Chapter 419 (Combined with 4192)
April 19:
Before graduating with his master's degree and returning to China, Li Wen vaguely felt that his friend seemed to have someone he liked hidden in his heart.
The reason it is described as ambiguous is that Qin Cheng did not give him a definite answer at that time.
Li Wen still remembers that everyone was very happy after their thesis defense.
He went to Qin Cheng specifically to tell him that he had found a delicious Chinese restaurant.
Qin Cheng was too lazy to go there, so he called and asked them to deliver the food to his apartment.
They ate together and drank some wine. Towards the end of the meal, when they talked about finally graduating and going back to China, Qin Cheng's expression softened considerably.
He took the opportunity to pour him a few more drinks and chatted with him. It was during this time that they started talking about their plans after returning to China.
He said, "I'll come find you then. I'll repay this life-saving grace with all my heart. I'll do anything for you, even if I can't be your ox or horse."
Qin Cheng smiled and glanced at him, clearly not taking it seriously.
Li Wen didn't say much to him. Anyway, when he arrived at the Mu Group, Qin Cheng would know that he hadn't lied to him.
"When you get back, will you go straight to your family's company?" he asked.
Qin Cheng nodded.
Li Wen raised his glass again and clinked glasses with him, saying, "Congratulations, President Qin! You're amazing, President Qin!"
Qin Cheng corrected him, "Not President Qin, just General Manager."
“That’s still impressive,” Li Wen said.
Upon hearing this, Qin Cheng also picked up his wine glass and lightly clinked it with his.
Li Wen looked at the bracelet that swayed gently as he clinked glasses with her. The bracelet was beautiful and shimmered faintly under the light.
Qin Cheng had been wearing this bracelet since the day he first met Qin Cheng, no matter when or what he was doing.
But he had no other similar ornaments on him.
The only jade Guanyin pendant he owned looked more like a gift from an elder.
So this bracelet actually seems a bit out of place.
In particular, the bracelet has letters on it.
Li Wen remembered that when she first noticed him, she leaned closer to try and turn the bracelet on his wrist so she could see the letters pressed against his wrist.
But before his fingers could even touch her, Qin Cheng moved his wrist away.
He looked at him, seemingly somewhat dissatisfied.
Li Wen explained, "I just wanted to see if there were two letters on it. What letters?"
Qin Cheng: ...
Qin Cheng did not reply to him.
Later, Li Wen finally noticed that it was C and X, like an abbreviation of a name.
Is it the initials of the person who gave him this bracelet?
Is her surname Chen or Cheng?
Is the surname Xu or Xue?
Li Wen didn't ask, thinking that even if he asked Qin Cheng, he might not tell him.
But at this moment, Li Wen looked at the bracelet on his wrist that was faintly reflecting light.
His alcohol-fueled brain suddenly became very curious, "Qin Cheng, do you have someone you like?"
Qin Cheng was taken aback.
He didn't expect Li Wen to suddenly ask this question.
His drinking motion paused slightly as a result.
But in the blink of an eye, he lowered his head again, drank the wine in his glass, and said in a detached tone, "I don't want to be in a relationship for the time being."
"Because of the person you like?" Li Wen asked softly.
Qin Cheng: !!!
Qin Cheng felt a "smack" sound, as if a thunderclap had exploded into the lake.
He looked at Li Wen, not having time to refute or deny it, but asked in confusion and surprise: Did he know something?
In that moment of silence, Li Wen was surprised to find that he seemed to have guessed correctly.
Before he could ask further, he heard Qin Cheng say, "Why would you think that?"
"Because you've been wearing that bracelet the whole time, but you don't look like someone who likes things like that."
Qin Cheng: ...
Qin Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought he had found out something, but it turned out it was just because of the bracelet.
Qin Cheng glanced at him, wanting to say: This was a gift from my younger brother, but because he felt guilty, he was afraid that Li Wen would realize that Ye Qingxi was the person he liked.
So he simply said in a helpless tone, "You're overthinking it."
"Huh?" Li Wen thought to himself, "Did I guess wrong?"
But Qin Cheng really did fall silent because of his question!
If he didn't have anyone he liked, why did he remain silent after asking that question?
He could have directly refuted himself!
Why didn't he directly refute himself?
Even after a period of silence, he didn't directly refute himself, but instead asked him why he thought that way.
