Chapter 26.2

Implied past non-consensual intercourse. Attempted sexual assault. Brief mention of blackmail/revenge porn (?).

There is a summary of this part at the bottom.

[See? The original owner was filled to the brim with jealousy. He’s ruined the careers of at least 20 people like this.]

[Cui Yunqing was lucky he had a good teacher who was willing to help him get the role back.]

The system didn’t understand: [Then doesn’t this person hold a deep grudge against the Host? Why do we have to take the initiative to find him?]

[Because he’s the same as Jing Yuanqi.]

Shi Qing was lying comfortably on the sofa. He poured himself a glass of red wine with satisfaction.

Although the production crew was generous enough to provide single rooms to everyone, Shi Qing paid out of his own pocket to upgrade to a luxurious penthouse suite. The sofa that was included was especially comfortable.

[He was targeted just like Jing Yuanqi. He also made the cut despite being sabotaged.]

[If you can show a monkey your ability to be cruel, you can definitely show your capacity for kindness as well.]

Shi Qing took a sip of red wine and turned on his phone to scroll through pictures of the group dinner.

[In the original storyline, Cui Yunqing caught in the middle of a scandal because unflattering photos came out just when his career started taking off when he was 20.]

He tapped his knuckle on the picture on the screen: [This was the deputy director responsible. He took advantage of Cui Yunqing and snuck into his room while he was drunk. He was an adult man that forced himself on Cui Yunqing who was basically still a child at the time. He couldn’t escape after being drugged, which was when the photos were taken.]

The System that was bound to Shi Qing right after its birth was also a pure child at heart. It fumed: [This deputy director is utter scum! Host, are you planning on helping him?]

[Of course I’ll help him.]

Shi Qing lazily allowed his body to sink further into the fluffy sofa cushions. [Help me keep an eye on them. Let me know when they get back.]

In the early hours of the morning, the crew members who went out for drinks returned.

The System immediately notified the Host.

Shi Qing got up. Just before he left, he suddenly remembered something and paused.

The System was confused: [Host, are you not planning to go anymore?]

[Give me a minute.]

Shi Qing opened his phone and confirmed that location services were enabled before putting it away in his pocket. He pushed the door open and went out.

In the room next door, Jing Yuanqi’s computer sounded an alarm as soon as the little red dot on screen began to move.

The young man who just showered came out while drying his hair. He sneered as he heard the alarm. He watched as the little red dot moved all the way to the right and started to go down before closing the computer and heading out.

When he arrived at the elevator, he could see that the elevator really was descending. It finally stopped at the 18th floor.

The young man stopped drying his hair. The unhappy expression on his face became more pronounced.

Cui Yunqing was staying on the 18th floor.

What a good mood he was in.

The clam really did run into someone else’s nest.

Jing Yuanqi did not hesitate at all. He extended a shapely and slender finger to press the down key.

It didn’t matter if the clam ran away.

He’ll just fish it back up.

Could a little fool like Cui Yunqing really win against someone like him?

When Shi Qing stepped off the elevator, he didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he glanced at the elevator’s floor display until he saw that the other elevator made a stop at the 30th floor where they were staying. Only then did he raise an eyebrow and proceed.

[He’s taken the bait.]

He went straight to room 1805 and knocked on the door.

Cui Yunqing, who was happily playing video games, opened the door without any vigilance. When he saw Shi Qing standing outside his room, his mind went completely blank: “Shi, Shi-laoshi……”

“En.”

Shi Qing was outwardly cold, but his body moved fluidly. He sidestepped into the room like nothing was wrong.

Cui Yunqing only reacted when he arranged himself on the small sofa and placed the script in his hand on the table.

Film Emperor Shi Qing who was gunning for him before unexpectedly came to his room in the middle of the night!

He thought about how he said he was tired and needed to go to bed early. Then he looked down at the phone in his hand that was still cheerfully announcing things like, “Don’t give up! We can still win this!”…….

Cui Yunqing hurriedly tapped on the back button to exit the game.

“Um Shi-laoshi. I actually had a nap just now. I only started playing games because I had nothing to do after waking up.”

“En.”

Shi Qing opens the script calmly: “Come rehearse your lines if you have nothing to do.”

It was only after his words that Cui Yunqing dared to sit down.

Before he could squeeze out a few sentences to ease the inexplicably awkward atmosphere, there was suddenly a noise coming from the door again.

It wasn’t a knock, but more like the sound of the door being unlocked.

