be overly concerned about it.

    After the Gold Tree Awards ceremony, there was a party, but Jiang Qi didn¡¯t attend. He told Xiao Yongfei that he wanted to go home. He was like a treasure now, whatever he said goes. Xiao Yongfei naturally arranged for a nanny car to wait at the back door, but the paparazzi were everywhere. When Jiang Qi went out, he was surrounded by cameras from all directions.

    Amidst the shing lights, the media captured a ¡°divine picture¡± of tonight.

    The young man in a ck shawl suit slightly lowered his head, with a cigarette between his lips, holding the trophy carelessly in his hand, as if it were just a ¡°ything.¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s fierce and disdainful eyes were slightly narrowed, with azy and contemptuous expression.

    It was full of an undeniable aura of a ¡°big shot¡±.

    Darkness, light, just after winning the Best Actor award but acting indifferent and powerful.

    This picture would still be widely circted as an ¡°out-of-the-box¡± divine picture for many years toe¡ªrecognized as the correct way to portray a pretentious demon.

 Chapter 28: Most Painful Night for Jiang Qi Haters

    Chapter 28: Most Painful Night for Jiang Qi Haters

    #What¡¯s more eye-catching than winning the Golden Tree Award this year is Jiang Qi¡¯s face#.

    It was a chaotic night, and the term that ended up sitting firmly on the top of Weibo¡¯s hot search was thisughable and tearful term.

    The PR department of Chen Ding almost went all out, excitedly watching the rapidly rising stock prices on one hand, and on the other hand, looking at the rumors and nders online that the PR couldn¡¯t keep up with, feeling somewhatughable and helpless.

    Jiang Qi himself had good looks, acting skills, and the added bonus of a billion-dor box office. Now he even won the Best Actor award¡­ This instantly blocked the paths of many people.

    Moreover, there are many people online now who scold Jiang Qi, saying he has a stinky face, is disrespectful,cks manners, and even his past scandals are repeatedly mentioned like gossip by a market vendor, but no one is scolding him for not deserving the award.

    It can be seen that in this situation, Jiang Qi¡¯s acting skills winning the award are truly well-deserved and not criticized. In the entertainment industry, resources are endless, but for actors in their twenties and thirties, they are still limited.

    Now that Jiang Qi has gathered so much attention, capital will surely choose him first¡ªsince winning the Best Actor award until the next day, Xiao Yongfei has already received countless scripts.

    Movies, TV dramas, various genres, martial arts, immortal, pce intrigue, power struggles, modern campus, and even ethical films¡­ Xiao Yongfei couldn¡¯t help butugh and cry.

    After thinking all night, he simply contacted the PR department and Qiu Heng, deciding to officially announce Jiang Qi¡¯s new drama while the iron was hot. On one hand, this time period is the hottest stage, and on the other hand, it¡¯s also to prove to the world that Jiang Qi is not a sh in the pan.Look, the follow-up of the newly appointed Best Actor still doesn¡¯t go for cheap poprity, but top-notch resources, and it¡¯s the new work of the well-regarded director Qiu Heng!

    So, under the enthusiastic discussions and consultations from all parties, the official Weibo of Chen Ding directly ¡®officially announced¡¯ a post, with a very yful and provocative tone¡ª

    [@Chen Ding Entertainment: Jiang Best Actor, Director Qiu calls you to y the male lead. @Qiu Heng @Jiang Qi.]

    Theizens on Weibo, who were already busy discussing various topics, immediately went #wild# after this post came out.

    Qiu Heng¡¯s fans suddenly felt like a big pie had fallen from the sky onto their heads. They were dizzy and incredulous, wanting to leave a message to wait for the official announcement, but the official announcement from Chen Ding Entertainment was practically no different from an official announcement.

    But when it came to directly congratting, forwarding, and promoting¡­ they felt like they were in a dream.

    No way, why are Qiu Heng and Jiang Qi coborating? Is it true? Why didn¡¯t their professional fan support clubs receive any news beforehand?!

    Just as everyone was bewildered and shocked, Qiu Heng also decided to ¡®join the fun¡¯.

    [@Qiu Heng: In the wind and rain, ¡°Jiao Si¡± awaits you, @Jiang Qi.]

    Now, it was apletely official announcement.

    And it was quite prestigious. Thepany¡¯s director mentioned Jiang Qi first, and now they were waiting for Jiang Qi¡¯s response.

    After a long while, the night unfolded like a TV drama finally came to its conclusion.

    [@Jiang Qi: Hmm.]

    ¡­

    Maintaining his aloof demeanor, he simply responded with a casual ¡®hmm¡¯, without even tagging anyone, but even a fool could tell who he was conversing with.

    Tonight might have been the most painful night for Jiang Qi¡¯s haters.

    Their disliked individual stole the spotlight, won the Best Actor award, and was practically portrayed as the epitome of sess, reaping both fame and fortune. Meanwhile, Jiang Qi¡¯s and other actors¡¯ fans could only stare at the screen, their eyes burning with jealousymonly known as ¡°green-eyed envy¡±.

    Yet, for Jiang Qi himself, he felt nothing amidst this dazzling disy of sess and controversy.

    After leaving the awards ceremony with his Best Actor award, he spent the entire car ride chatting on the phone with Zhi Qi.

    Only after receiving numerous calls from Xiao Yongfei urging him to reply to a message from Qiu Heng on Weibo did Jiang Qi reluctantly log in and respond with a simple ¡®hmm¡¯.

    ¡°If you¡¯re busy, you can go ahead and do your thing,¡± Zhi Qi¡¯s voice on the other end of the line was soft and understanding, with a hint ofughter. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep talking to me.¡±

    In fact, Jiang Qi was always the quiet one, while she was the one excitedly chatting away.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Jiang Qi replied softly. ¡°I¡¯m not busy.¡±

    Compared to anything else, Zhi Qi¡¯s matters were not considered busy at all, especially since she had poor signal during the daytime when she was conducting fieldwork in the wends. They could only talk for a while at night.

    ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯re going into the mountains again, and we¡¯ll have to stay in a local guesthouse,¡± Zhi Qi sounded a bit disappointed. ¡°There won¡¯t be any signal there, so I probably won¡¯t be able to contact you for a few days.¡±

    Since they had developed the ¡®habit¡¯ of chatting on WeChat every night, the thought of not having signal was a bit distressing.

    Jiang Qi furrowed his brows at the thought of Zhi Qi being in the mountains during the rainy season, surrounded by snakes, insects, rats, and ants, while also considering her delicate skin. His worry deepened.

    ¡°Then¡­¡± Jiang Qi thought for a moment before stubbornly saying, ¡°I¡¯lle find you.¡±

    After all, filming for ¡°Jiao Si¡± wouldn¡¯t start until next month, so he had some free time.

    ¡°You¡¯reing? You¡¯ll scare all my ssmates,¡± Zhi Qi chuckled at Jiang Qi¡¯s impulsive and carefree attitude, repeatedly declining, ¡°Forget it, the UV rays here are particrly strong. What if you get tanned? The director will me you for not fitting the character in the script, and besides, you still need to study the script and understand the character¡­¡±

    Although the girl¡¯s words were logical and factual, they made Jiang Qi feel as if he were imprisoned byyers of restraints because he knew she was right.

    Since signing the contract, he was no longer ¡®free¡¯.

    At least, he couldn¡¯t just do whatever he wanted anymore. But life always involved choices. Jiang Qi took a deep breath, obediently murmured a ¡®hmm¡¯, and promised to listen to Zhi Qi, dedicating himself to diligentlypleting every role he would undertake in the future.

    But before ending the call, he whispered softly, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you toe back.¡±

    If I can¡¯t see Zhi Qi all the time, then so be it.

    But since seeing her, if I can¡¯t see the girl for a few days, I¡¯ll miss her a lot, really miss her.

    Maybe that¡¯s what they call ¡®missing someone¡¯?

    The expression of young love is obscure yet intense, but unfortunately, the signal from the girl¡¯s side is intermittent, and I couldn¡¯t hear clearly. She just vaguely murmured an ¡®um¡¯ before hanging up.

    After hanging up the phone, Zhi Qi quickly logged into Weibo and entered a ¡°station¡± she cherished¡ªthis was a site she found that had the best photos and edits for Jiang Qi, whether it was the lighting or the artistic conception, it was unparalleled.

    After entering, Zhi Qi quickly saved various amazing pictures of Jiang Qi tonight, staring at the screen with the young man¡¯s clear and indifferent face, while the girl¡¯s big eyes sparkled¡­

    *

    Before Jiang Qi signed a contract with Chen Ding Entertainment, the contract had been reviewed by Shen Lei.

    Because he inherently had a huge advantage in poprity and didn¡¯t need thepany to promote him, Jiang Qi was fully qualified to have a ¡°fifty-fifty split¡± with Chen Ding in terms of profit sharing, with additional bonuses and such calcted separately.

    Jiang Qi basically couldn¡¯t understand those things, but listening to Shen Lei, he knew that his previous statement of ¡°earning five hundred thousand for a single film is just pocket money¡± wasn¡¯t an exaggeration.

    For example, one use in the contract between him and Chen Ding stated that he would receive a corresponding bonus once he won the Best Actor award, and besides, he won the Best Actor award at the Golden Tree Awards.

    The remuneration for ¡°Gazing at the Sky¡± plus the fees from the magazine shoots arranged by Qiu Mi, the bonuses and Best Actor award money after signing with Chen Ding, plus the uing payment for ¡°Jiao Si¡± and so on¡ª

    After Qiu Mi excitedly helped him do the math, Jiang Qi was surprised to find that he was already worth ¡°several millions.¡±

    Unconsciously, he had reached a height that he absolutely didn¡¯t dare to dream of a year ago.

    Jiang Qi thought for a moment and asked Qiu Mi, ¡°With this money, is it enough to open a decent supermarket?¡±

    ¡­

    Qiu Mi hadn¡¯t heard of Jiang Qi¡¯s ¡°grand ambition¡± to open a supermarket before,pletely not understanding what he meant, so he could only awkwardly reply, ¡°Enough, enough, right? Brother, why do you ask this?¡±

    Jiang Qi casually replied, ¡°I want to open one.¡±

    ???

    ¡°You want to open one? Where do you have the time?¡± Qiu Mi couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud, boldly suggesting, ¡°Bro, if you want to invest, let your family help open one.¡±

    Qiu Mi just said it casually, but after Jiang Qi heard the word ¡®family,¡¯ his eyes gently flickered.

    Actually, he wasn¡¯tpletely without family, but he didn¡¯t know if Jiang Shi was willing to see him again. After all, thest time they met was a few years ago.

    Regardless of anything else, Jiang Qi felt that the Jiang Shi¡¯s help was like a lifeline when he was young and helpless. If he hadn¡¯t helped his uncle sell vegetables, he might not have been able to go to school. Jiang Qi lowered his gaze, then extinguished the cigarette he had just lit in the ashtray after a moment of contemtion.

    The young man stood up, put on his mask, and the fabric behind it sounded muffled. He casually said to Qiu Mi, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a while.¡±

    Jiang Qi first went to the bank to withdraw some money, then drove to the Itada District.

    Over the years, many of the rugged roads in Lin Lan City had been repaired, so it only took less than an hour to drive to the Itada District, which used to feel quite remote.

    Following the route in his memory, the young man turned the steering wheel and headed towards a narrow alley behind the ¡°Jingxin Vegetable Market.¡±

    It was a low-rise residential area where the monthly rent was low, mostly rented by tenants doing business in the vegetable market. Jiang Qi remembered that the Jiang family had always lived there, and he had even lived there for a few years himself, not knowing if they were still there now.

    Cars couldn¡¯t enter the narrow alley behind the market, so Jiang Qi had to park outside and walk in.

    In the evening, every household had its lights on. There was no soundproofing here, no privacy, only noise and the mixed scent of vegetables. The muddy ground underfoot was soft and wet, and his shoe soles were instantly stained.

    In the narrow alley, only three people could walk side by side at most, and there were often collisions as people passed by carelessly. Jiang Qi had long been ustomed to this.

    His expression remained indifferent as he walked up to the door of unit 1008, and only a hint ofplexity shed in his light-colored eyes.

    There was lighting from the window of the house, indicating that someone was living there, but he didn¡¯t know if it was still Jiang Shi and Guan Yue¡­

    Jiang Qi stood outside the door for a while, then took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

    After three knocks, a woman¡¯s high-pitched voice came from inside the house, ¡°Coming,ing!¡±

    Then the door in front of him was pulled open, revealing Guan Yue¡¯s pale and thin face. There was a clear look of confusion in her cloudy eyes when she saw the young man.

 Chapter 29: Looking At The Same Sky

    Chapter 29: Looking At The Same Sky

    *The more onecks, the more one craves.*

    Perhaps the reason Jiang Qi came back here today, came to see them, was because in his dreams at midnight, his mind always remembered the scene when Jiang Shi reported to the police for him.

    Although Jiang Shi and Guan Yue were not really doing it for him but for the house, that scene was a rare ¡®warm¡¯ memory from his youth, so Jiang Qi remembered it particrly well. He never thought he would be an actor by chance after his release from prison, nor did he think he would be so wealthy now.

    But since he had money now, he should repay his debts¡ªjust think of it as repaying Jiang Shi for preventing him from being killed by Jiang Quan back then.

    After watching Guan Yue, who had aged much more than before, for a while, Jiang Qi slowly spoke, ¡°Aunt.¡±

    Still, just one short word, but it gradually changed the bewildered expression on the woman¡¯s face to shock. She was stunned for a while, her voice trembling as she said, ¡°Is¡­ is it Ah Qi?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Qi nodded and took off his mask halfway. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±

    ¡°You, why¡­ ah, you¡¯vee.¡± The woman was incoherent, her anxious movements making room for Jiang Qi toe closer. Her eyes were wandering as if she didn¡¯t know what she was saying, ¡°It¡¯s messy here, you know this market¡­ you didn¡¯t even give Auntie a heads-up, so she could¡¯ve cooked a couple of dishes for you.¡±

    ¡°No need to bother.¡± Jiang Qi looked around the room aftering in, finding that there wasn¡¯t much difference from before.The houses behind the suburb market were all ¡®simple¡¯, with grayish walls and floors. There were a few bowls on the table, obviously not yet eaten, and goods were piled up in the corner under the bed.

    It wasn¡¯t much different from when he used to live here.

    For so many years, Jiang Shi and his wife and children had been living in this dirty and messy environment, seemingly without any intention of moving.

    Because sometimes ns just couldn¡¯t keep up with changes¡ªeveryone thought those alleys in the Chen Kong Hutong shantytown would be relocated, but unexpectedly, over the years, Lin Lan¡¯snd policy had never touched Chen Kong Hutong.

    And after Jiang Qi gave them the house in Chen Kong, Jiang Shi¡¯s family had been waiting for demolition and relocation, but it never came.