When did Qin Cheng become so concerned about other people's opinions?
Hasn't he always stuck to his own opinion?
Li Wen's mind was in a mess.
He had drunk quite a bit, so his mind was unusually slow, but he was still intelligent, so even though it was slow, his logical thinking hadn't completely disappeared.
After that, Qin Cheng easily changed the subject, and Li Wen didn't ask any more questions.
It wasn't until Li Wen woke up the next day and was fully awake that he remembered the matter again and realized that Qin Cheng might actually have someone he liked hidden in his heart.
Li Wen couldn't understand. With his looks, intelligence, status, and education, what kind of person could make him love her but unable to express it?
To put it bluntly, the fact that he's taken a liking to her is a real blessing for her.
What is there that he's embarrassed to say?
Or perhaps the two were together before but have now broken up, so even if Qin Cheng likes her, he is unwilling to admit it?
Or perhaps, it's not that he's unwilling to admit it, but rather that he can't admit it—if his ex-girlfriend now has a new boyfriend.
Therefore, her ex-boyfriend naturally could no longer say that he liked her.
Therefore, Li Wen even asked Zhong Yan this question after adding him on WeChat.
"Has Qin Cheng ever been in a relationship before?" He pretended to be gossipy.
Zhong Yan thought he was genuinely gossipy and replied, "Of course not."
Zhong Yan: [Look at him, does he look like he's ever been in a relationship? What does dating have to do with him?]
Li Wenxin said: Yes, there are some, you just don't know it.
Li Wen: [Is it possible that he did talk to her, but you didn't know?]
Zhong Yan: ? ? ?
Zhong Yan thought, "How could this be!"
Zhong Yan: [Please! We've known each other since we were kids! Forget about dating, I know exactly who his friends are, except for you, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere!]
Li Wen: ...Then it seems we really haven't talked about it.
They've never been in a relationship, never broken up, yet they've always kept each other in their hearts.
Is this a real crush?!
Given his appearance, status, intelligence, popularity, and even personality, it's hard for Li Wen to believe that he was too embarrassed to speak up because he felt unworthy of the other person.
That means he can't speak.
I dare not speak.
But what kind of person could make him unable to speak, afraid to speak?
Then consider the bracelet he cherished and wore for eight years, and his various actions towards Ye Qingxi.
The answer is obvious.
Who else could it be?
Of course, it was his nominal younger brother, Ye Qingxi, who was also a man.
Li Wen looked at the person on the other end of the video and saw the same silence on his face that Qin Cheng had shown when he asked, "Because of the person you like in your heart," a silence that shouldn't have appeared.
This is the benefit of video.
Sometimes a person's instantaneous reaction is far more honest than their words.
Qin Cheng was stunned for two seconds, his heart suddenly filled with a huge wave of shock.
The water splashed so loudly it was deafening.
The shock almost made him forget his own heartbeat.
I forgot what I was supposed to say at that moment.
But he always reacts very quickly.
No matter how much turmoil she felt inside, she always maintained a calm and composed demeanor on the surface.
Therefore, he calmly asked, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Am I talking nonsense?" Li Wen looked at him. "If I were talking nonsense, you would be angry by now, wouldn't you?"
How can you still talk to me like that?
“I’m giving your brother a ticket to a roadshow. It doesn’t affect your brother at all, but you’ll still be angry and dissatisfied, and you won’t be able to suppress your anger.”
"Now, I'm saying you like him, and I've thrown such a huge bucket of mud at you both. Yet you can still speak to me in such a calm and collected tone, which already speaks volumes."
"Qin Cheng, you are indeed very smart and good at hiding your true feelings, but it is precisely because you are too smart and too rational in your concealment that you make yourself seem out of place."
Qin Cheng: ...
Qin Cheng unconsciously grasped the hand that was hanging by his side.
"Do you think you're very smart?" he countered.
Li Wen shook his head, "But he's definitely not stupid either, otherwise he wouldn't have graduated from F University like you."
"Don't worry, he's my savior. If you don't want him to know, then I definitely won't tell him, really, so you don't need to worry."
“Besides, I’m a very proper person,” Li Wen said. “I already know you like him, so naturally I won’t have any intimate contact with him. So you don’t need to worry about whether I like him or not. I was just joking that day, who would have thought you would take it seriously?! And remember it so well. Don’t worry, even if there are only the two of us left in the world, I will be his loyal Friday, and I will never be Adam and Eve.”
