Xie Guan’s hand trembled violently, and the wine glass he failed to hold securely fell to the ground with a loud crash.
“Don’t panic,” Huo Mingjun said calmly, “If you really were Cheng Sheng, I wouldn’t have waited until now to meet you.”
Xie Guan breathed a sigh of relief, his ears still echoing with his tense and noisy heartbeat. “Ancestors, please don’t breathe so heavily when you speak.”
Seeing that he still had the energy to make sarcastic remarks, Huo Mingjun wasn’t annoyed and felt a bit reassured. “Last year to confirm your identity, I brought Cheng Sheng’s parents from their hometown to here. They are the couple you saw in the restaurant that day. His biological parents are more familiar with Cheng Sheng than I am. They confirmed that you are not him, and that’s the final result.”
“Well, considering how different I am from him, it might really just be a coincidence,” Xie Guan sighed. “He was a good kid, what a pity.”
“So…” Huo Mingjun started.
“Alright, you don’t need to explain any further. I understand what you mean,” Xie Guan leaned back and relaxed against the back of the chair. His expression was relieved with a hint of subtle embarrassment, “I misunderstood before, thinking you were using me as an emotional substitute, which seemed absurd. After hearing the story today, I realized I was too narrow-minded.”
Huo Mingjun furrowed his brow. “Stop overthinking. What do you have to worry about?”
Seeing the puzzled look on his face, Xie Guan couldn’t help but smile. “Alright. Now that you’ve explained everything, I feel much better. Even if you once mistook me for Cheng Sheng, I won’t be angry. Let’s turn the page on this chapter, alright?”
“Live well, don’t forget him, and don’t waste the sacrifice he made.”
Xie Guan filled his empty bowl with wine, lifted it, and raised a toast to Huo Mingjun from a distance. “To Cheng Sheng.”
Huo Mingjun also raised his glass in response, “To Cheng Sheng.”
That day, Xie Guan ended up getting quite drunk. In the end, it was Huo Mingjun who didn’t touch a drop of alcohol that personally drove him back. When the car stopped downstairs, Huo Mingjun woke up the drowsy Xie Guan, opened the rear car door, and helped him out. Seeing that Xie Guan couldn’t walk a straight line as soon as his feet touched the ground and his knees were weak, Huo Mingjun remembered the unforgettable memory of that night. He couldn’t help but sigh, “Let’s make it clear from the start. This time you’ll go upstairs obediently, no nonsense allowed.”
Xie Guan was still a bit dizzy. His reaction tunes were slow, but he wasn’t completely out of his mind. He pushed away the hand offered by Huo Mingjun, saying, “No need to help, I can walk myself—”
Before he could finish speaking, he staggered straight into the car door.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Huo Mingjun quickly reached out to stop him, draped one of his arms over his own shoulder, and embraced half of his body to lead Xie Guan upstairs. “Such an unreliable guy. Don’t let me catch you drinking again. Even if you do, don’t come looking for me.”
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“How else do you want me to coax you?” Huo Mingjun held onto his slender waist and gently lifted him up another step, “Or should I carry you upstairs?”
Xie Guan couldn’t stop laughing, “No, this is already the third floor, too much effort. Let’s go back to the first floor and start over.”
“Start over, my foot,” Huo Mingjun lightly slapped his waist, “You’ll only exhaust me… Watch your step, don’t fall.”
Although his words weren’t very gentle, his tone was indulgent and accompanied by a smile, conveying a sense of both helplessness and sweetness.
Somewhat dizzy, Xie Guan looked up at his face from below. Indeed, Huo Mingjun’s appearance could rival that of A-list stars in the entertainment industry. Even from this peculiar angle, one could still discern his aesthetic appeal.
After much effort, the two finally made it to the front door. Xie Guan obediently opened his hands, allowing Huo Mingjun to retrieve the keys from his pocket. Huo Mingjun pushed Xie Guan into the house, closing the door with one hand while asking, “Sit in the living room for a bit, or head straight to bed…”
He didn’t finish his sentence. In his drunken stupor, Xie Guan pounced on him, making a loud noise as he pressed Huo Mingjun against the security door.
This textbook-perfect kabedon, coupled with the unfinished sentence, suddenly transformed the atmosphere into something indescribable.
They stood face to face, with Huo Mingjun towering over Xie Guan by about half a head. Huo Mingjun leaned back slightly, with his back pressed against the door panel. This was probably the first time he saw someone who dared to force him into a corner. The expression on his face was a bit intriguing: “Huh?”
Looking up at his face from below, Xie Guan could see that Huo Mingjun’s appearance was indeed not inferior to the top celebrities in the entertainment industry.
Xie Guan’s eyes were veiled with a layer of mist. Due to dizziness, his pupils struggled to focus, and his gaze appeared somewhat scattered. He leisurely sized up Huo Mingjun from his forehead to his chest, his gaze resembling two soft, fluffy brushes that settled on him.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you,” Xie Guan raised his hand and lightly brushed the side of Huo Mingjun’s face with the back of his hand, “Being so handsome, don’t always put on a serious face, it’s such a waste. Smile more.”