    ¡°Ah Qi, stay for dinner.¡± Guan Yue stole a nce at the slender figure of the young man, feeling as if the temperature in the room had dropped several degrees for no reason. She couldn¡¯t help but shiver and muttered, ¡°Your uncle went to buy goods and will be back soon.¡±

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t say anything, just nodded.

    Guan Yue couldn¡¯t help but think that this kid was still quiet.

    When Jiang Qi lived in their house¡¯s western room during his middle school years, besides helping with selling vegetables and chores, he rarely spoke on ordinary days.

    Guan Yue and Jiang Shi got married in their early twenties, before Jiang Qi was born.

    Logically speaking, she had dealt with this kid a lot, but most of the memories left were of Jiang Qi being abused by her husband¡¯s older brother, his father who was worse than a beast, and often needing to be treated in the hospital.

    This kid was pitiful, but what made Jiang Quan an unscrupulous demon?

    And she and Jiang Shi had no money, no abilities, and were also helpless, unable to help Jiang Qi in any way. Actually, Guan Yue felt quite guilty about letting Jiang Qie here to live only after he handed over the house.

    But¡­ most people are selfish animals.

    She was just an ordinary citizen. Guan Yue had a woman¡¯s delicate sympathy, as well as petty calctions and a moderate sense of ¡®shame.¡¯

    So even though they had found out some time ago that Jiang Qi was going to act in some movies and had be wealthy, Guan Yue and Jiang Shi, shocked as they were, had never thought of disturbing Jiang Qi.

    Even though they had their own calctions, they still had their pride.

    Watching this child being abused for so many years and still wanting his house? Now that he has made it big, they¡¯reing around? What kind of people are they bing?

    If that¡¯s really the case, they¡¯re no different from the despised eldest brother Jiang Quan. So instinctively, Guan Yue and Jiang Shi never mentioned the fact that Jiang Qi had already be a ¡°big star¡± at home.

    But who would have thought that Jiang Qi would actuallye to see them on his own.

    Aside from being shocked, Guan Yue also felt a bit uneasy¡ªbecause she really couldn¡¯t understand why Jiang Qi woulde to them.

    Was heing back for the house that originally belonged to him? But the house in Chen Kong Alley is not worth much, and does Jiang Qi need that money now?

    As Guan Yue cooked, she thought about this and that in her mind. It took almost half an hour before Jiang Shi finally came back.

    As soon as Jiang Shi opened the door, he called Guan Yue¡¯s name to ask her to bring something. But before he could get a response, his gaze fell on the man sitting at the table with his back to him, his figure slim and straight.

    ¡°Is someone here?¡± Jiang Shi thought to himself that he hadn¡¯t seen this person before, so he asked in confusion.

    Upon hearing the man¡¯s words, Jiang Qi turned his head.

    The indoor lighting was dim, but Jiang Shi could still see the delicate and handsome face of the teenager clearly. But once he saw it clearly, he couldn¡¯t help but stand still in ce¡ªeven the handful of apples he was holding almost slipped from his hand.

    ¡°Uncle.¡± Jiang Qi was the first to speak, standing up voluntarily.

    ¡°A-Ah Qi?¡± The man¡¯s weather-beaten face was full of astonishment. He stared nkly at the cold-looking teenager, his voice suddenly hoarse. ¡°You¡¯re here, how¡­ how have you been?¡±

    Compared to Guan Yue¡¯s awkwardness and incoherence, Jiang Shi was moreposed.

    Jiang Qi forced a stiff smile. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡±

    As they spoke, Guan Yue had already brought the food to the table. She smiled awkwardly as she served Jiang Qi, ¡°Your younger brother is in junior high now, boarding at school. Usually, it¡¯s just the two of us at home.¡±

    The implication was clear: now that everyone was here, they could start eating.

    Jiang Qi nodded and didn¡¯t make a fuss as he picked up the bowl of rice on the table and started eating.

    Guan Yue¡¯s cooking skills were not great, and since she hadn¡¯t prepared anything in advance, it was just ordinary home-cooked dishes. But Jiang Qi ate without any difort¡ªhe had eaten far worse and simpler meals before. When times were tough, he even rummaged through the trash for food. Would he care about the taste of the food now?

    This man neverined about the food; he just ate what was given to him.

    The whole meal was quiet, with only asional discreet nces from Guan Yue and Jiang Shi at Jiang Qi. They never expected that after Jiang Qi came to visit, he seemed to be just here for a meal, easygoing and quiet, just like the three years he had lived here before.

    After the meal, Jiang Qi brought up his intention.

    ¡°Uncle, Aunt.¡± He ced the card containing the money he had previously deposited on the table and pushed it towards Jiang Shi. Then, in the man¡¯s bewildered gaze, he calmly said, ¡°This is for you. I asked around, and around two hundred thousand should be enough to open a small shop, to change the environment for you and Jiang Yin.¡±

    Jiang Yin was Jiang Shi¡¯s son, his cousin.

    Having sold vegetables before, Jiang Qi knew how difficult and unprofitable selling vegetables could be. If he had the ability to help Jiang Shi change their situation, then Jiang Qi didn¡¯t mind.

    Jiang Qi isn¡¯t some saint. He helped Jiang Shi with two hundred thousand yuan because Jiang Shi had helped him before. He received too little kindness since he could remember, so he wanted to repay whatever he could remember.

    The sudden move of the young man stunned both Jiang Shi and Guan Yue.

    ¡°Ah Qi, you¡­ don¡¯t, how can this be? How can we take your money?¡± After a while,ing back to his senses, Jiang Shi¡¯s entire ck face turned red with embarrassment. He stared nkly at the new card on the old table, saying, ¡°We never, never raised you, how can we take your money, moreover¡­ moreover, after you were released from prison, we never visited you.¡±

    The man didn¡¯t say much, just repeated the same few sentences over and over again. By the end, he seemed to be so ashamed that he hung his head in self-disgrace. Guan Yue, who was originally going to tidy up the tableware, also had red eyes, feeling guilty, she turned away.

    In the cramped and dim room, the atmosphere was almost heavy enough to solidify.

    Jiang Qi looked at them, still calm. After thinking for a moment, the young man probably couldn¡¯te up with any ¡®touching¡¯ words, so he could only say, ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m not good at talking, don¡¯t make me say too much.¡±

    ¡­

    Jiang Qi sighed and stood up to put on his clothes.

    ¡°No need to see me off.¡± The young man briskly put on his coat and said lightly before leaving, ¡°Take it, and change your environment.¡±

    ¡°Ah Qi!¡± Seeing the young man about to leave, Jiang Shi, thinking of his years of neglect, looking at the leftovers on the table, suddenly felt heartbroken beyond words. Variousplex emotions surged up in his throat and eyes. Jiang Shi uncontrobly stopped the young man¡ª

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± In Jiang Qi¡¯s puzzled gaze, Jiang Shi looked at those light-colored eyes like ss, his voice hoarse, ¡°I¡¯m not a responsible uncle.¡±

    Jiang Qi blinked slightly, thought for a moment, then shook his head.

    ¡°When even biological parents aren¡¯t responsible, no one owes responsibility to another person.¡± Jiang Qi nodded gently. ¡°Uncle, maybe we¡¯ll meet again someday.¡±

    After Jiang Qi finished speaking, he left, disappearing into the alley filled with mud under the moonlight.

    He was like a sudden ¡®Santa us¡¯, giving them the gift they longed for and then calmly disappearing¡­ It¡¯s just that the ¡®gift¡¯ from Jiang Qi made people feel ashamed. Unfortunately, Jiang Shi and Guan Yue didn¡¯t know that Jiang Qi didn¡¯t care about money at all, nor did he care about fame or fortune.

    The reason he came here was because the young man wanted to confirm that he still had family.

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t want to fantasize about things that hadn¡¯t happened, but sometimes he couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡ªwhy had he been out of prison for so long, making such a big name for himself, yet Jiang Shi never came to find him?

    Could it really be because he was cursed, with blood-stained destiny?

    When someonecks something, they tend to yearn for it even more.

    So, even though he knew he was worthless, and this behavior was unnecessary, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help bute over. In fact, he really wanted that ethereal thing called ¡®family affection,¡¯ but perhaps he would never have it in this lifetime.

    After walking out of the alley behind the market, Jiang Qi subconsciously stood still, looking up at the moon in the sky.

    Today happened to be the fifteenth day, and the moon was exceptionally round, bright, and clear.

    He wonders if Zhi Qi is looking at the same sky as him? Jiang Qi pursed his lips, thought for a moment, and sent a message to the girl.

    It was just a simple heartfelt message.

    [.: I want to watch the moon with you.]

 Chapter 30: Taking The Blame

    Chapter 30: Taking The me

    When Zhi Qi returned from Yunnan, it happened to be the day of the opening ceremony of Jiang Qi¡¯s movie ¡°Jiao Si¡±.

    The girl directly contacted Qiu Mi and went to the press conference venue. Qiu Heng¡¯s opening ceremony was very particr. He had to go to the temple on the mountain to hang banners and offer incense. So, as soon as Zhi Qi got off the mountain and rushed back by ne, she immediately climbed a mountain in Lin Lan.

    Fortunately, during the past half month, she had been jumping up and down, climbing mountains every day. Sometimes, she had to endure a whole day to observe the hatching process of bird eggs in the wild, so her physical strength had greatly increased and be very strong.

    For her, this kind of activity was nothing at all.

    After the nended, Zhi Qi entrusted her luggage to a ssmate to take back to school and ran over herself with a backpack on her back and sneakers on her feet.

    Qiu Mi had specifically sent staff to wait for Zhi Qi. As soon as she arrived, she was spotted by the staff who had seen her photos. Thetter¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately waved his hand, ¡°Miss Zhi!¡±

    Zhi Qi smiled and greeted them, and then the two of them started¡­ climbing the mountain.

    Jiang Qi might have really be famous. From the foot of the mountain to the mountaintop, there were fans holding banners with his name densely packed along the way. Obviously, the opening ceremony was not open to the public, and it was unknown why this enthusiastic group of girls hade.

    Zhi Qi nced around with some emotion. She found that the higher they climbed, the fewer people there were, until she followed the staff to the perimeter of the shooting site guarded by security.In order to achieveplete confidentiality and formality, the crew even exaggeratedly used electric fences to surround the outer perimeter, and every staff member woreser pens to prevent aggressive fans and media who made a living by taking unauthorized photos from breaking in.

    Before entering, the staff also gave Zhi Qi one.

    ¡°Miss Zhi,¡± he said seriously, ¡°if someone wants to take a photo of you, just open this.¡±

    ¡­

    Zhi Qi inexplicably felt like she had entered some mysterious ¡°special forces organization,¡± and she couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    When her eyes curved like crescent moons, they were soft and obedient. The old faces of the staff couldn¡¯t help but blush slightly, coughing lightly to shift their gaze, and led Zhi Qi to where the main cast was taking a group photo.

    However, he somewhat understood why Qiu Mi was so concerned about this girl and even went out of his way to ask someone to help pick her up¡ªthis stunning girl who was no less than a star naturally had to be cherished, and some of the staff even thought that Zhi Qi was Qiu Mi¡¯s girlfriend.

    Unfortunately, he didn¡¯t see Qiu Mi nodding and bowing hastily after seeing Zhi Qi.

    ¡°Miss Zhi,¡± Qiu Mi hurriedly led the girl to the left side of the inner circle, where the view was best. He slightly raised his chin and pointed to the figures bowing in front of the incense altar.

    Although there were many people bustling around, Zhi Qi saw Jiang Qi at a nce.

    The young man had indeed lost ten kilograms as requested by the director, making his originally slender figure even more angr, as if only arge frame supported his clothes. Jiang Qi was wearing the clothes of the character Chen Si in the movie, a pure white hoodie and white pants, all white, which seemed softerpared to the usual ck clothes he wore.

    They hadn¡¯t seen each other for nearly twenty days. When she was busy, Zhi Qi didn¡¯t think about it, but now that she saw him, she realized that she really missed him. The longing to rush over and hug him, unfortunately, there were too many people around, so she felt a little embarrassed and pursed her lips slightly.

    Then she saw a girl next to Jiang Qi, wearing a ck suit jacket, tiptoeing to say something to him.

    The young man had no expression on his face, just moved a little further away, and then the girl¡¯s expression seemed a bit lost.

    ¡­

    Having an extremely handsome face was troublesome; it could attract girls wherever you went.

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but pout unconsciously, feeling a little annoyed.

    As a ¡°fangirl,¡± of course, she had long searched the inte to learn about the lineup of Jiang Qi¡¯s new movie and knew that the girl in the ck suit jacket was Xue Ling, who yed the female lead, Meng Li, in the movie.

    In the movie, the male and female leads had two different peculiar personalities. The male lead had gender identity disorder, and the female lead hid her homosexuality, so the two of them didn¡¯t have any romantic scenes together.

    Zhi Qi naturally understood this logic, but it still made her feel somewhat unhappy after watching it.

    Ah, maybe she would have to get used to it sooner orter.

    Since Jiang Qi was an actor, it meant that he would hug, kiss, and even film explicit scenes with other girls in the future¡­ Oh, it was really heartbreaking to imagine.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s eyes unconsciously turned into ¡°resentment¡± as she stared nkly at Jiang Qi, who stood not far away in the midst of the crowd, like a ¡°photograph¡± without emotions.

    As she watched, she involuntarily suppressed her bad temper and smiled before Jiang Qi finished his work and looked over. Jiang Qi saw Zhi Qi, and for the first time today, a hint of ¡°smile¡± shed in his otherwise indifferent eyes.

    However, in front of everyone¡¯s eyes, surrounded by the director and the production team, the young man couldn¡¯t just run over regardless of everything.

    The girl understood the frustration in Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes, smiled knowingly, and sent him a text message before lowering her head: [I¡¯ll wait for you in the car.]

    After watching Jiang Qi offer incense here, it¡¯s good enough. There¡¯s no point in staying because I can¡¯t stand next to him even if I wait. After Zhi Qi sent the message, she asked Qiu Mi next to her to take her to Jiang Qi¡¯s car, and the assistant naturally followed her instructions.

    The car assigned to Jiang Qi by Chen Ding was arge seven-seater nanny car, with the back row directly expanded into a small area of connected seats, where people could lie down for a short rest ¡ª this was also specially modified to amodate Jiang Qi¡¯s preference for sleeping in the car, in consideration of his cervical spine.

    When Zhi Qi got into the car, she saw the familiar Kindle and wireless headphones in the back seat, all of which she broughtst time to give to Jiang Qi.

    Seeing that he was willing to use them now, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but smile with relief. In addition to these, there were some nkets, soft pillows, and some essential items likeptops, pads, and so on.

    ¡°Miss Zhi, you can lie down and rest in the back for a while. It¡¯ll probably take another hour for brother Qi to arrive.¡± Qiu Mi helped Zhi Qi onto the car and continued to advise her carefully.

    Then he hurried back again, as a working person always on the go.