Cui Yunqing got up to take a look with a befuddled expression.

He was just in time to see the door handle turn as Jing Yuanqi walked in.

When he saw the dumbfounded look Cui Yunqing was sending him, the young flashed his sunny smile and naturally greeted him with a wave: “I came to see you little Cui. Did you sleep well?”

Cui Yunqing replied absentmindedly: “It was……okay I guess.”

“Um, Jing-ge, what’s that in your hand…..”

“Oh, you mean this ah?” Jing Yuanqi casually stuffed the metal wire into his pocket. “Don’t worry about it. I was afraid of waking you up if I knocked so I opened the door myself.”

Cui Yunqing: “……”

Jing Yuanqi didn’t spend a second more on him. He passed by Cui Yuanqing and seated himself right beside Shi Qing.

“Huh, Shi-laoshi’s also here. Are you guys reviewing the script? What a coincidence. Since I’m here as well, why don’t we do it together?”

Shi Qing furrowed his brows, “You brought a copy of the script?”

“Yep yep.”

Jing Yuanqi really did take a script that was folded several times out of his pocket. He tossed it onto the table.

“Come on, let’s start.”

The film emperor frowned. The delicate lips on his flawless face slightly pursed, as if he didn’t understand what Jing Yuanqi was trying to accomplish. In the end, he chose not to question him and just looked at Cui Yunqing. His clear and cold voice lightly said:

“Let’s go through our lines.”

Jing Yuanqi acted like he just realized that Cui Yunqing was still standing where he was. He waved to him with a smile: “Little Cui, why are you still standing there? Come over already. Don’t be shy, just think of this as your own home.”

Cui Yunqing: “……”

But wasn’t this his room to begin with……

He walked over with a face filled with questions. Then he discovered that there was no place for him to sit because the sofa was too small.

Jing Yuanqi lacked the mannerisms of a conscientious guest. Instead, he enthusiastically suggested: “Damn, there’s no more space. How about this little Cui? I’ll practise with Shi-laoshi while you go do your own thing.”

Cui Yunqing was dazed again.

Right now, two of his seniors came to his room in the middle of the night to go over the script. But he was told to go play by himself somewhere else??

His teacher didn’t tell him what to do in this kind of situation ah.

Finally, it was Shi Qing who stood up decisively, “There’s more space on the bed.”

Jing Yuanqi immediately followed him up as well. His smile was enigmatic: “Shi-laoshi is right. There’s plenty of space to fool around on the bed.”

A perfectly good sentence became sensual because of his suggestive tone.

He followed Shi Qing who led the way in before turning back to wave dismissively at the still stunned Cui Yunqing. The meaning was that he shouldn’t come over.

The layout of Cui Yunqing’s single room was very simple. There was a small living room outside and a small bedroom inside with a partition in the middle. You couldn’t see what was happening on the bed from the living room.

Shi Qing and Jing Yuanqi were in there for less than a second before Cui Yunqing could hear a thump from the outside, as if someone was lying on the bed.

Cui Yunqing could only guess what was going on. At this moment, he decided to be quiet and stay put in the living room.

Inside, the young man forced his hands down on both sides of Shi Qing’s body, trapping him on the soft big bed. Their faces were right next to each other.

The practically nonexistent distance between them heated up the cramped space they were in in an instant.

“Shi-laoshi……”

Jing Yuanqi slightly bowed his head, to get even closer to Shi Qing. Their breaths seemed to be intertwined.

He lowered his voice slightly, and deliberately dragged out his words. A pair of peach blossom eyes curved in a charming manner. A soft voice said:

“If you are interested in me, just say it outright. There’s no need to be roundabout by suggesting we go to bed.”

As he talked, the young man slowly raised his right leg and rubbed his knee slyly against Shi Qing.

“As long as you’re willing, anywhere is fine with me.”

Shi Qing: [……]

He’s really aroused right now.

His blood was boiling.

[Seriously, if it wasn’t too OOC, I would press this little vixen down on the bed right now and make him call me daddy.]

System: [Control yourself Host. You need to remain in control.]

In the end, Shi Qing had to reluctantly push the other person away with a dark look on his face.

Jing Yuanqi lifts an eyebrow. He retracted his strength and allowed himself to be pushed aside.

But his knee just had to rub against that spot one last time.

Like a mischievous sprite, he held his head with his right hand and raised his eyebrows while smiling: “Why be so cruel to me?”

“I know that you want to treat me differently.”