Qin Cheng: ...
Qin Cheng said speechlessly, "Shut up."
Hearing the suppressed anger in his tone, Li Wen thought to himself, "That's more like it!"
This is clearly a genuine expression of emotion without any pretense.
Unlike before, this was not his normal reaction at all.
"Okay, I'll hang up now," Li Wen said cheerfully.
"Wait a minute," Qin Cheng said again.
He looked at the person on the other end of his video call and said, "I'll be going to the roadshow tomorrow too."
Li Wen: Oh my god, I almost forgot about that.
“Okay,” Li Wen replied.
He hung up the phone and said goodbye to Li Hong.
Li Hong: ? ? ? One more?
Li Hong asked, puzzled, "Who else are you going to bring?"
“My friend, Ye Qingxi’s brother. I already told you, I only know him because of his brother.”
"So Ye Qingxi is really coming tomorrow?"
"certainly."
Li Hong: !
"Could you send me his WeChat ID?"
"What do you want to do?" Li Wen asked curiously.
"Well, since he's already here, I just wanted him to help me out so we could both trend on social media together."
Li Wen: ...
Li Wen said, "I can't make that decision."
“Then ask him,” Li Hong said.
Li Wen: ...
Since he was his cousin after all, Li Wen could only agree, "Then I'll give it a try."
After hanging up the phone, he sent Ye Qingxi a message: "My cousin heard I was really going to bring you along and wants to add you on WeChat. Are you willing? PS: He wants to trend on social media with you."
Ye Qingxi looked at his Photoshop and smiled.
He replied: 【Sure.】
This is not a big deal.
Besides, he's already helping Li Hong promote his movie. When it's released, wouldn't Li Hong help him promote it too?
We're all in the same circle, so mutual benefit is a very worthwhile thing.
In particular, Li Wen is his brother's friend, and Li Hong is Li Wen's brother.
Since everyone knows each other, there's even less reason to refuse.
Li Hong quickly sent the application.
Ye Qingxi passed without hesitation.
Li Hong asked him, "Are you really coming with Xiao Wen tomorrow?"
Ye Qingxi: [Mm.]
Li Hong: [I thought he was just saying it casually, I didn't expect you to actually agree, you really gave him face.]
Ye Qingxi: [Mainly because I'm quite interested in this movie, even if they don't give me tickets, I'll buy them myself.]
Li Hong: [So, after you finish watching the movie, could you please not be in such a hurry to leave? Since you're already here, why not interact with us a bit?]
Ye Qingxi: [Of course. Otherwise, why would I bother with roadshows? I could just wait for the premiere.]
The biggest difference, and its greatest advantage, of a roadshow is that the main creators will appear after the film screening, allowing them to interact with the audience, answer their questions, and resolve their doubts.
Ye Qingxi was prepared to interact with the main creators from the very beginning when she planned to participate in this roadshow.
—That way, when his movie goes on promotional tour, those who have supported him before will come to support him if they have time.
I not only got to see the movie I wanted to see, but I also laid the groundwork for future movie promotions.
Li Hong was surprised that he agreed so readily, and felt that he was indeed as rumored, not only with outstanding business skills but also with a good temper.
He said, "Then when your next movie comes out, I'll go to your movie promotion event."
Ye Qingxi: [Okay, I hope my filming won't be too bad.]
Li Hong encouraged him, saying, "Definitely. I watched 'Midsummer' before, and it was indeed very well-made and full of inspiration; you couldn't tell it was directed by a new director at all."
He said, "We could collaborate sometime, Director Ye."
Ye Qingxi smiled and said: 【Okay~】
The next day, after Ye Qingxi finished filming the scenes on the call sheet, she handed over the remaining tasks to Chen Xiang and got into the car Qin Cheng had come to pick her up.
Li Wen knew that Ye Qingxi's identity meant she couldn't arrive too early, so he timed it perfectly.
The three of them happened to meet and arrived at the theater right on time.
Li Hong had already asked his assistant to wait in advance.
Seeing that Li had smelled it, he gave him the ticket.
Li Wen led Ye Qingxi and the others inside, and the three of them sat down in the best viewing area of the theater, waiting for the movie to start.
Ye Qingxi took a sip of cola and was about to eat popcorn when she noticed that the movie's pre-roll ads had ended.