    Zhi Qi sat in the car for a while. The extreme noise from earlier had now turned into extreme quietness, and the sudden contrast seemed to rx the tightly wound nerves of the young girl all at once. She suddenly felt that she had been quite tired for the past half month.

    And this spacious nanny car¡¯s back seat seemed very appealing.

    As sleepiness overwhelmed Zhi Qi, she felt her eyelids fighting against each other. She yawned as she crawled to the back seat and curled up to lie down. She pulled the nket over herself, instantly feeling like she was enveloped in a soft cotton ball, feeling even more inclined to sleep in this scene.

    ¡°Just a short nap, and I¡¯ll wake up when Jiang Qi arrives.¡±

    Before falling asleep, Zhi Qi kept silently reminding herself like this.

    Unfortunately, she forgot that once she got sleepy and leaned on a pillow, she loved to sleep, and once she fell asleep, nothing could wake her up.

    In high school, Zhi Qi had a ¡®natural enemy.¡¯

    ¡ªHer history teacher.

    For some reason, Zhi Qi felt that the kind-looking female teacher seemed to have some sort of magic. Every time she had history ss, listening to the history teacher¡¯s lecture, Zhi Qi felt like she was being hypnotized, unable to resist the urge to sleep.

    Even though she went to bed early and woke up early and wasn¡¯t tired, as soon as she heard the history ss, she felt sleepy. But she didn¡¯t feel this way in other sses. Zhi Qi had good academic performance, so the history teacher didn¡¯t think much of it the first or second time, just frowned and scolded her a bit and let it pass.

    But after it happened repeatedly, even the patient teacher became irritated.

    During one history ss, Zhi Qi was once again deeply asleep, vaguely feeling the table being loudly pounded.

    ¡°Zhi Qi! What¡¯s the matter with you!¡± The young girl opened her drowsy eyes to see the history teacher standing in front of her, angrily roaring, ¡°You fall asleep every time youe to my ss, and I can¡¯t even wake you up! Did you stay uptest night or do you have some problem with me?!¡±

    ¡­

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t exin why she felt so sleepy during this ¡®mysterious¡¯ time, so she could only silently stand up and endure the teacher¡¯s criticism.

    Then she obediently apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, teacher.¡±

    ¡°Sorry? Will you do it again next time?¡± The history teacher¡¯s nose was almost crooked with anger. ¡°Is this what you mean?¡±

    The surrounding students were immediately amused by the teacher¡¯s ¡®humor¡¯.

    Zhi Qi remembered she wanted tough at that moment too, but it was a bitter smile ¡ª because she really didn¡¯t know why she felt so sleepy whenever she saw the history teacher, feeling unfairly treated.

    But in the whole ss, only Jiang Qi didn¡¯tugh.

    The boy couldn¡¯t bear to see the girl criticized in front of the whole ss and not able toe down from the tform, so he stood up and helped her ¡°take the me¡±.

    ¡°Teacher, it¡¯s my fault,¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s voice was cold, and he lied with his eyes open, ¡°I gave her cold medicine before ss, and she got drowsy after taking it.¡±

    Zhi Qi was stunned and turned to look at him nkly.

    ¡°Cold medicine?¡± The history teacher hadn¡¯t expected this twist, looking at Zhi Qi with suspicion, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡±

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t bring herself to say ¡°yes¡± to let Jiang Qi take the me, so she just remained silent.

    In the end, both of them remained tight-lipped like a closed jar, and the history teacher didn¡¯t manage to find out the reason why Zhi Qi fell asleep in ss, so he angrily sent them out to stand outside the ssroom together.

    Outside the ssroom, Zhi Qi whispered to Jiang Qi, ¡°When did you give me cold medicine? Why did you take the me?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± The boy seemed indifferent, just smiling, ¡°This way, you can sleep openly.¡±

    ¡­

    Jiang Qi really cared about her, resorting to all means to ¡®help the wicked¡¯.

    During their first and second years of high school, those were probably the happiest times they spent together.

    It¡¯s just a pity that happy moments are fleeting, and dreams can be bizarre.

    Jiang Qi¡­ Jiang Qi¡­

    Zhi Qi suddenly opened her eyes, startled from her slumber. She sat up abruptly, as if in countless nightmares before¡ªfortunately, the ceiling of therge vehicle was high, so the girl didn¡¯t hit her head.

    In these four years, she couldn¡¯t sleep as soundly as she used to.

    ¡°Qiqi.¡± Zhi Qi was sitting in a daze, her chest rising and falling slightly, when she heard a clear voice of a boy next to her, ¡°Awake?¡±

    It was Jiang Qi¡¯s voice.

    The car was very quiet, with only the two of them.

    The girl turned her head and saw Jiang Qi sitting in the front seat looking at her. Only then did Zhi Qi realize that she didn¡¯t know how long she had been sleeping. The sky outside the car window was already dark, and the boy¡¯s amber-colored eyes still sparkled in the dim light.

 Chapter 31: Dog Of A Man

    Chapter 31: Dog Of A Man

    Zhi Qi had slept for several hours, from the ring afternoon sun to the sunset, the interior of the car was dimly lit, and the atmosphere was soft and quiet.

    The brightest thing was Jiang Qi¡¯s amber eyes.

    ¡°Jiang Qi, I just dreamed about you.¡± The girl¡¯s awareness was still hazy, staring at the boy in front of her and saying dazedly, ¡°I dreamed about when we were in high school, I fell asleep in history ss and got scolded by the teacher, you helped me take the me, and then we stood outside the ssroom together¡­¡±

    She rambled on, and Jiang Qi looked at her with a slight daze.

    ¡°Then, then I woke up.¡±

    Zhi Qi sighed with a bit of mncholy, sounding somewhat regretful. ¡°I should have slept a little longer.¡±

    ¡­ Fool.

    Jiang Qi watched the hint of pink that bloomed on the girl¡¯s ivory face due to drowsiness, feeling a sourness in his heart as if a drop of indelible ink had stained his already not-so-pure heart even darker.

    ¡°Qiqi.¡± After a moment of silence, the boy¡¯s cold voice sounded hoarse as he asked her, ¡°Can I apany you more in the future?¡±¡°Of course, but you¡¯re very busy,¡± Zhi Qi curled up her legs unconsciously, her pointed chin resting on her knees, looking like a small bundle, murmuring with a hint of grievance, ¡°I¡¯m busy too.¡±

    They say thatpanionship is the most sincere confession of love, but she and Jiang Qi never seemed to have the chance to apany each other. Only in the dim and awkward teenage years, stumbling along hand in hand for a few years.

    ¡°I¡¯m not busy right now.¡± Jiang Qi smiled and quietly turned off his phone, ignoring all the calls inviting him to attend the Lao Shi Zi startup celebration banquet and media interview requests.

    In fact, it seemed like people from all over the world had been looking for him for hours, but the young man just didn¡¯t want to leave this small carriage. It might seem a bit stubborn, but he sometimes really didn¡¯t want to deal with the outside world¡¯smotion.

    Jiang Qi looked at Zhi Qi and asked in a gentle tone, ¡°Is it okay if I have dinner with you?¡±

    It had been five or six hours since he saw the girl on the mountaintop during the startup ceremony, and she must be hungry by now.

    Being reminded by him, Zhi Qi suddenly realized the emptiness in her stomach that had been quietly growling, even ¡®gurgling¡¯ twice, which was particrly evident in the quiet car.

    ¡­

    The girl covered Jiang Qi¡¯s ears with a bit of embarrassment and unreasonableness. ¡°No listening allowed.¡±

    Jiang Qi smiled and gently wrapped hisrge hand around the girl¡¯s soft one, obediently nodding.

    ¡°I want to eat the shrimp dumplings from the food street near our school gate, shall I take you there?¡± Zhi Qi thought for a moment and asked him, ¡°But are you really free? Do you have time to apany me?¡±

    Jiang Qi nodded, shamelessly stating, ¡°I¡¯m free.¡±

    So he drove, letting the girl direct him to her university.

    ¡°Or should I take my bag back to the dorm first?¡± Now that Zhi Qi¡¯s mind was clear, she felt like she was covered in the ¡®disheveled¡¯ aftermath of running around. It seemed like her face was coated with ayer of dust, her clothes were messy, and she instinctively wrinkled her nose with a bit of disdain. ¡°Can you wait for me in the car for a while?¡±

    Whatever she said, Jiang Qi naturally wouldn¡¯t object, simply nodding.

    However, the imposing nanny car attracted some attention. When it stopped outside the west campus gate of Lan University, it drew the sidelong nces of many passing students.

    Sitting in the car, Jiang Qi watched these ¡®young and promising, full of vitality¡¯ students through the window with cold eyes, as if a thinyer of frost had covered his eyes.

    Without Zhi Qi by his side, a sense of world-weariness and apathy would naturally emanate from the young man. It wasn¡¯t intentional; he just sat there expressionless, giving off that vibe.

    He wanted to return to campus, to relearn.

    Every time he saw Zhi Qi and apanied the girl back to school, this desire surged uncontrobly, almost boiling his blood. He remembered that in his youth, whenever he was excited, it would show on his face. asionally, it would startle the girl, making her timidly ask what was wrong with him in her soft voice.

    But now he couldn¡¯t do that anymore. Years of prison life had made Jiang Qi restrained enough to hide all emotions, whether bright or obscure, very well.

    When Zhi Qi came back, he could once again be the Jiang Qi who was exceptionally gentle in her presence. As the girl entered, a fragrance of shower gel rushed into the cramped car with her, lingering instantly.

    Jiang Qi noticed that she had changed her clothes. The original gray hoodie and jeans were now reced with a rainbow-colored knitted sweater, clinging lightly to her body. Whether it was the undting chest under the swan-like neck or the slender, soft waist, everything was outlined enticingly.

    And she wore a knee-length chiffon skirt, revealing a fair and soft section of her leg that almost seemed to glow in the dim light of the car. Zhi Qi had just quickly washed her hair and hadn¡¯t blow-dried it too much before running down. Her loose chestnut-colored hair was half-dry, emitting a fragrance.

    Seeing Jiang Qi staring nkly at her, she couldn¡¯t help but purse her lips in embarrassment and smile: ¡°Do I look good?¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s half-hidden face was indistinct.

    Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t see the slight movement of the young man¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple, so she could only hear his restrained voice: ¡°You look good.¡±

    ¡°Hehe, I knew you would say that.¡± The girl¡¯s fair hand propped up her rosy cheeks, her ck eyes sparkling: ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s eat. Today, you¡¯re not allowed to diet.¡±

    Jiang Qi nodded.

    The girl acted as a ¡°human GPS,¡± directing Jiang Qi to drive to the ¡°Jingyang Dim Sum House¡± on the east side of the university town. Eating dim sumte at night was quite unconventional for her, but this dim sum restaurant served delicious shrimp dumplings and had private rooms, making it suitable for her and Jiang Qi to go together.

    Before getting off the car, Zhi Qi, acting like Jiang Qi¡¯s assistant, carefully helped the young man put on his mask and hat.

    ¡°Looks like a secret agent.¡± She looked at Jiang Qi¡¯s face, which only revealed his eyes, and couldn¡¯t help butugh: ¡°But it¡¯s because your face is too eye-catching. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    With that, she also put on a mask and then took Jiang Qi¡¯s hand, leading him into the teahouse.

    Jiang Qi lowered his eyes slightly, allowing Zhi Qi to pull him into this Chinese-style, brightly lit teahouse, lost in thought as he watched the softness and whiteness of her palm in his own, snow-white and tender. After the door of the private room closed and the dishes were served one by one, Jiang Qi finally took off his ¡®full armor¡¯ from his face.

    The young man¡¯s sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, with delicate and sharp contours, appeared unusually gentle under the warm yellow light in the private room, as if outlined with ayer of warm and clear light.

    The man with clear and exceptional features on the big screen, seen up close, would often leave people speechless with his stunning appearance.

    But Zhi Qi had seen Jiang Qi a lot since she was young, so she didn¡¯t feel as stunned. She just kept feeding him snacks.

    Whatever she tasted and found delicious, she assumed Jiang Qi would like it too, constantly saying, ¡°This is delicious, try this¡­¡±

    Before long, Jiang Qi¡¯s bowls and tes were filled with all sorts of snacks. He watched as Zhi Qi¡¯s porcin-white teeth bit into the shrimp dumplings, sparkling and fragrant, and suddenly felt a rumble in his not-so-hungry stomach, unconsciously eating quite a bit.

    This ce was not far from Lan University, just a short walk of about half an hour.

    After dinner, Zhi Qi wanted Jiang Qi to apany her for a walk back, so she pulled the young man¡¯s sleeve and wouldn¡¯t let him drive. The two of them walked slowly along the night, and Jiang Qi naturally followed her.

    *

    But what happenedter made Zhi Qi wish she could turn back time.

    If she could, she would definitely not insist on taking a walk and make Jiang Qi drive her back!

    As the two leisurely returned to Lan University, when Jiang Qi dropped Zhi Qi off at the dormitory building, the girl was still reluctant to let him go. Just as she was about to say something while hooking her fingers around the young man¡¯s, a cold voice suddenly popped out from the dim light under the nearby tree¡ª

    ¡°Zhi Qi, what are you doing?¡±

    Zhi Qi was stunned, and in an instant, she felt a spine-chilling sensation.

    Because she was too familiar with this voice¡ªit was her brother, Zhi Yu!

    The girl¡¯s body froze halfway, her limbs stiffened, and she awkwardly turned around to see Zhi Yu¡¯s tall and slender figure walking out of the shadows, slowly ¡°approaching.¡±

    The strong aura of the man was intimidating, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but feel weak, and she nervously whimpered, ¡°Brother¡­¡±

    Jiang Qi had actually recognized Zhi Yu long ago, but he hadn¡¯t figured out how to greet him yet.

    But seeing him scare Zhi Qi like this now, he couldn¡¯t help but feel displeased. He narrowed his eyes slightly and stood in front of the girl instinctively¡ªtwo tall and thin men inadvertently formed a ¡°confrontation.¡±

    And Zhi Yu naturally recognized Jiang Qi by his distinctive light-colored eyes.

    The man hesitated for a moment, then realized and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Jiang Qi?¡±

    Seeing his little sister openly tussling with a man at such ate hour already angered Zhi Yu enough. Then, seeing that ¡°dog of a man¡± protecting his sister in a possessive manner made Zhi Yu even more infuriated.

    Now he even found out that this ¡°dog of a man¡± was Jiang Qi, well, isn¡¯t that just great.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s cold voice sounded somewhat muffled behind the mask, politely greeting, ¡°Brother Zhi Yu.¡±

    He used to call Zhi Yu like this before, and after a few years, there naturally wouldn¡¯t be any changes.

    But Zhi Yu didn¡¯t want to ept his polite attitude now. His eyes stared at Zhi Qi, who was cowering behind Jiang Qi, and said to Jiang Qi coldly, ¡°Step aside.¡±

    Jiang Qi hesitated for a moment but didn¡¯t move.