Shi Qing’s face was expressionless after being so relentlessly teased: [It’s fine if I do it with him a hundred times right?]

[Calm down!! Host please calm down!!!]

Just as Jing Yuanqi was trying his best to send out waves (sensual) of charisma (energy), there was another knock on the door.

Cui Yunqing, who couldn’t even be angry anymore after being interrupted again and again by visitors tonight, didn’t think much of it as he got up to open the door.

“Director Ma?”

He was a little surprised to see the bald, middle-aged director with a hefty beer belly outside.

Just what kind of luck did he have? In one night, the film emperor, the upcoming star and even the deputy director sought him out.

“Little Cui, I heard you’re on tomorrow? The script just went through some revisions. I brought you a copy to look over.”

The fat director was all smiles as he walked with the smell of alcohol surrounding him. He even closed the door behind him.

The deputy director’s surname was Ma. Although he was already married and had kids, he believed himself to still be a young man at heart. He often relied on his identity to approach newcomers.

Cui Yunqing has long since been someone he kept an eye on, but he never had the courage to start anything.

After all, although Cui Yunqing looked like he was young, ignorant and easy to mislead, his teacher was fairly influential in the circle. If he wasn’t careful, Deputy Director Ma might just make a mess for himself before even getting to sample the goods.

But after drinking today, his dirty little heart couldn’t help but speed up with agitation.

It beat even faster as he thought about the drug that he received from a friend of his yesterday.

In the end, this was a boy. Even if Cui Yunqing didn’t enjoy what he did, Deputy Director Ma could just take some photos to threaten him into keeping his mouth shut.

There were plenty of artists who were forced to clench their teeth and swallow back the blood rising in their throats.

Even if they were celebrities, that didn’t mean they couldn’t feel shame.

If the photos got leaked, their entire career would be over.

Deputy Director Ma believed it would work the more he thought about it. The alcohol in his system and the drug in his pocket gave him a much needed boost of courage. He sent off the others when he got on the elevator. But instead of going to his own floor, he pressed the button for Cui Yunqing’s floor.

After getting in so easily, there was no reason for Deputy Director Ma to assume that there would be anyone else in Cui Yunqing’s room in the middle of the night. His vision was partially obscured by the partition. He relaxed even more once the door was locked. He immediately turned around to touch the young man’s hand.

Cui Yunqing: “Was it only my part that was changed or did Shi-laoshi and the others’ parts change as well? If there are revisions to Shi-laoshi’s part, he……”

When he was about to suggest that they might as well read the script together since Shi-laoshi just happened to be in his room as well, Deputy Director Ma interrupted his words by jerking his hand forward.

“Little Cui, you’re a good kid with good acting skills. If you had another reliable backer, then you can really achieve anything in the future.”

Cui Yunqing didn’t feel there was anything wrong when he was touched at first. After all, he was a man. Even if he knew about those unspeakable things, he subconsciously assumed that they only took place between a man and a woman.

It was only when Deputy Director Ma tried to push him onto the sofa while talking and fondling him that he reacted.

“Director Ma! What are you trying to do?!”

Goosebumps rose all across his body. He threw off the deputy director’s hands and tried to run, but the other man grabbed him by the waist and threw him onto the small sofa.

“Little Cui, I really do like you. I was the one who arranged for you to join the cast in the first place. If you can be good and obedient for me now, I’ll return the favour later…..”

“You’re drunk, director! I’m a man too! Let me go already!”

Deputy Director Ma had no reason to let go.

He had considerable experience in these sordid affairs. It only took him three moves at most to press Cui Yunqing onto the ground. While holding his there, he took out the drug from his pocket.

As he rummaged around for it, he felt that something wasn’t right.

Why did his back feel so chilly?

The deputy director absentmindedly turned his head……

–And saw two people standing there.

Shi Qing and Jing Yuanqi were right behind him observing him silently.

“Aaahhh!!!”

The fat director was so scared that he fell off Cui Yunqing with a thump.

Cui Yunqing, who escaped from his fate, scrambled up from the ground with a pale and bloodless face. He darted behind the two of them like a rabbit.

While he was frozen by indecision, Cui Yunqing heard Shi Qing’s freezing voice: “You only know to be cautious now? Why didn’t you investigate what kind of trash was involved in this project beforehand?”

The little fool called Cui Yunqing suddenly widened his eyes: “Shi-laoshi, did you remove me from my role before because of Director Ma?”

“En.”

Shi Qing glanced at Deputy Director Ma who was still on the ground with clear disgust in his eyes:

“He’s been after you for a while.”