He quickly put down the popcorn bucket and began to concentrate on watching the screen.
The film's opening was ingenious, employing a narrative trick before gradually propelling the plot forward until it reached its climax. The background music was perfectly timed, and the director's cinematography was truly stunning, prompting Ye Qingxi to exclaim: "As expected of a great director, he really has some talent."
Two hours passed by so easily, overwhelmed by the film's captivating content.
Looking at the credits at the end of the film, Ye Qingxi thought that Li Hong was indeed good at choosing scripts, and of course, his acting skills were worthy of the scripts.
As soon as the lights in the theater came on, the main creative team entered the theater one after another.
The staff helped bring chairs for them to sit down, and the host began to introduce the main cast and the audience.
Ye Qingxi didn't rush to raise her hand, but instead let the other audience members interact with the director and lead actors first.
After the director and Li Hong answered several questions, he finally raised his hand and began to interact with them about the plot.
He offered his own interpretation of a relatively difficult and obscure passage in the film, and asked the director and Li Hong if his interpretation was correct.
Li Hong said with delight, "It seems I acted quite well and didn't cause any misunderstandings. That's really how it is."
The director was also pleasantly surprised, not expecting him to come here.
The audience stared at him in astonishment, struggling to suppress their screams. After the promotional event ended and they left the theater, one couldn't help but post on Weibo: 【Ahhhhhh I saw Ye Qingxi at Li Hong's promotional event!!! He was right two rows behind me!! So handsome! Really so handsome!】
Ye Qingxi's fans rushed to the scene upon hearing the news: [Really? Are there any photos?]
Blogger: [I didn't take any pictures, but my friend did; I'll go ask for them.]
Shortly after, the blogger posted a photo of Ye Qingxi.
Ye Qingxi's fans started interacting with her again.
With many people posting on Weibo and Ye Qingxi's fans being highly active, the hashtag #YeQingxiGoesToLiHong'sMovieRoadshow# quickly became a trending topic.
Netizens exclaimed in surprise: "[They actually know each other?]"
Even if you don't know it, you can still go see it!
[Exactly! Ye Qingxi is a director now, maybe she went to see Li Hong's acting skills and wants to work with him on her next project!]
【Ahhhh! Looking forward to collaborating!】
[If we're collaborating, could you also act in something, Ye Qingxi? With a face like yours, it's such a waste that you're not acting!]
[Absolutely! You can continue acting even if you become a director, [pointing and gesturing.jpg]]
[Good news: Ye Qingxi has returned to the entertainment industry after graduating from a top university in China! Bad news: He's moved behind the scenes QAQ]
Ye Qingxi: ...
Ye Qingxi was both amused and exasperated.
"This way," said Li Hong's assistant.
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingxi put away her phone and went backstage with Li Wen and Qin Cheng.
When Li Hong saw them, he stood up and walked over to them.
"How was it?" he asked. "Director Ye, did I do a good job?"
Ye Qingxi nodded. "Very good."
"And what about me?" the director asked, looking at him. "Director Ye, I think my directing was alright, wasn't it?"
Ye Qingxi: ? ? ?
Looking at the senior colleague who was more than thirty years older than her, Ye Qingxi was once again at a loss for words, "Director Cai, please stop teasing me."
Director Cai glanced at him and said, "I'm not joking with you, Director Ye. You're a director now. I'm just humbly listening to my colleagues' opinions."
Ye Qingxi smiled and said, "How could I dare to comment on you?"
"You're saying that? Your dad would dare to do it!"
His father clearly refers to Feng Que.
Hearing his words, Ye Qingxi smiled and said, "Then you should wait for him to come back and let him give his evaluation."
The backstage area instantly erupted in joyful laughter.
Ye Qingxi chatted with Li Hong and Director Cai for a while. Knowing that they had also worked hard, she didn't talk for too long. After wishing them great box office success, she left.
Li Wen looked at him, wanting to talk to him the whole way, but couldn't find an opportunity to talk to him alone.
Li Wen: ...
He said we couldn't bring Qin Cheng!
After getting off the elevator and retrieving his car, Li Wen parted ways with Ye Qingxi in despair and returned home.
He took a shower and changed his clothes, then suddenly had a brilliant idea. He messaged Ye Qingxi: "[Qingxi, I have a question for you.]"
【What?】 Ye Qingxi had just returned to her bedroom.