    But Zhi Qi knew Zhi Yu¡¯s temper¡ªthis would inevitably lead to an outburst if it continued.

    So the girl quietly pulled Jiang Qi¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s okay, could you¡­ go back to the set first?¡±

    Zhi Yu must have found out about Jiang Qi when she went homest time and told Mei Ran about him beforeing to find her. If her brother said something excessively harsh next¡­ Zhi Qi didn¡¯t want the young man to hear it.

    But before Jiang Qi could respond, Zhi Yu sneered and spoke first.

    ¡°Why are you butting in?¡± The man raised his chin slightly and pointed towards the dormitory, directly ordering Zhi Qi, ¡°You go back first.¡±

    ¡­

    Obviously, this meant he wanted to talk to Jiang Qi alone. Zhi Qi naturally didn¡¯t want that, hesitating and dragging her feet, unwilling to leave. Zhi Yu¡¯s expression became increasingly grim, and the air around him seemed to coil with icy winds, causing Zhi Qi to shiver.

    Jiang Qi knew that the girl had always been afraid of her brother, and her ¡®disobedience¡¯ to stay in ce was all for him.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The young man didn¡¯t want Zhi Qi to be in a difficult position because of him, so he bent down and whispered gently in her ear, ¡°Zhi Qi, go upstairs.¡±

 Chapter 32: His Inferiority Cannot Resist His Desires

    Chapter 32: His Inferiority Cannot Resist His Desires

    After the only girl who could regte the atmosphere was ¡®coboratively¡¯ driven away by them, leaving two men facing each other in ce, only a ¡®cold and killing¡¯ atmosphere remained.

    Moreover, they were still below the girls¡¯ dormitory building, looking out of ce enough to make passersby curious.

    ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to talk here, is it?¡±

    After a while, Zhi Yu finally spoke, his voice still icy, he nced at him and turned away, ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡±

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t say anything, just silently followed. He didn¡¯t even suggest going back to the parking lot next to the teahouse to get his own car, but followed Zhi Yu to his car. The man drove an Audi A8, and the car fragrance was a hint of peppermint and lemon, giving off a refreshing chill as soon as you entered.

    ¡°I guess you and Zhi Qi have finished dinner.¡± Zhi Yu wasn¡¯t polite, sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, rolling down the window, and lighting a cigarette¡ªwhile handing one to Jiang Qi, his sharp eyebrows lightly raised, ¡°Do you smoke?¡±

    Jiang Qi nodded and took it, biting it between his lips.

    In fact, he was about the same age as Zhi Qi, both four years younger than Zhi Yu, but he matured early, never experiencing the so-called ¡®awkward phase,¡¯ always disying a fearless and rebellious demeanor in front of anyone, so naturally, there was no generation gap between him and Zhi Yu.

    Just because he was Zhi Qi¡¯s older brother, Jiang Qi had always been polite to him.Even now, after a brief silence with half a cigarette, he took the initiative to greet, ¡°Long time no see.¡±

    ¡°It hasn¡¯t been that long.¡± Zhi Yu smiled, but unfortunately, there was no warmth in the curve of his lips. He looked at Jiang Qi¡¯s profile and said lightly, ¡°In the years you were inside, Qiqi asked me several times to help find out your whereabouts. I knew which prison you were in and even visited¡­ I just didn¡¯t tell her.¡±

    In fact, at that time, he was almost graduating from college, and with his own connections, it was as easy as pie to inquire about Jiang Qi¡¯s whereabouts, but he just lied to Zhi Qi that there was no news. Because Jiang Qi didn¡¯t want Zhi Qi to know where he was, and Zhi Yu also understood this reason. Simrly, he didn¡¯t want his own sister to have any contact with Jiang Qi.

    Why should she, who had been cherished and raised as the family¡¯s precious treasure, suffer because of Jiang Qi? If someone doesn¡¯t want to see you, what¡¯s the point of forcing yourself on them?

    Zhi Yu didn¡¯t think he was wrong, so he spoke confidently when he brought it up.

    Jiang Qi fell silent for a moment, his slightly lowered brows revealing no emotions. After a while, Zhi Yu heard him softly say, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±

    He understood Zhi Yu¡¯s actions too well. Not telling Zhi Qi was perfectly normal.

    Let alone Zhi Qi¡¯s brother, even he himself felt unworthy of her.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine?¡±

    ¡°Do you really think it¡¯s fine?¡± Zhi Yu couldn¡¯t help butugh, with a hint of irony, ¡°If you really think so, then why are you involved with Qiqi again now?¡±

    This was like a blow to the heart, and Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but clench his fingers for a moment, his pale lips turning even paler.

    Because he felt guilty, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t exin his ugly behavior, because he really couldn¡¯t control his closeness to Zhi Qi¡ªespecially when he knew he wasn¡¯t worthy. Zhi Yu¡¯s words were simply cutting.

    Seeing the conflicted emotions on the young man¡¯s face, Zhi Yu turned away, a moment of pity shing in his eyes. In fact, many things about Zhi Qi were kept secret from adults, without understanding the cause and effect, but he knew everything about the young man clearly.

    Zhi Yu knew about Jiang Qi¡¯s family background, childhood traumas, and the reasons behind the past shadows and prison experiences¡­

    But precisely because he knew everything so well, he understood that Jiang Qi was not someone to rely on. Zhi Yu insisted on his viewpoint, believing that Jiang Qi was a ¡®dangerous individual¡¯¡ªso how could he be at ease letting his beloved sister mingle with such a person?

    After a moment of dead silence, Zhi Yu flicked the ash off his cigarette with his slender fingertips, sounding somewhat regretful as he asked, ¡°I probably don¡¯t need to ask how you are now, but how were you in the past few years?¡±

    How were you? Life in prison, could it possibly be good?

    Jiang Qi wasn¡¯t exactly a mild-mannered person. His words carried a hint of disdainful weariness as he retorted, ¡°Since you know where I was, you should also know what kind of person I was inside.¡±

    In fact, the years in prison were ones that Jiang Qi preferred not to remember.

    Perhaps in movies or TV dramas, there might asionally be some ¡®heartwarming¡¯ scenes in prison, but the reality of life behind bars was cold and brutal.

    Just as Zhi Yu had previously said to Zhi Qi¡ªthe ce of prison was the dirtiest ce in the world, gathering all the ugly souls, demons and monsters, with no limits, no boundaries, because there was no ¡®morality¡¯ there. Everyone fought there with enough ruthlessness, only by surviving with bloodshed could they protect what they cared about.

    For example, in the first month Jiang Qi went in, he realized that many people ¡®coveted¡¯ him.

    At first, he found it unreasonable and couldn¡¯t help butugh, butter he realized that this was actually quitemon in prison.

    No women? What to do then? They could only find pleasure with men, especially someone like him, who had a good appearance. When Jiang Qi entered prison, no matter who looked at him, he seemed like amb thrown into a wolf¡¯s den.

    Unfortunately, those who truly regarded Jiang Qi as a mb¡¯ter found out they were wrong.

    Jiang Qi remembered the first time someone tried to touch him inappropriately and spoke ambiguously to him was in winter, when they were being forced by the prison guards to clear dried grass outside with shovels. The man¡¯s icy cold hand touched his neck, and his own carotid artery seemed to pulsate faintly with blood.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s face was gloomy as he tightened his grip on the shovel in his hand and mercilessly struck the man¡¯s shin!

    Amidst thetter¡¯s screams of agony as he fell to the ground, Jiang Qi stomped heavily on his face.

    ¡°Wanna mess with me?¡± His expression seemed to be covered with ayer of ice, colder than the bitter January sky. Jiang Qi looked down at the man writhing on the ground, his face swollen and bruised from the stomping. Some emotion seemed to trigger the switch of the violent factor within him. The look on the youth¡¯s face was almost ruthless: ¡°Go to hell.¡±

    Later, it was the prison guards who pulled him away.

    Unconsciously, Jiang Qi had already broken the man¡¯s leg bone, and he almost used the shovel to cripple the man who had attempted to assault him before, but it was only due to his minor status that he wasn¡¯t given an additional sentence. He just unavoidably received five strikes from the baton as punishment for ¡°prison brawl¡±.

    At that time, he had just turned seventeen, his slender body not yet fully mature. After the five baton strikes, he almosty on the sickbed for a week.

    Because the force of the baton hitting his back was actually heavier than the cold shovel.

    But Jiang Qi didn¡¯t regret it, he even felt that the few blows were quite worth it. Because after a week, when he returned to the prison ¡°dormitory¡±, those ambiguous gazes that had once coveted him seemed to be tinged with fear.

    That¡¯s just how Jiang Qi¡¯s life creed has always been.

    ¡ªHe would rather have everyone fear him than allow anyone to bully him at will.

    Because people only bully the weak and fear the strong. So, inevitably, when such things happenter, Jiang Qi will only choose this violent way to solve them. Fighting with the convicts in thebor camp, even fighting with the ¡°bosses¡±, being reprimanded by the prison guards¡­ he was covered in bruises every day.

    Even if everyone said he was like a mad dog, not understanding the art of ¡°flexibility¡±.

    Huh, exchanging peace for ttery and yielding with his body? Jiang Qi would rather not have that kind of life.

    So, let him be a sick dog.

    When he left the prison, Jiang Qi actually had more wounds on his body in these four years than what Jiang Quan had ¡°given¡± him in the previous dozen years.

    However, regardless, his mind was free, for Jiang Qi knew that these were the demons and ghosts, the troubled spirits that he could rid himself of once the time limit arrived.

    Unlike before, when Jiang Quan¡¯s hatred was ingrained in his bones, tormenting him day and night¡­

    Fortunately, none of that remained now. But the price he paid for this was bing an ordinary person in society, an existence that was both iprehensible and greatly detested. Just like how normal people wouldn¡¯t like someone who had been to prison. Zhi Yu didn¡¯t like how normal he had be, and Jiang Qi understood that very well. But asking him to leave Zhi Qi was a bit difficult.

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m a bit despicable. I know I¡¯m not worthy of her, but¡­¡± Jiang Qi admitted very soberly, pausing for a moment. The slight curve at the corner of his lips carried a palpable bitterness as he said, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to be far away from her.¡±

    He had tried before, but failed.

    If he could only watch Zhi Qi from afar, unable to get close to her or talk to her, he couldn¡¯t bear it.

    Zhi Yu looked at the deste profile of the young man, furrowing his brows as he was about to speak, but the untimely buzzing of a cellphone in his pocket interrupted.

    He cursed inwardly and, feeling somewhat agitated, picked it up to check. Sure enough, the message was from Zhi Qi: [Bro, if you bully Jiang Qi, I¡¯ll never talk to you again!]

    ¡­

    This hopeless girl even used an exmation mark to express her anger.

    Was it her business to meddle like this? Damn, who was he worrying about?

    Suppressing the urge to immediately call and scold Zhi Qi, Zhi Yu casually pocketed his phone as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°You¡¯re useless.¡± The man turned away, deliberately avoiding looking at Jiang Qi¡¯s face, and said indifferently, looking ahead, ¡°I know Qiqi likes you, but our family won¡¯t agree to your rtionship.¡±

    Zhi Yu¡¯s main point was that as ¡®elders,¡¯ they wouldn¡¯t agree, so she came to warn Jiang Qi specifically. But Jiang Qi¡¯s focus after hearing this sentence was on ¡®I know Qiqi likes you.¡¯ Suddenly, his mind exploded with colorful fireworks, and his heart blossomed with joy.

    Zhi Qi liked him, she really liked him.

    So he would definitely strive for it. He would resume his studies, earn qualifications, start from the same starting line as others, work hard to earn a lot of money, and make himself worthy of Zhi Qi¡­

    Walking alone on the road after leaving Zhi Yu¡¯s car, many crazy thoughts kept swirling in his mind.

    Jiang Qi knew he couldn¡¯t restrain himself because his desire overpowered his inferiorityplex.

    From Lan University to the teahouse, it would take almost half an hour to walk with Zhi Qi, but he only needed ten minutes by himself. Jiang Qi turned on the phone he had been keeping off in the corner of the car, and suddenly arge number of messages flooded in, almost causing the phone to crash instantly.

    ¡­

    Jiang Qi frowned, mercilessly deleting these messy messages with one keystroke.

    Then Zhi Qi¡¯s call came through, and Jiang Qi answered hurriedly.

    ¡°Why did you turn off your phone just now? You scared me.¡± The soft and clear voice of the little girl echoed loudly in the carriage, and she asked anxiously, ¡°I just texted my brother, and he didn¡¯t respond. Jiang Qi, he didn¡¯t trouble you, did he?¡±

    Jiang Qi knew the girl couldn¡¯t see, but he still subconsciously shook his head, being very obedient, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Zhi Qi visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Qiqi.¡± Jiang Qi paused for a moment and asked, ¡°If I have time, can Ie see you?¡±

    ¡°Huh? Are youing to our school? It will attract attention, right?¡± The two of them tacitly skipped over the topic of ¡®Zhi Yu,¡¯ and Zhi Qi smiled, ¡°Or should Ie see you?¡±

    Jiang Qi fell silent.

    Actually, he understood in his heart that what the girl said was right, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling useless if he always let Zhi Qie to see him¡­

    Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but think, was he acting like a pursuer?

    Although he didn¡¯t dare to openly dere it yet, he wanted to pursue Zhi Qi, and it would be best to keep the little girl ¡®bound¡¯ to him. Once this twisted thought took root, it was like a wild weed sprouting in spring, relentless and unending.

    ¡°Qiqi, can youe over the day after tomorrow?¡± Jiang Qi thought of that trophy again, the Best Actor award he had received but hadn¡¯t had the chance to give to her. He wanted to do something, so he said, ¡°I have a gift for you.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhi Qi curiously asked on the other end, ¡°What gift?¡±

    There was a silent smile in Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes, and he didn¡¯t answer.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve learned to be mysterious too.¡± Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Well, see you the day after tomorrow.¡±

    Actually, she also understood in her heart that Jiang Qi deliberately wanted her toe see him¡ªwhat mattered more to her¡ªbut she wasn¡¯t particrly looking forward to the gift or anything like that.

    Before hanging up, Jiang Qi stopped her again, ¡°Qiqi¡­ Good night.¡±

    He hesitated, actually there was something he hadn¡¯t told Zhi Qi just now.

    Just now, Jiang Qi discovered the hardest thing for him in this world.

    ¡ªIt wasn¡¯t the hardships of life or the pain of injuries, but being away from her.

 Chapter 33: He Smiled Childishly And Innocently

    Chapter 33: He Smiled Childishly And Innocently

    Many thanks to ire, Deb, Ashley and Eleanor for your continuous novel support ??. Happy Reading ?? !!

    The filming period of ¡°Jiao Si¡± was forty-five days, which was rtively long for a movie. The locations included Hengdian, Liuzhou, and Jiangwu.