Deputy Director Ma who was clonked on the head by this big pot that materialized out of thin air: “???”

His ill intentions were formed very recently okay?!

Although he has schemed against others for a long time, Cui Yunqing wasn’t one of them ah.

He struggled to get up: “Don’t speak nonsense. I didn’t……”

With a dark expression, the film emperor mercilessly stomped on the tool Deputy Director Ma used to commit his crimes.

“Scum.”

“Oohhh–”

The unbearable pain that no living creature could endure made Deputy Director Ma shut his mouth. He covered the injured area and howled as he rolled around on the ground.

From the side, Jing Yuanqi squinted. “So the reason you prevented me from entering the cast was also because of him?”

[Ding! Jing Yuanqi’s animosity value: 78/100]

An inexplicable wave of joy flooded Jing Yuanqi’s heart as he confirmed that ‘Shi Qing really wasn’t a bad person’. However, there was also a sense of loss because it meant that ‘he wasn’t acting against me because he was interested in me’.

“Now you’re just slandering me!”

Deputy Director Ma heard what Jing Yuanqi said and forced himself to climb up with great difficulty.

He wasn’t stupid. There was no way he would try this on anyone with powerful people backing them. It was obvious at first glance that Jing Yuanqi in particular was not someone to be messed with. No matter how handsome he was, there were at least five young masters propping him up. He would be commiting suicide if he went after him.

He trembled as he tried to explain himself: “How could I…… Ooohhhh!!!!!”

The gloomy film emperor brought his foot down again: “Tell the truth.”

“I really didn’t…… Oooohhhhh!!!”

Shi Qing ground his foot against the ground. His voice remained calm and unaffected, “Did you?”

“You’re trying to force me to confess to something I didn’t……Ohohohhhh!!!”

“Yes or no?”

Deputy Director Ma’s legs were trembling. He finally understood that the happiness in the next half of his life was at stake.

With sweat and tears flowing down his face, he nodded desperately: “I did!! I did!!!”

“I’m sorry I’m sorry I won’t do it anymore! Wuwuwuwu.”

The tears of a beautiful man were like a soothing balm for the eyes.

The tears of a bald, fat and lewd middle-aged man were more like acid.

Shi Qing withdrew his foot.

“Why are you apologizing to me,” he said.

With a face filled with tears and snot, the deputy director turned around while shivering non-stop.

His heart was more bitter than medicinal herbs and more wronged than Dou'e. He wanted to swear up and down that it would sooner snow in July before he dared to have intentions towards Jing Yuanqi.

But he could only lick his wounds and endure due to the threat of having his family lineage stomped out.

With teary eyes, he apologized to Jing Yuanqi:

“Yes, I’m sorry……”

He broke down and wailed:

“I wanted to do you wuwuwuwuwuwu.”

Author’s note:

Deputy Director Ma: I don’t want to do Jing Yuanqi.

Little Shi Qing: No. You do.

Summary:

That night back at the hotel, Shi Qing tells the System that the reason he approached Cui Yunqing was because the original owner tried to bar him from the production as well. He also reveals that in the original storyline, Cui Yunqing’s career would suffer a fatal blow when he was caught in a scandal involving intimate pictures when he was 20. Shi Qing is planning to prevent this incident and show Jing Yuanqi that he isn’t a bad person.

Shi Qing invited himself into Cui Yunqing’s room under the pretense of rehearsing the script with him. Jing Yuanqi, who reserved the room next to MC and was basically stalking him, followed him there. The two of them retired to the bedroom, leaving Cui Yunqing standing in the middle of his living room. They flirt a bit, but are interrupted as a third person knocks on the door.

Deputy Director Ma has improper intentions towards Cui Yunqing. He goes to his room tonight after returning from drinking with the other crew members. He couldn’t see Shi Qing and Jing Yuanqi because there was a partition separating the bedroom from the living room. He tries to push down Cui Yunqing and drug him, but Shi Qing and Jing Yuanqi who were in the bedroom stopped him. The two newer actors misunderstand Shi Qing’s attempts to remove them from the cast as protecting them from this lecher who goes after inexperienced artists. Shi Qing steps on him a few times and forces the deputy director to admit that he was targeting Jing Yuanqi as well when he really wasn’t. Jing Yuanqi had too much clout for him to dare to do so. Our ML’s animosity value drops to 78/100 after hearing about this.

Wow this part seemed to go on forever. Next chapter will be on Sunday.