After changing into his pajamas, he noticed that Li Wen was asking about the movie and asked in confusion, "Why didn't you ask your brother?"
Li Hongke was the lead actor, so naturally he understood the meaning of that part of the movie better than Li Hongke.
Li Wen replied to him: "It's not like I asked him, and he's going to get cocky and mock me, saying, 'Oh, a top student from F University, and you don't even know this?'"
Li Wen: [I didn't really want to give him that chance, but on the way back, I was reviewing this part and there were some things I didn't understand. The director's filming techniques were also a bit confusing, so I thought I'd ask you, since you're a professional too.]
Seeing this, Ye Qingxi explained it to him.
Li Wen then started talking to him.
After receiving the answer, he thanked him, saying, "You're really professional! Why didn't you apply to film school back then?"
Ye Qingxi: [Of course, it's because Peking University is one of the top two universities in the country. If I can't get in, so be it; but if I can, of course I'll go.]
Li Wen: [Then why didn't you go to University A? I remember your brother went to University A.]
Ye Qingxi was very frank: "My physics isn't that great, so I chose humanities, and that's why I chose Peking University, which has a stronger humanities program."
Li Wen: [Then why didn't you pursue further studies after graduation?]
Ye Qingxi: [Of course I'm lazy.]
Li Wen laughed.
He felt that Ye Qingxi was a very genuine and refreshing person.
He stopped typing and made a video call to Ye Qingxi.
Ye Qingxi answered the call with a puzzled look, and saw Li Wen drying his hair with a towel.
He explained, "I was too lazy to blow-dry after taking a shower, so I just wiped it off. It wasn't completely dry, so it kept dripping wet while I was typing, so I had to keep wiping it."
Ye Qingxi understood; he needed to dry his hair, so he didn't have a hand to type.
Li Wen, with a gossipy look on his face, asked him, "Has your brother ever been in a relationship before?"
Ye Qingxi: ? ? ?
Li Wen: "He was quite popular when we were abroad, so he must have been quite popular when he was in college, right?"
Ye Qingxi nodded, "Mm."
"Didn't he date anyone?"
Ye Qingxi shook her head.
"And what about you?" Li Wen asked with a smile. "You haven't dated anyone either?"
Ye Qingxi: !!
“My brother hasn’t even started dating yet, so of course I’m not in a hurry.”
Li Wen: ? ? ?
“Have you ever thought that, given your brother’s ascetic and detached nature, he might spend his whole life working?”
Ye Qingxi: ? ? ?
Ye Qingxi had never thought of that.
"Probably not."
“That’s hard to say,” Li Wen said. “I’ve never seen him be enthusiastic towards anyone, except for you, of course. He’s quite considerate towards you.”
Ye Qingxi smiled and said, "That's true."
Looking at the smile on his face, Li Wen knew that he probably felt the same way.
"Have you ever thought about what kind of person you'd want as your sister-in-law?"
Ye Qingxi blinked; she really hadn't thought of that.
He said, "As long as my brother likes it, that's fine."
After saying that, she added, "Of course, she also has to like my brother."
"And what about you? Have you thought about your future partner?"
Ye Qingxi: ? ? ?
Ye Qingxi felt like she hadn't thought about it either.
"Are there any restrictions?" Li Wen asked.
"No, I don't think so," Ye Qingxi thought to herself.
"Whatever I like is fine."
"What if the other person was a man? Would you still accept that?"
Accept it.
Ye Qingxi nodded.
Although he would have preferred to be in love with a girl—that way, his grandfather would be happier.
But if he really falls in love with a man, like Pei Liang fell in love with Zhong Yan, then he can't bind himself for life and never get married.
If his grandfather finds out one day, he will definitely feel guilty and sad for him.
Ye Qingxi saw this very clearly. He knew that although his grandfather was sometimes sharp-tongued, he cared deeply about his children and hoped that they would live a happy life.
Especially him.
Therefore, Ye Qingxi would not compromise herself on such a major life event.
—If he wrongs himself, that will truly cause his grandfather lifelong suffering.
Li Wen looked at his gently nodding head and couldn't help but be surprised. Could he accept that?
Why is Qin Cheng so concerned about gender?
Qin Cheng does not allow men to like Ye Qingxi.
However, Ye Qingxi could clearly accept that her partner was a man.
What's going on?
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