    Hengdian was on the outskirts of Lin Lan District, while Liuzhou and Jiangwu, where the scenes were shot, were in other ces. Qiu Heng nned to start filming with the scenes in Jiangwu first. The entire crew would charter a ne to depart next week, with a gap of about four to five days in between.

    Within this period, Xiao Yongfei, like a ¡°master of time management,¡± also arranged a magazine shoot for Jiang Qi.

    Jiang Qi had originally nned to spend these days with Zhi Qi. Completely unaware of this arrangement, his expression sank as soon as he heard about it.

    ¡°¡­Come on, the shoot I arranged for you is for Calle¡¯s year-end special edition.¡± Xiao Yongfei felt inexplicably guilty under Jiang Qi¡¯s gloomy gaze, but at the same time, he felt he had done nothing wrong. He exined with a stiff smile, ¡°Calle! It¡¯s the year-end special edition that many influencers want to be featured in. Editor-in-chief Ji Ting personally came to invite you. Shouldn¡¯t I ept?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit too ungrateful, isn¡¯t it? Besides, Calle and Ji Ting are both leaders in the domestic fashion industry. Why offend them? Are you going to cut off your connections in the fashion circle? The more he thought about it, Xiao Yongfei felt that he made the right decision to ept this notice.

    ¡°Magazines only take one or two days to shoot.¡± He walked over and gently patted the shoulder of the displeased young man. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll let you rest for the next two days. Can I stop arranging notices for you?¡±

    ¡­Xiao Yongfei was quite amodating and generous in his self-deprecation.Jiang Qi remained silent, gently shaking off his hand from his square shoulder. At this point, he had no choice but to agree. This so-called ¡®year-end special issue¡¯ had to be done.

    Actually, Xiao Yongfei¡¯s ¡®grievance¡¯ was understandable. As a top agent, he hadn¡¯t dealt with a ¡®difficult¡¯ artist like Jiang Qi for a long time. There were many things he didn¡¯t tell Jiang Qi, such as the numerous invitations for magazine covers he had turned down, and the fact that he couldn¡¯t reject Ji Ting¡¯s offer.

    Yet, even so, Jiang Qi was stillining?

    Who could he reason with? Xiao Yongfei¡¯s heart was filled with frustration and anger as he stormed off.

    *

    Two dayster, the shoot wasn¡¯t going smoothly.

    Because this shoot was for the year-end special, rted to the Double Tenth Festival, the theme was ¡®Winter Sunshine.¡¯

    For a shoot about winter sunshine, the models naturally couldn¡¯t look cold.

    But the difficultyy in Jiang Qi not knowing how to ¡®warm¡¯ up.

    Originally, Ji Ting was looking forward to this event because of his previous experience shooting Jiang Qi. However, as they continued shooting, he sensed something was off. He almost felt like crying¡ªhe originally thought all those online trends like ¡®Jiang Qi doesn¡¯t smile¡¯ were just marketing gimmicks, but who knew they were actually true!

    Choosing someone who doesn¡¯t smile much to shoot a Winter Sunshine series, wasn¡¯t he asking for trouble?!

    The shoot progress was at a standstill for a moment. Ji Ting¡¯s once somewhat handsome face now resembled a bitter gourd, and his long artist-like hair was almost turned into a bird¡¯s nest by himself scratching it.

    ¡°No¡­ handsome man.¡± He walked over to Jiang Qi, who was resting on the side, and asked tearfully, ¡°What¡¯s the use of having such a handsome face? Just being expressionless? Can¡¯t you smile a little?¡±

    Because they needed to create a winter atmosphere, the studio was filled with frosty air and artificial snow, making it ufortably cold.

    Jiang Qi was leaning back in his chair, drinking the ginger tea that Qiu Mi handed him, a hint of red staining his thin lips. Like a red plum in the wintry snow, he looked at Ji Ting with faint eyes, seemingly not understanding what he was saying.

    Ji Ting was speechless for a moment, his mind buzzing with agitation.

    If it were anyone else, he would have wanted to p them silly, but with Jiang Qi¡­ he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it.

    The Burberry early winter haute couture he was wearing was provided by Burberry, a red-brown id wool coat with a high cor that covered half of his chin. Jiang Qi¡¯s face, pale to the point of transparency, had slightly lowered brows and eyes, with fine ck hair sprinkled with dots of snow.

    With a flicker of thought, Ji Ting suddenly lifted the camera around his neck and took a picture.

    He captured the moment of the boy holding a paper cup, drinking tea, with a look of surprise, his light-colored eyes glistening in the reflection of the snow.

    Sometimes, candid shots capture more charm.

    However, the challenging task of capturing the ¡®warm sunshine¡¯ still continues. Ji Ting was satisfied with the candid shot in his camera, but his excitement onlysted for a few seconds.

    His anxious and worried mood didn¡¯t ease until Zhi Qi came over.

    Today was the day agreed upon by the girl and Jiang Qi to meet at the set, so she hurried over after ss ording to the address he gave. But Zhi Qi never expected the studio to be so cold. She was wearing only a thin beige knitted skirt, loosely hanging down to her knees. The moment she entered the studio, she almost got goosebumps from the cold.

    She shivered instinctively and then looked around for Jiang Qi¡¯s figure.

    To her surprise, it was him who spotted her first.

    As Ji Ting was anxiously looking around, he saw Jiang Qi, who had been sitting calmly, suddenly brighten up and then furrow his brows. He quickly stood up and walked briskly towards the door.

    Could Ji Ting be hallucinating to see such a ¡®vivid¡¯ expression on Jiang Qi¡¯s face?

    Ji Ting followed Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze in a daze and saw the boy standing in front of a girl who was about half a head shorter than him. The girl was wearing a skirt, slender in figure, and her appearance was not very clear, but Jiang Qi seemed to be protective of her.

    He watched as he took off his coat and put it on the girl. Now, he was left with only a warm white sweater underneath, with a ¡®gentle¡¯ expression on his face.

    ¡­

    This coat was sponsored by Burberry for the cover shoot!

    Ji Ting was speechless and curious again. He asked Qui Mi beside him in a low voice, ¡°Who is that girl?¡±

    Qui Mi smiled mysteriously and only said two words in a yful manner: ¡°Qiqi.¡±

    After Jiang Qi¡¯s award eptance speech a few days ago, the mysterious figure ¡®Qiqi¡¯ who couldn¡¯t be found despite thorough searching through Jiang Qi¡¯s Weibo follow list, the surrounding staff, and so on, made the inte curious. People started to doubt whether Jiang Qi was just making things up casually¡ªor if she was his rtive.

    No one would have expected that Qiqi was such a lively and pretty girl.

    Of course, Ji Ting knew about this matter. He looked at the smiling girl next to Jiang Qi¡ªZhi Qi¡¯s knitted dress hadntern sleeves, and her delicate and cute hands lightly touched his face.

    The graceful girl furrowed her brows lightly, and in Ji Ting¡¯s highly imaginative fantasy, it seemed like she was saying: Why is your face so cold?

    Jiang Qi¡¯s lips curled slightly into a smile.

    Jiang Qi, smiling.

    These two words seemedpletely unrted, yet they seemed to save Ji Ting¡¯s life. The man¡¯s eyes lit up, and in an instant, a thought shed through his mind, eager to try. Ji Ting had a staff member bring a nket for himself, then walked towards Jiang Qi and Zhi Qi.

    ¡°Jiang Qi, give your girlfriend this nket,¡± Ji Ting said naturally, without noticing the slight stiffness in the expressions of the young man and the girl after the words ¡®girlfriend¡¯ came out. Then Zhi Qi¡¯s ears turned slightly red, feeling a bit embarrassed as she pursed her lips and lowered her head.

    Jiang Qi was sessfully pleased by Ji Ting¡¯s use of those words, so he obediently put on his coat again and draped the nket Ji Ting specially brought over Zhi Qi.

    This nket was also a new release from Burberry for the Christmas season, made of thick and warm reddish-brown fabric filled with Christmas elements¡ªbells, reindeer, sleighs, Santa us¡­

    When the girl wrapped herself in the nket, itpletely enveloped her petite body, leaving only her chestnut-colored long hair and a fair and delicate face exposed. On her ivory-white face, a pair of ck eyes blinked curiously, gazing at the artificial snow being produced in the shooting studio.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± Seeing this, Ji Ting immediately took advantage of the situation and struck while the iron was hot, ¡°Shall we continue shooting now?¡±

    He figured that since the girl was looking around curiously, the young man might want to ¡®show off¡¯ a bit in front of his beloved.

    Sure enough, Jiang Qi nodded with a soft ¡°Hmm.¡±

    Under Zhi Qi¡¯s gaze, the staff, who had just finished their break, resumed their work methodically, setting up lighting props.

    Jiang Qi stood in front of the camera, and his body movements were much more ¡®gentle¡¯ than before.

    This was because Ji Ting intentionally adjusted the main camera he was shooting with to focus on Zhi Qi¡¯s position¡ªmeaning that when Jiang Qi looked into the lens, the corner of his eye would inevitably catch Zhi Qi.

    Who wouldn¡¯t call this a bit calcting?

    But calcted methods often work. Seeing the girl he liked, the corners of the young man¡¯s eyes and eyebrows were no longer as frosty as before.

    Although Jiang Qi still didn¡¯t smile, Ji Ting had already pressed the shutter countless times. In fact, in the warm winter sun, you don¡¯t necessarily have to smile. As long as your expression and bodynguage convey warmth, it¡¯s enough.

    Looking past Ji Ting¡¯s camera, Zhi Qi gazed at Jiang Qi in the middle of the studio, feeling that the young man was truly a natural actor. He simply stood there, effortlessly attracting everyone¡¯s attention, almost without the need for spotlights, naturally bing the center of attention.

    Jiang Qi was neither awkward nor constrained, just calmly doing what he needed to do, as if he was born to be like this¡ªnaturally captivating.

    As the shoot neared its end, Zhi Qi was finally pulled out of her trance-like state. She looked up and happened to meet the young man¡¯s eyes.

    Since the camera couldn¡¯t capture her, Zhi Qi, feeling yful, couldn¡¯t help but smile and make a face at him for a moment. Her pink tongue peeked out from the corner of her mouth, enough to make the young man¡¯s azure eyes instantly heat up.

    Like gathering a bunch of fire, Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    His sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes stretched into a charming arc, and for the first time during the entire shoot, the young man smiled, revealing a mouthful of pearly white teeth, exuding youthful vigor.

    Ji Ting¡¯s eyes lit up, quickly capturing this moment.

    Under the snowfall, the young man in the reddish-brown coat had snowkes on his ink-ck hair, smiling with innocence and childishness.

    It was a scene so stunning that it almost froze time.

    This smileter became the cover of calle¡¯s New Year¡¯s edition¡ªthe highest-selling issue ever.

    Fashion industry professionalsmented: This is a smile worth collecting.

 Chapter 34: Friends are not like friends, lovers are not like lovers

    Chapter 34: Friends are not like friends, lovers are not like lovers

    This ¡®fake¡¯ winter romance was thest meeting between Jiang Qi and Zhi Qi in recent days.

    The next day, the entire cast of ¡°Jiao Si¡± set off to Jiangwu for filming¡ªthere were no promised two remaining days off, which made Jiang Qi quite annoyed. It was said that there would be typhoon days during those days, so they couldn¡¯t fly, and they had to depart early on Wednesday.

    That day Zhi Qi happened to have ss and couldn¡¯t go to the airport to see him off. Butter she found out that even if she had gone, she couldn¡¯t have seen him off. Qiu Heng was generous, and the ¡°Jiao Si¡± crew used the VIP channel for chartered flights, so fans naturally couldn¡¯t see them off.

    However, there was no ¡°special channel¡± on the way to the airport, and many fans who were waiting outside still managed to take some airport photos.

    Zhi Qi saw Jiang Qi on the hot search after ss.

    The young man now has many fan sites. Various fan sisterspete to release retouched pictures, various filters, and so on¡­ Zhi Qi found it fresh at first, butter she basically only looked for ¡°raw pictures.¡±

    Those messy retouching and filters would actually diminish Jiang Qi¡¯s stunning appearance; he was actually a guy who didn¡¯t need retouching. In the photos, Jiang Qi walked briskly in the airport passage, surrounded by several ck-d bodyguards.

    The young man liked ck very much, so it wasn¡¯t anything new that he was all in ck. With a mask on, only his slightly furrowed brows and eyes were visible. His lustrous eyes seemed to be aching from the shes all around.

    Jiang Qi was dressed inly, only showing his eyes, yet he still made it to the hot search¡­This is probably his innate destiny?

    Looking at thements below the Weibo hot search, Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help butugh and cry¡ª

    [= =: No way, seriously? This can make it to the hot search? Don¡¯t they understand that excessive marketing will backfire?]

    [= =: What nonsense are you talking about upstairs? Isn¡¯t itmon sense for celebrity airport photos to trend? If your master hasn¡¯t trended on #airport#, could it be that your mouth is just full of sh*t?]

    [= =: Getting anxious, aren¡¯t we? I can see that Jiang Qi¡¯s fans are getting anxious, but unfortunately, even if he lives on the hot search, you can¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s a notorious artist, right?]

    [= =: #EmperorJiangLaughs@MadDogs#.]

    [= =: #BigPancakeLaughs@MadDogs#.]

    [= =: Sorry, but nobody really covets his ¡®big pancake¡¯. Fans of Jiang Emperor are really interesting. #DisgracedArtistsGetOutOfTheEntertainmentCircle#.]

    ¡­

    After Jiang Qi won the Best Actor award, thements section of Weibo rted to youth was like a ¡®bloody battlefield¡¯.

    No matter how extraordinary Jiang Qi¡¯s face and acting skills were, there was always a group of people who couldn¡¯t ept a former convict bing a star. Moreover, Jiang Qi was not humble, and most of the images he presented to the public were cold, sinister, and rebellious. There was even a ¡®history of insulting reporters¡¯¡­

    Moreover, Jiang Qi had blocked the path of too many people.

    Bing a true purple star as an actor also made him a target of criticism. In the words of the fans nowadays, he was ¡®ck and red¡¯. However, on the path of one¡¯s growth, one always has to endure various criticisms, not just insults, but also nder and rumors.

    Fortunately, she knew Jiang Qi¡¯s heart was definitely strong enough. But¡­ Zhi Qi frowned, sighed silently, and put away her phone.

    However, she would still feel distressed if she looked at it, so most of the time Zhi Qi just didn¡¯t bother to look. At one point, she was so angry that she uninstalled Weibo directly.

    Then she installed it again within a day, repeating the process dozens of times.

    Even Meng Chunyuughed at her, saying she was the most ¡®fragile¡¯ among the fangirls.

    But her rtionship with Jiang Qi was not just that of a fangirl; she cared because she liked him.

    Speaking of which, what exactly was her rtionship with Jiang Qi now? Not quite friends, not quite lovers.

    On the way back to the dormitory from the elective ss building, Zhi Qi pondered this question.

    Actually, she had never thought about this question before. Her rtionship with Jiang Qi had always been natural, and she had never thought about ¡®officially¡¯ defining their rtionship. But now that she thought about it, she realized it was indeed a problem.

    Was she his girlfriend now?

    Zhi Qi tilted her head and pondered for a while, subconsciously wanting to take out her phone to ask him. But after hesitating for a while with her finger hovering over the screen, she decided against it.

    Forget it, she thought, I¡¯ll ask Jiang Qi when hees back.

    In the evening, as shey on her bed after washing up, Zhi Qi¡¯s hair was half-dry, with tiny droplets of water falling on her slender corbone. The curve of the girl¡¯s corbone seemed capable of holding wine, shimmering beautifully under the warm yellow light.

    Her phone on the table buzzed, and Zhi Qi paused in her hair-drying motion, lowering her gaze to look at it.

    It was several messages from Jiang Qi, apanied by a picture: [I¡¯ve always wanted to give this to you, but I forgot.]

    Zhi Qi opened the picture and saw the crystal tree-shaped Best Actor award from the Golden Tree Awards, shining so brightly that each leaf was clearly visible.

    So this was the special gift Jiang Qi had always said he wanted to give her.

    It truly was ¡®one of a kind¡¯, something no one else would give.

    After being momentarily distracted, the girl couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly.

    [Okay.]

    Zhi Qi replied to him warmly with a voice message: ¡°Jiang Qi, I¡¯ll wait for you toe back.¡±

    *

    But this waitsted for nearly half a month.

    ¡°Jiao Si¡± had a lot of scenes filmed in Jiangwu. When the crew returned, it was already mid-December, just a few days before Christmas. But in the city, it seemed like they were treating this foreigner¡¯s New Year as a festival, and the atmosphere was building up in advance.

    For the past half month, apart from talking to Jiang Qi, who finished work almost every night, most of the time, Zhi Qi was seeing him on the hot search on Weibo.

    Although the young man went into seclusion after filming, there were still articles about him on the ¡®rivers andkes¡¯.

    From time to time, there were hot searches like #Jiang Qi exposure# and #Jiang Qi¡¯s new drama#, and Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but click on them whenever she saw them.

    But in reality, time and again, it was just a few set photos¡ªJiang Qi sitting in the makeup chair in the pictures, tilting his head back to let others dress him up, his slender figure delicate and ¡®graceful¡¯, almost with a sense of broken beauty.

    His slightly raised profile extended to his chin, neck, and Adam¡¯s apple, all exquisite and beautiful.

    The first time Zhi Qi saw this exposure, she couldn¡¯t help but save it, but several times afterwards, it was just the same beautiful exposure, with no fresh pictures. It seemed that the ¡°Jiao Si¡± crew was extremely strict in their management, even the paparazzi who made a living by taking sneak shots of the crew and selling them to fans couldn¡¯t capture much.

    asionally, Zhi Qi wanted to ¡®plot privately¡¯, asking Jiang Qi to take a few selfies and send them to her to admire, but it always ended up with nothing.

    The reason was that the young man was not skilled in taking selfies, and he seemed to be very averse to letting Zhi Qi see his appearance.

    ¡°It looks a bit feminine,¡± Jiang Qi once said to her on the phone, seriously, ¡°Stop looking at it, just look at me in person.¡±

    Jiang Qi¡¯s grumpy voice made herugh out loud, but after theughter, she felt a little lost.

    She really missed Jiang Qi.

    Fortunately, the young man was about toe back.

    The day the ¡°Jiao Si¡± crew returned, it was a rare sunny day.

    And Qiu Heng, like a devil, seized this opportunity and excitedly ¡®suggested¡¯ in the car, ¡°Since it¡¯s not raining today, let¡¯s shoot the outdoor scenes!¡±

    The entire crew: ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°Not speaking means you agree.¡± Qiu Heng didn¡¯t say anything more, directing the driver without hesitation, ¡°Change the location, go to Chen Kong Alley.¡±

    Everyone in the car was tortured and squeezed to the point of anger but dared not say anything. They could only listen to the director¡¯s orders and call people to clear the scene and make arrangements.

    Qiu Mi nced at Jiang Qi, who was sleeping next to her wearing an eye mask,pletely unaware that he would have to shootter. She was torn about whether to wake him up.

    Should he wake him up? It would only tell Jiang Qi about it, and it wouldn¡¯t change the fact that he ¡®couldn¡¯t rest¡¯. Moreover, it would disturb his sleep, but if she didn¡¯t wake him up¡­ who knows if Brother Qi has any appointments? After all, Qiu Heng said earlier that he would let the whole crew rest for a day when they returned. Who the hell would have thought that they would have to shoot outdoor scenes now?

    After much hesitation, Qiu Mi still didn¡¯t dare to wake him.

    Therge nanny van of a film crew swayed and rumbled towards Chen Kong Alley¡ªa rundown area in Lin Lan City, the most dpidated ce in the entire urban area, chosen to depict the bleak situation of the protagonist¡¯s teenage years being bullied.

    As they approached the location, Jiang Qi¡¯s phone on the passenger seat kept buzzing incessantly.

    Qiu Mi nced at it and saw the name ¡°Qiqi¡± on the screen. After a moment¡¯s thought, he decided to answer for Jiang Qi.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± On the other end of the phone was indeed the soft voice of a girl, soothing to the ears. ¡°Have you returned?¡±

    ¡°Miss Zhi.¡± Qiu Mi felt himself being soothed by her voice; he lowered his voice and responded softly, ¡°Brother Qi is sleeping, so I¡¯m answering his phone.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is he very tired?¡± The girl¡¯s voice sounded somewhat disappointed, like murmuring to herself, ¡°Can we still have dinner togetherter?¡±

    They had made ns.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡± Qiu Mi sighed, feeling a bit regretful as he informed her, ¡°The director said they¡¯re shooting an outdoor scene while the weather¡¯s good today in Lin Lan. I don¡¯t know when it¡¯ll end.¡±

    ¡°Shooting again?¡± There was a hint of surprise and annoyance in Qiqi¡¯s voice. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just return from Jiangwu?¡±

    What kind of director was this, not giving people any rest time?

    ¡°Ah, there¡¯s no choice, it¡¯smon to work continuously.¡± When the director gets tough, their assistants suffer too, and Qiu Mi couldn¡¯t helpining, ¡°We also want to rest early.¡±

    Qiqi was amused by his sighs and asked casually, ¡°Where are you shooting? Still in Hengdian?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s an outdoor shoot today.¡± As they got closer to Chen Kong Alley, the surrounding roads were all under repair, and the car rattled along. Qiu Mi answered her intermittently, ¡°It¡¯s a ce called Chen Kong Alley, a shantytown.¡±

    ¡­

    After he finished speaking, there was silence from Qiqi¡¯s end for several seconds.

    Qiu Mi thought the call might have dropped due to poor signal and looked at his phone in confusion.

    ¡°Chen, Chen Kong Alley?¡± Then the girl¡¯s voice came through, sounding hesitant and surprised, ¡°Have you arrived there now?¡±

    Qiu Mi didn¡¯t understand why Qiqi¡¯s tone suddenly changed, so he answered in a daze, ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ming over now.¡± Qiu Mi faintly heard the sound of things being packed up on the other end, apanied by Qiqi¡¯s serious tone, ¡°Assistant Qiu, please make sure to keep an eye on Jiang Qi and preferably keep him away from there.¡±

    With that, the call was disconnected.

    Qiu Mi looked at his now ck screen, utterly puzzled.

    Why did Qiqi say not to let Jiang Qi near Chen Kong Alley? What did that mean? Besides, this was where they were shooting the outdoor scenes. How could Jiang Qi, as the protagonist, not go near there?

    At this moment, the car had already reached the edge of the dpidated shantytown and couldn¡¯t go any further inside, so it stopped. Perhaps because the car had stopped, Jiang Qi also woke up from his broken dream, taking off his eye mask and suddenly facing a bright light.

    The young man blinked groggily and saw Qiu Mi¡¯s puzzled look beside him, as if he had done something wrong.

    Frowning, Jiang Qi¡¯s voice, just woken up, was a bit hoarse. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°Nothing, um, Brother Qi¡­¡± Qiu Mi thought of what Qiqi had said, hesitated for a moment, and was about to say something, but then there were extras murmuring in front of them¡ª

    ¡°Director Qiu found such a ce? Chen Kong Alley? Heh, it¡¯s really rundown.¡±

    Qiu Mi clearly saw a hint of confusion sh through Jiang Qi¡¯s previously calm eyes when he heard the words ¡°Chen Kong Alley.¡±

    Then, the faint blood color on the young man¡¯s face, due to sleepiness, disappearedpletely.

 Chapter 35: A Sick Dog Like Him Cant Restrain Himself

    Chapter 35: A Sick Dog Like Him Cant Restrain Himself

    Seeing the ¡°characteristic¡± shantytown of Chen Kong Alley, a low and uneven expanse, it seemed like all the memories from the past suddenly rushed back into his mind.

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t know how he had left the car amidst the crowd of people, standing on this familiar yet unfamiliar piece ofnd, his whole body almost stiff from head to toe.

    Perhaps it was because December had started to get cold, and there was ayer of frosty cold air between his breaths. His face was pale, his pupils covered with ayer of chaotic ice color, he coldly observed as people from the crew came and went.

    Like ants, in an instant it seemed like they were all assimted by this ruins, inplete darkness.

    Until Qiu Heng came over to call him¡ª

    ¡°Ah Qi.¡± The man lowered his head to look at the script in his hand, not noticing Jiang Qi¡¯s abnormality. He just rubbed his temples and said, ¡°The next scene we¡¯re shooting is from high school, the one where you got beaten up by ssmates. Hurry up and change into your school uniform in the car, I¡¯ll have the stylist¡­¡±

    Qiu Heng¡¯s instructions came swiftly, like the crackling of beans popping, making people¡¯s heads seem to ache.

    Jiang Qi didn¡¯t say anything, just nkly scanning this alley he hadn¡¯t returned to in years.

    He thought he would never have the misfortune toe back, but he didn¡¯t expect the ¡°opportunity¡± toe so quickly and unexpectedly. After that, Jiang Qi was like a puppet being manipted, put on the school uniform and styled by the makeup artist.In the movie, the male protagonist Chen Si had the most precarious period during high school, malnourished, pale, with eyes full of timid avoidance.

    And Jiang Qi¡¯splexion, almost didn¡¯t need makeup to ¡°perform naturally¡±, making the makeup artist somewhat surprised.

    Qiu Mi, who had been thinking about Zhi Qi¡¯s inexplicable words on the phone earlier, naturally noticed Jiang Qi¡¯s anomaly at this moment. He inexplicably felt a bit frightened, leaned over and asked softly, ¡°Brother Qi, are you okay?¡±

    ¡­

    After a while, Jiang Qi seemed to finallye to his senses, shook his stiff head.

    It¡¯s nothing, what could happen to him? He¡¯s just returning to his ¡°old years,¡± after all. Jiang Qi doesn¡¯t allow himself to be so useless.

    Even though the violent factors within him are stirring restlessly, almost uncontroble, as he moves through these familiar ces.

    Jiang Qi presses on his knuckles repeatedly, taking deep breaths. ¡°Let¡¯s shoot.¡±

    The sooner it¡¯s done, the sooner he can leave. He doesn¡¯t want to stay here any longer.

    As the young actors advance towards the set, which has already been set up with props, Jiang Qi¡¯s throat tightens a bit.

    *

    In the scene at Chen¡¯s alley, it depicts Chen Si¡¯s high school days, where he doesn¡¯t fit in with his ssmates due to his strange mannerisms that seem neither masculine nor feminine. He¡¯s ostracized and bullied by his ssmates, and there¡¯s even a scene where some irrational teenage boys want to ¡°teach him a lesson.¡±

    This scene directly establishes why Chen Si in the y dislikes boys even more and increasingly sees himself as a ¡°cute girl.¡± It¡¯s a crucial turning point for the protagonist¡¯s mindset.

    But Jiang Qi just can¡¯t get into character.

    As the extras ying his ssmates push him against the wall, his thin back touches the moss-covered wall unique to Chen¡¯s alley. Jiang Qi can¡¯t get into character as Chen Si; instead, his mind is filled with memories of the past.

    He remembers being grabbed by men in this alley, his hair pulled as he was mmed against the wall with brutal force.

    The young boy¡¯s face covered in blood, even the taste of dirt in his nostrils¡­

    ¡°Cut!¡± Qiu Heng, behind the camera, calls out. He stands up, frowning at Jiang Qi with visible displeasure. ¡°Ah Qi, are you tired?¡±

    This is the third time today, and Qiu Heng can¡¯t help but feel that something is off. During the half-month of filming ¡°Jiao Si,¡± Jiang Qi could instantly get into character the moment the camera started rolling.

    He even earned the nickname ¡°Jiang One-Take¡± because he never needed multiple takes. But today, for a scene that isn¡¯t particrly difficult for Jiang Qi, he has NG¡¯d three times already.

    Could it be that the relentless schedule has worn out these actors?

    With this thought in mind, Qiu Heng decides to pause filming. ¡°If you can¡¯t get into character today, let¡¯s call it quits and try again another day.¡±

    Try again another day?

    Jiang Qi furrows his brow, shaking his head instinctively. ¡°No.¡±

    Once is enough for this ce; he doesn¡¯t want toe back.

    Taking a deep breath, the young man with a pale face tightly clenches his lips and manages to utter a few words with difficulty: ¡°I can do it.¡±

    So, for the fourth time, the same scene begins again.

    Jiang Qi forcefully tries to convince himself that he is Chen Si now, not the powerless child he once was. Finally, he manages to make his icy gaze appear ¡°soft and timid,¡± trying his best to resemble Chen Si.

    ¡°You neither act like a man nor a woman? Are you a man or a woman after all?¡±

    The two extras wearing school uniforms faithfully deliver their lines,ughing as they reach out to Jiang Qi, patting his face insultingly. ¡°Or should we check for ourselves?¡±

    With a change in his expression, Jiang Qi immediately leans against the wall, curling up his body. His head, seemingly ¡°timid,¡± buries into his arms. Although his eyes should be filled with resentment and grievance in the darkness, they appear cold and distant, almost lost.

    Thenes the flurry of punches and kicks from the two boys towards ¡°Chen Si,¡± with the camera intentionally portraying the scene with heightened violence.

    But in reality, this kind of fighting scene generally doesn¡¯t hurt anyone. Jiang Qi was just pretending to cry out in pain, curling his body, but his hands protecting his head and face involuntarily clenched tighter, the fair backs of his hands showing prominent veins.

    They were extras; they weren¡¯t really trying to hurt him. The force they exerted on him was soft, just for the sake of acting.

    Jiang Qi kept convincing himself, yet there was a raging fire burning in his heart, boiling with every cell in his body, each containing a factor of brutality that he couldn¡¯t restrain no matter how hard he tried.

    ¡°Damn, are you made of wood? Can¡¯t you show some manliness?!¡±

    Finally, it came to the scene where the extras angrily grabbed Jiang Qi, throwing the slender youth ruthlessly against the wall. Jiang Qi winced in pain, hearing their curses:

    ¡°Just look at you, we hit you and it¡¯s like bullying a child who¡¯s still breastfeeding! Can¡¯t you resist a bit, so we can have a back-and-forth?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got a dick down there, but you¡¯re as weak as a girl.¡±

    ¡°Looks like a girl, too. If it weren¡¯t for that thing being so repulsive, I wouldn¡¯t mind having some fun with you.¡±

    ¡°Heh, bro, he thinks he¡¯s a girl, maybe he¡¯ll end up cutting that thing off and selling it in the future?¡±

    ¡°Haha, selling it, that suits him perfectly!¡±

    ¡°Looks like a sly fox, born to be a prostitute¡­¡±

    ¡­

    ¡­

    ¡°You look like this, you¡¯re born to sell yourself to me and make me some money!¡±

    ¡°Looks like a sly fox, not much different from your crappy mom!¡±

    ¡°Why do I have such a worthless offspring like you? You should die with your mother!¡±

    The lines of the two extras in front of him reminded Jiang Qi of countless days and nights in his youth, filled with endless insults.

    The young man¡¯s gaze gradually became hollow. He forgot what he should do, what lines he should say, and could only stare nkly at the two men in front of him.

    Strangely, their ferocious faces gradually merged with Jiang Quan¡¯s in Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes.

    Clearly they were young extras, but now they transformed into middle-aged men reeking of alcohol and full of aggression. As if his neck was being strangled, unable to breathe, the young man was suffocating. His vision blurred, filled only with insults, his body experiencing piercing pain and a burning sensation.

    It¡¯s a sensation of flesh burning.

    Jiang Qi had felt it countless times before, when Jiang Quan stubbed out cigarettes on his hands, on his body¡­

    Leaving countless scars.

    Once again, being pushed, shoulders mmed against the wall, the stabbing pain behind him, Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze shifted from confusion to icy determination.

    For someone like him, a ¡°sick dog,¡± once he couldn¡¯t restrain himself, he would bite.

    When the extras dutifully threw punches ording to the script, something unexpected happened¡ªJiang Qi suddenly grabbed the wrist.

    The extra looked at the young man in astonishment, feeling as if the temperament of the young man in front of him had undergone a dramatic change in an instant, as if in a moment, he transformed from the supposed ¡°timid¡± Chen Si into a demon from hell, his sinister and cold demeanor overwhelming.

    The next moment, before anyone could react, Jiang Qi kicked the man¡¯s kneecap.

    With a sudden scream from the extras, the entire crew erupted.

    But Jiang Qi paid no heed,pletely immersed in his own bloody world. Seizing the moment when one of the extras knelt down from his kick, he swung his fist towards another person nearby¡ª

    ¡°Ah!¡± The hard knuckles directly broke the actor¡¯s lips, and he staggered and fell to the ground.

    ¡°What the hell is going on!¡±

    The fact that a lead actor on set could beat up extras, and so brutally at that, was unheard of. Could the whole crew still function after this? After a moment of shock, Qiu Heng became furious, his usual gentleness gone, roaring, ¡°What are you all staring at? Hurry up and stop this!¡±

    The young man in the center of the chaos was red-eyed, looking as if he had gone mad.

    Expressionless, Jiang Qi knelt on the ground, raining heavy blows on the two men lying on the ground, listening to their cries and screams, a hint of pleasure rising in his eyes¡­

    *

    In a hurry, Zhi Qi rushed to the scene in a taxi, and what she saw through the crowded crowd was such a scene.

    ¡ªThe young man¡¯s white shirt was covered in blood, his ck hair disheveled, being pulled and torn by countless people around him, while two barely conscious meny on the ground, Jiang Qi evidently the ¡°perpetrator.¡±

    ¡°Miss Zhi.¡± Qiu Mi was shocked, trembling as she spoke to Zhi Qi, ¡°Qiqi, he, he suddenly lost control just now, started hitting people out of nowhere, like he¡¯s gone crazy.¡±

    Everyone was stunned by this ¡°unexpected¡± scene.

    ¡°No, he hasn¡¯t.¡± But the girl, who usually seemed timid, unexpectedly remained calm.

    Zhi Qi stared straight at Jiang Qi, who was being held down by everyone, her voice calm: ¡°He¡¯s not crazy. Can you let me in?¡±

    She was outside the set, with a barricade of electric fences in front of her. Seeing the calm gaze of the girl, Qiu Mi dumbly opened the electric fence and let Zhi Qi through.

    Zhi Qi took a deep breath, then hurriedly ran towards the chaotic center where the young man was.

    ¡°Jiang Qi!¡± The girl¡¯s soft body threw itself at the boy, her arms tightly wrapped around Jiang Qi¡¯s waist, her voice trembling slightly but resolutely repeating, ¡°Calm down, you need to calm down.¡±

 Chapter 36: I Did I hurt you? Did I hit you?

    Chapter 36: I Did I hurt you? Did I hit you?

    Jennifer, Ashley, Mochakat9 ¨C Thanks for your support, guys! ?? It keeps me going ?? Happy reading! ????

    The sudden outbreak caught everyone off guard.

    But what was even more unexpected than Jiang Qi suddenly assaulting the extras was that the powerless staff couldn¡¯t restrain him.

    Several people tried to restrain the teenager together, but for a moment, they couldn¡¯t hold him down as he abruptly surged up, and even some of them were ¡°identally injured.¡±

    The scene was chaotic, and the crew couldn¡¯t hide it. For a while, no one bothered to stop the media from taking photos outside theser pens and blocking the special outlets for Reuters. shlights flickered incessantly, and the paparazzi¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement at finally catching such an ¡°explosive¡± scene.

    In the narrow and filthy Chen Kong Alley, almost all the ¡°ugliness¡± of human nature was gathered, revealed without reservation.

    Mockery, violence, bloodiness, madness¡ªuntil Zhi Qi appeared.

    The appearance of the little girl was even more abrupt than Jiang Qi¡¯s outburst, making people feel even more unprepared. She tightly hugged the man¡¯s waist and kept calling his name in front of everyone until Jiang Qi¡¯s originally bloodshot eyes gradually calmed down, and a trace of sanity seemed to return to his light-colored pupils.

    Jiang Qi lowered his eyes, staring nkly at the little girl in his arms.Zhi Qi¡¯s eyes were watery, and there was a visible bruise on her fair neck, particrly prominent against her snowy skin.

    His pupils contracted as if shocked, and his voice, when he spoke again, was hoarse, ¡°Did I hurt you?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± In fact, it was indeed Jiang Qi¡¯s inadvertent swipe that caused it, but Zhi Qi choked up, shaking her head repeatedly and denying, ¡°Jiang Qi, you didn¡¯t hurt me. It was my own fault, you¡­ you¡­¡±

    ¡°I hurt you.¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s tone was almost affirmative, his eyes full of confusion as he murmured, ¡°I¡­ I actually hurt you, did I hit you? Damn it, I actually hit you, I still can¡¯t control¡­¡±

    The more he spoke, the more chaotic his expression became, and the pain in his mind felt like a drill stirring, unspeakably bitter. Jiang Qi groaned and squatted down, his long fingers constantly pounding his own head.

    His eyes were bloodshot, with faint blue veins appearing on his forehead.

    ¡°Jiang Qi, Jiang Qi!¡± Zhi Qi couldn¡¯t help but cry, kneeling in front of the man and hugging him, ¡°Don¡¯t be like this.¡±

    There were still many words that she hadn¡¯t had a chance to say¡ªdon¡¯t hurt yourself, please.

    But amidst the chaos around them, Jiang Qi¡¯s mind seemed to be on the verge of exploding.

    Under the ¡°encirclement¡± from all sides and the overwhelming sense of guilt and shame, the teenager finally couldn¡¯t help but faint.

    Seeing this, Zhi Qi actually breathed a sigh of relief.

    It was better for Jiang Qi to faint than to hurt himself.

    A few years ago, she had witnessed his uncontroble state during a ¡°illness¡± episode, hurting himself and others. It was an unforgettable experience, so Zhi Qi never wanted to see it again.

    Zhi Qi lowered her gaze slightly, looking at the young man lying in her arms. His sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, with his straight nose and tightly pursed lips below, made Zhi Qi blink a few times. Several teardrops fell unconsciously onto Jiang Qi¡¯s face, then slowly slid down along the delicate contours of the young man¡¯s face.

    Everyone watching this scene was almost stunned.

    After a while, Qiu Heng regained hisposure and dialed 120.

    *

    The hospital corridor was quiet.

    Outside the ward, a crowd had gathered: Qiu Heng, Xiao Yongfei, Qiu Mi, and others, even Shen Lei rushed over from the set, because the images of Jiang Qi¡¯s ¡®outrageous act¡¯ in the afternoon had quickly spread all over the inte,nding on the front pages of all websites.

    The news of ¡°#Celebrities brutally beating an extra actor to the point of fracturing bones#¡± was rampant, unable to be suppressed, stirring up a frenzy everywhere. Netizens, known for their sharp tongues and quick judgments, swiftly tore Jiang Qi apart.

    From his past controversies to his recent arrogance.

    From his attitude of disregarding others to today¡¯s violence.

    ¡­

    When even the ¡®wall¡¯ of Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t stand firm, it was clear that his reputation had hit rock bottom.

    The PR department of Chen Ding invested money in deleting posts, hiring inte trolls, and whitewashing, but it was futile. Xiao Yongfei¡¯s phone kept ringing incessantly. He stood in the stairwell, frowning as he listened to the chaotic reports on the other end. After a while, he said in a low voice, ¡°We can¡¯t control it¡­¡±

    ¡°Then stop trying.¡±

    With this incident, if it couldn¡¯t be controlled, Jiang Qi¡¯s days in the entertainment industry were surely numbered.

    While his previous imprisonment could be whitewashed due to unclear reasons, this time he had be a confirmed ¡®problematic artist¡¯, and thepany probably wouldn¡¯t continue to invest resources in him.

    The so-called ¡®lucky star¡¯ had fallen.

    Xiao Yongfei stood in the stairwell, lost in thought, until the cigarette burned down to his fingertips, snapping him out of his reverie. Heughed bitterly.

    He had waited for so many years for such a ¡®promising¡¯ artist, only to see his career end in this manner.

    But now Jiang Qi had a lot of trouble on his te. He would have topensate for intentionally injuring someone, and the contract with thepany included provisions for reputational damages, which he had vited¡­ Xiao Yongfei wondered if the kid coulde up with that much money.

    Thinking this, he shook his head helplessly and turned back into the hospital corridor.

    He saw a group of people surrounding a girl ¡ª the rumored ¡®Zhi Qi¡¯ who had calmed Jiang Qi down by holding him. She sat on a public bench outside the ward, her delicate face expressionless, allowing everyone to surround her, while she stared nkly at the floor tiles.

    Zhi Qi remained indifferent and silent, feeling theck of goodwill from those ¡®interrogating¡¯ her. They all questioned her about Jiang Qi as if giving orders, but the girl had her own pride and refused to acknowledge anyone.

    So Xiao Yongfei walked over and asked straightforwardly, ¡°Miss, what is your rtionship with Jiang Qi? Are you his girlfriend?¡±

    Zhi Qi¡¯s long eyshes trembled slightly, but she remained silent, still pursing her lips.

    ¡°I¡¯m his agent, with the surname Xiao.¡± Xiao Yongfei¡¯s expertisey in reading the microexpressions on people¡¯s faces, and in that shattered moment in Zhi Qi¡¯s eyes, he could tell that the rtionship between the girl and Jiang Qi was not ordinary.

    With a hint of politeness and restrained anger, Xiao Yongfei spoke as politely as possible, ¡°Right now Jiang Qi is unconscious in the ward, and we can¡¯t reach his family. There are some things I¡¯m afraid I can only discuss with you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Go ahead,¡± Zhi Qi closed her eyes briefly. When she raised her head again, her ck pupils remained determined. She softly said, ¡°I am Jiang Qi¡¯s family.¡±

    This statement wasn¡¯t a lie; it was truly how the girl felt in her heart.

    Xiao Yongfei¡¯s eyes flickered with some surprise, and after a moment of silence, he decided to speak the truth.

    ¡°The two extras that Jiang Qi hit, one is named Zhang Chao, and the other is named Chen Dongkui. Right now, they¡¯re both lying in the hospital with fractures, soft tissue injuries all over, and ruptured knee joints¡­ Do you know that these injuries, if confirmed, are enough for them to sue Jiang Qi for intentional assault?¡±

    Zhi Qi listened silently, her lips turning pale. Her fingers, hanging to one side, unconsciously clenched, nails digging into her palm.

    Of course, Zhi Qi understood what Xiao Yongfei meant. If those two wanted to, they could sue Jiang Qi and send him to prison. And since this would be a repeat offense, there was a high chance he would be sentenced.

    ¡°Jiang Qi didn¡¯t do it on purpose,¡± the girl¡¯s voice was very soft, almost in a daze. ¡°Compensation¡­ Can that work?¡±

    Xiao Yongfei didn¡¯t respond directly but brought up another matter, ¡°Do you know that Jiang Qi has a contract with thepany?¡±

    Zhi Qi looked at the man in confusion.

    Seeing her expression, Xiao Yongfei couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°He signed a contract with thepany that includes a use about ¡®notmitting crimes that damage his image and reputation as an artist.¡¯ If he breaches this, it will affect his endorsements, magazine deals, acting contracts, and he¡¯ll have to paypensation, like for the movie he¡¯s currently filming.¡±

    Xiao Yongfei paused and then looked at Qiu Heng, who was standing nearby with a stern face, before continuing, ¡°Director Qiu, Jiang Qi¡¯s public assault might lead to media boycotts. What¡¯s your n?¡±

    Half of the movie has already been filmed, and now with the lead actor involved in such a scandal, it would likely need to be recast, restarting everything. This would waste manpower, resources, and finances.

    But not recasting was not an option either. Continuing with Jiang Qi would likely mean the movie couldn¡¯t be released. This is why public figures strive to protect their images, because once tarnished, it doesn¡¯t just affect them but an entire chain of interests.

    Qiu Heng remained silent for a long time before finally spitting out four words from between his teeth, ¡°Handle it officially.¡±

    What happened with Jiang Qi on his set, the assault, the scandal spreading beyond, although Qiu Heng appeared calm on the surface, he was practically dying of frustration inside. He nced at Zhi Qi and said coldly, ¡°An artist without moral integrity, be prepared to receive awyer¡¯s letter.¡±

    It seems that not only the two extras who were beaten might sue Jiang Qi, but Qiu Heng might also have a chance.

    Zhi Qi¡¯s body trembled, a blush quickly rising between her eyebrows.

    ¡°Can¡­ can we not sue Jiang Qi?¡± The girl said in panic, at a loss for words. ¡°We willpensate, we really will.¡±

    Among the crowd, Zhi Qi was the only female, delicate and gentle, making people can¡¯t help but feel pity for her¡ªlike Qiu Mi, who couldn¡¯t bear to watch and sighed softly, turning her head away.

    However, the focus now was not on whether one could bear it or not.

    Xiao Yongfei shook his head, almost ruthlessly stating the truth: ¡°If thew gets involved, it¡¯s not just a matter ofpensation or not, and we can¡¯t intervene.¡±

    ¡°But Jiang Qi is sick.¡± Zhi Qi stood up in a hurry. ¡°He¡¯s sick, it¡¯s you who let him return to Chen Kong Alley to film, it¡¯s you who triggered his memory, otherwise, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have acted¡­¡±

    The girl was alone and helpless, her voice bing more and more choked, so hoarse that it became indistinct in the end. But even if it was indistinct, this group of people with sharper ears than anyone else could catch the key points.

    Xiao Yongfei¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and he asked hastily, ¡°What did you say? Jiang Qi is sick? What illness?¡±

    His repeated questioning made Zhi Qi¡¯s head ache terribly. The girl leaned against the wall, her face pale, breathing heavily.

    Not to mention that Jiang Qi didn¡¯t want to recall those past events, did she want to?

    But the people in front of her seemed like demons, forcing her to reopen the wound even if she didn¡¯t want to, and then face the bloody self-torment inside.

    Fine, they just wanted to know everything about Jiang Qi, right? Then she agreed.

    Zhi Qi took a deep breath, the sharp nails in the palm of her hand woke her up, she adjusted her expression, and then looked coldly at the group of people in front of her.

    ¡°Jiang Qi was diagnosed with severe bipr disorder when he was sixteen. If you don¡¯t believe it, you can have a doctore and check.¡±

 Chapter 37: The Violence Of Fists Like Animals

    Chapter 37: The Violence Of Fists Like Animals

    Zhi Qi didn¡¯t discover Jiang Qi¡¯s illness by chance.

    In fact, from the time they reconnected in high school, she felt that there was something off about the boy.

    He seemed too closed off and too sharp, as if he had erected spikes all over his body to protect himself from everyone except her, cold to the extreme¡ªeven towards those with good intentions, Jiang Qi paid them no heed.

    At the same time, Zhi Qi had always been puzzled by the fact that the boy had injuries and easily got headaches. She had asked him about it since she was ten years old, but in high school, she hesitated to bring it up.

    That question was: Jiang Qi, why do you always have injuries?

    Zhi Qi vaguely understood that there seemed to be significant issues in Jiang Qi¡¯s family, possibly rted to his injuries, but the boy evaded this topic so much that she couldn¡¯t press him further.

    The real confirmation that Jiang Qi had a problem came from an ¡®ident¡¯ in their second year of high school.

    It was raining heavily that day, and after school, most students, even those with umbres, didn¡¯t want to risk getting drenched, so they crowded in the ssroom near the entrance of the teaching building.

    Zhi Qi had forgotten her umbre that day and could only join everyone else, wearing a grimace as they huddled in the ssroom, waiting for the rain to ease before leaving.And Jiang Qi was even less likely to have an umbre.

    For someone like him, carrying an umbre was too ¡®meticulous.¡¯

    But the boy was not afraid of the rain. Unlike most students whoined incessantly, he just nced indifferently at the pouring rain outside, got up, and left without a word.

    ¡°Jiang Qi!¡± Zhi Qi noticed the boy¡¯s actions and called out, following him.

    At that time, Jiang Qi¡¯s nerves were as unpredictable as the rainy weather. Listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the roof made his headache worse, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t hear Zhi Qi calling him, still walking on his own.

    He actually wished the heavy rain could extinguish the burning sensation in his mind, walking swiftly.

    It wasn¡¯t until Jiang Qi heard a distinct ¡®ouch¡¯ from behind him, particrly clear amidst the rain curtain with no one around.

    He paused his steps, turned around, and saw Zhi Qi kneeling on the ground because she had slipped and fallen. The girl¡¯s head and body were wet, resembling a drowned rat, and her once pristine school uniform was now dirty. She looked at him with a mixture of aggrievement and pitifulness.

    ¡°Jiang Qi.¡± Zhi Qi finally caught up with the tall boy, gaining his ¡®attention,¡¯ and sniffled as she asked, ¡°Why were you walking so fast? I called you, but you ignored me.¡±

    ¡°¡­Sorry.¡± Jiang Qi, with his eyes obscured by the mist-like rain, hurried over to help the girl up, supporting her in his arms, and said indifferently, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear you.¡±

    He truly didn¡¯t hear her.

    Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have ignored Zhi Qi.

    The girl, being oblivious, didn¡¯t dwell too much on why he hadn¡¯t heard her.

    Supported by the boy, she was about to say something whenughter erupted nearby¡ªtwo students who had aimlessly wandered into an alley behind High School, seeking shelter from the rain under the eaves, were smoking. They were wearing the same school uniform as Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi. Upon seeing them, they couldn¡¯t help but sneer sarcastically.

    Their deliberately loud voices reached Zhi Qi and Jiang Qi¡¯s ears unhindered¡ª

    ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that the school¡¯s flower?¡±

    ¡°Not only that, but also the school¡¯s ¡®joke.¡¯¡±

    ¡°On a rainy day, are they on a date?¡±

    ¡°Tsk tsk, even good students have early love?¡±

    ¡°These days, perhaps the school¡¯s flowers are blind, falling for whateveres their way.¡±

    Jiang Qi was good at studying, but because of his overly entric and reclusive nature, he was unpopr among his ssmates, and even the teachers didn¡¯t pay much attention to him.

    Normally, because of Zhi Qi¡¯s presence, Jiang Qi would pretend not to hear some sarcastic remarks from certain people. After all, who would argue with fools?

    But today, whether it was because of the icy rain, or because the girl was trembling gently in his arms, or perhaps because his mood was already extremely bad, Jiang Qi suddenly didn¡¯t want to endure it anymore.

    Because he was never a person with a good temper.

    Jiang Qi¡¯s eyes sank without a trace of emotion as he walked step by step towards the threeughing boys. Until he reached them, the boys gradually fell silent, and for a moment, the atmosphere became extremely tense and awkward.

    ¡°What the hell are you standing here for?¡± After a while, finally one of them couldn¡¯t bear Jiang Qi¡¯s gaze and pretended to be angry, asking, ¡°Are you here to mess around?¡±

    ¡°The things you just said,¡± Jiang Qi spoke, his voice as cold as ice, ¡°have the guts to repeat them.¡±

    If it were just him, it would be one thing, but those guys just now clearly insulted Zhi Qi in their words.

    Jiang Qi wanted them to repeat it. If they were brave enough, maybe he could go easy on them. But unfortunately, these guys were just good at trash-talking. Under Jiang Qi¡¯s overwhelming pressure, the three of them looked at each other and no one dared to speak.

    So, they could only me themselves.

    Jiang Qi raised the corner of his lips, but it didn¡¯t look like a smile.

    The next moment, his fist had already pounded on the face of the boy who had just said ¡®the school flower is blind¡¯. Amidst the boy¡¯s screams, the other two boys, still in shock and unprepared to retaliate, were grabbed by Jiang Qi¡¯s hands like iron hoops around their heads and heavily collided¡ª

    ¡°Ah!¡±

    Their heads knocked together, and the pain made both of them scream, almost passing out directly.

    ¡°School flower, a joke?¡± Jiang Qi looked at the three ¡®losers¡¯ who had fallen to the ground in an instant, disdainfully sneering, his sports shoe pressing on one of the guy¡¯s faces, his voice cold and calm, ¡°What are you guys even?¡±

    ¡°You!¡± The boy who was being stepped on felt deeply humiliated, gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Jiang Qi, I¡¯ll make you wait! I¡¯ll get my big brother to kill you!¡±

    Boys of this age were always arrogant. They rarely dealt with being beaten by resorting to ¡®calling the police¡¯ or ¡®telling the teacher¡¯. Instead, they wanted to solve it like adults, by calling their so-called big brother to deal with Jiang Qi.

    ¡°Sure, go ahead and find him.¡± Jiang Qi¡¯s expression was calm, as he spoke, he kicked the guy¡¯s chest hard, ¡°Go now, crawl there.¡±

    Once the violent factor inside him was triggered, it was hard to stop. Jiang Qi didn¡¯t even realize his eyes had turned red.

    And at the same time, shing with a full-on murderous intent, it was as if he was excited.

    For years, he had always detested violence and resisted it.

    But unknowingly, Jiang Qi didn¡¯t realize he had been assimted into a ¡®violent¡¯ person.

    That day, it was like a girl¡¯s soft arms that stopped him, just like on the set today many yearster.

    ¡°Jiang Qi! Are you crazy?¡± However, the Zhi Qi from back then wasn¡¯t as calm. She was trembling in fear, stunned for a while before she realized she needed to stop the boy¡¯s violent behavior, her voice choked with sobs, ¡°Stop it! Stop it!¡±

    She managed to stop Jiang Qi, while quickly dialing 120.

    Violence is never justified.

    Later, an ambnce took five students to the hospital.

    Except for Zhi Qi, the other four all had injuries, some light and some serious¡ªJiang Qi wasn¡¯t unscathed either. At least his finger bones were already mottled with bruises, and his arm, which had already been injured, burst open again from exertion, flesh and blood muddled together.

    But Jiang Qi seemed oblivious to the pain.

    Throughout the process of doctors stitching and bandaging him up, the teenager remained indifferent, his expression barely changing, not even lifting an eyelid. Only the hand resting on his knee would asionally tremble lightly.

    Perhaps Jiang Qi was sick.

    This vague thought, which had always lingered in Zhi Qi¡¯s mind, now shed clearly for the first time.

    So, after silently watching for a while at the door, the girl turned and went to the attending physician Jiang Qi had registered with earlier, requesting a full-body examination for the young man.

    Especially¡­ regarding neurological and psychological aspects.

    Later, Zhi Qi always felt like she had been particrly crazy at that moment, but when the results came out, she finally understood the root cause of everything wrong with Jiang Qi.

    He had bipr disorder, a very severe form of it.

    Zhi Qi remembered feeling somewhat dumbfounded as the neurologist exined the origin of this ¡®illness¡¯ and its implications.

    Looking at the examination report, the doctor said matter-of-factly, ¡°Mania, depression, are all neurological disorders. This ssmate Jiang¡¯s symptoms are very severe. If left untreated, it could qualify as applying for a psychiatric evaluation.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not,¡± Zhi Qi suddenly raised her head, instinctively wanting to refute and deny, ¡°Jiang Qi is not mentally ill, he¡­ he¡¯s quite normal.¡±

    Just asionally, he would act abnormally.

    ¡°Youngdy, these kinds of mental disorders usually don¡¯t surface initially. Nowadays, seventy percent of young people have depression, mild or severe. But do you see seventy percent of people obediently checking into hospitals for treatment?¡± The doctor smiled, exining with tolerance, ¡°This type of illness only manifests its manic side under certain specific circumstances, times, or when encountering certain stimuli. I¡¯m saying your ssmate is severe because he already exhibits strong anxiety andpulsive behaviors in his daily life.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re aware, but when we examined him, we found that he¡¯s even engaged in self-harm.¡±

    Self-harm?

    Zhi Qi¡¯s face went pale, her heart pounding rapidly. It seemed like there was an exnation for all the new and old injuries on Jiang Qi¡¯s body¡­

    ¡°Right now, he¡¯s only harming himself, but when he can¡¯t control it anymore, he¡¯ll harm others too. There are many elements that trigger bipr disorder¡ªfamily background, upbringing environment¡ªbut ultimately, he has been assimted by violence.¡± The doctor sighed, ¡°From a medical standpoint, I must advise you to keep your distance from this ssmate of yours because when bipr disorder erupts into violence, it doesn¡¯t discriminate.¡±

    Just like addicts to drugs, violence is like a drug. When high on it, you can¡¯t distinguish who¡¯s in front of you anymore.

    Jiang Qi couldn¡¯t control herself from hitting these sarcastic students now, and in the future, she might end up hitting her.

    Zhi Qi listened quietly, her fair eye sockets barely suppressing the redness.

    After a while, she asked hoarsely, ¡°Doctor, what should we do?¡±

    All illnesses can be treated; this isn¡¯t a terminal condition.

    Zhi Qi would rather cure him than leave Jiang Qi. That¡¯s what matters most.

    ¡°He¡¯s currently in a state of severe mania and depression, unable to control himself. So my suggestion is immediate hospitalization for treatment,¡± the doctor said, ncing at Zhi Qi¡¯s partially dried school uniform, frowning with some hesitation. ¡°But you¡¯re high school students¡­¡±

    Are high school students supposed to take a leave of absence for hospitalization?

    Neither the doctor nor Zhi Qi knew the answer to this question, and she couldn¡¯t decide for Jiang Qi.

    So the girl could only find a way to ask, ¡°Then, can medication work? Doctor, is there a way with medication?¡±

    ¡°Of course, there is, but the effect won¡¯t be as good as hospitalization. It¡¯s more of a chronic treatment,¡± the doctor shook his head helplessly, writing a prescription for Zhi Qi. ¡°I¡¯ll start him on a trial treatment. During this period, the patient must avoid arrogance and impulsiveness and refrain from self-harm.¡±

    ¡°Little girl, your ssmate is probably still asleep in the ward. When he wakes up, I¡¯ll have to repeat all this again. You can only remind him.¡±

    Whether an illness can be cured ultimately depends on the patient, especially with mental illnesses.

    Zhi Qi obediently nodded, took the prescription, and walked out, feeling dizzy and confused until she stepped out of the ward and saw Jiang Qi leaning against the door, seemingly listening for a long time.

    In an instant, Zhi Qi almost screamed, her eyes widening involuntarily.

    Between the pale brows of the young man, there was a hint of a sinister gray, and when he looked up, his gaze was gloomy as he looked at her.

    Then, Zhi Qi unconsciously took a step back.

    It was just a tiny subconscious movement, but it caused Jiang Qi¡¯s pupils to contract as if pricked by a needle.

    They stared at each other in silence for a while, and Jiang Qi gently spoke, ¡°Qiqi.¡±

    ¡°Um, yes?¡±

    ¡°Did I identally hurt you too?¡± Whenever, Jiang Qi¡¯s concern was always this question, his eyes were genuinely confused and lost, ¡°Would I hurt you?¡±

    Would there be a day when he couldn¡¯t control himself and treated Zhi Qi like that? Beating and kicking, resorting to violence¡­ like a beast?

    ¡°No, really not,¡± Zhi Qi¡¯s suppressed redness finally burst out from her eyes, she kept shaking her head, her soft voice breaking, ¡°Jiang Qi, you won¡¯t hit me.¡±

    She believed he never would.

    But the young man quietly nced at her and then turned away.

    His slender figure was determined, as if about to disappear from her life.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!