Although the back of Xie Guan’s hand was chilly, the gentle touch on the sensitive facial skin caused the sensation to burn straight into his heart.
Huo Mingjun reflexively grabbed his hand.
It was originally a defensive move, but Huo Mingjun didn’t exert much force. Xie Guan’s hand turned half a circle within his loosely clasped palm and met palm to palm, softly gripping his fingers and intermittently squeezing them.
“I can see that you have deep feelings for Cheng Sheng. You haven’t given up hope even after ten years. Although you never say it, it must be tough for you after knowing that I’m not him,” Xie Guan said.
“You’ve been apologizing to me all along, but what about you? Is there anyone comforting you?”
Huo Mingjun was stunned, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
Xie Guan opened his arms and straightforwardly said, “Come on, it’s my turn to comfort you.”
Before Huo Mingjun could fully understand the meaning of these words, he was embraced.
Xie Guan gave him a comforting hug like an old friend. The warm and trembling breath brushed across his ears, neck, and nape. Huo Mingjun heard him gently say, “It’s all in the past, it’s okay now, don’t be sad.”
After the completion of Youth of Martial Arts, Xie Guan rested at home for just over half a month before immediately preparing for the movie Rising Tide of the Blue Sea. The initial casting for Bai Luzhou was completed, and the first draft of the script was finalized. Xie Guan’s role was upgraded to the second male lead, and the antagonist roles were integrated, with Yue Qinglu ultimately confirmed as the main antagonist in the film.
Xie Guan just finished the special training for Tai Chi, and now he was starting to learn a new routine with the martial arts instructor. Additionally, there were reshoots for scenes in Youth of Martial Arts. Following Director Bai’s requirements, he had to study the characters, read the script, and focus on physical conditioning. The entire month of March flew by in a busy blur. As the preparations for April came to a close, he received an invitation from He Run Tiancheng before Xie Guan could catch his breath.
Due to the success of the TV adaptation, Rising Tide of the Blue Sea was considered one of the most promising IPs in recent years. He Run Tiancheng in collaboration with Apple Literature Network and online streaming platforms, planned to hold a cooperation launch ceremony and a press conference for the movie version of Rising Tide of the Blue Sea. They invited Bai Luzhou and several main actors in the film.
Xie Guan’s career was on an upswing, and Lin Yao was contemplating whether to give him more endorsements to maintain his visibility before joining new projects. The film announcement event would be attended by many industry professionals, providing an opportunity for Xie Guan to familiarize himself with these influential figures. If he could make a positive impression in front of these leaders, it would greatly benefit Xie Guan’s future career.
Therefore, Lin Yao specifically instructed Huang Cheng and Xie Guan to handle their appearance with care. Their clothing, accessories, and overall appearance should be meticulously arranged, leaving no room for a negative first impression.
Events like these typically required formal wear, and for artists, it was best to wear branded ready-to-wear or haute couture. It not only showed respect but also increased attention in the fashion industry. Xie Guan didn’t have many opportunities like this in recent years and rarely wore formal wear. The two suits he owned were from a mid-to-high-end brand a couple of years ago. They were no longer suitable, so Xie Guan thought he should buy a new outfit soon. However, he got caught up with some dubbing issues for Director Pang, and in the hustle and bustle, he forgot about this matter.
Two days before the press conference, while Xie Guan was still in the recording studio, Lin Yao called to ask how his preparations were going. Xie Guan was momentarily stunned, realizing he had forgotten about the matter. Feeling a bit guilty, he was about to play it off with a casual response when Huang Cheng walked into the lounge holding two coat racks covered with dust proof covers.
“A Mr. Zhong sent these clothes over, saying they are for you,” Huang Cheng hung the clothes on the rack and placed several bags on the table. Puzzled, Xie Guan asked, “What clothes?”
He walked over, uncovered the garments, and found two suits—one black and one deep blue. After checking the label, looking at the familiar string of English letters, Xie Guan hesitated and asked Lin Yao with less confidence, “Sister Lin, did you help me borrow these clothes?”
Confused, she asked, “Clothes? What clothes? No, I didn’t.”
Only his assistant and manager were aware of his schedule. Lin Yao denied involvement, and with the magnitude of this gesture, Xie Guan began to form a guess.
After briefly reassuring Lin Yao with a few words, Xie Guan put down his phone and asked Huang Cheng, “Did the person who delivered the clothes say who asked him to bring them?”
Huang Cheng replied, “I asked, and he said you would know when you saw them.
As expected. Xie Guan felt a sense of relief. The taste in his heart was somewhat bittersweet—besides Huo Mingjun, there was no one else who cared so much about these trivial matters.
The suits were from a top-tier luxury brand, and not only that, but everything from the tie to the shoes, including accessories like cufflinks, tie pins, and even cologne was included. Besides these items, there was a beautifully packaged box about the size of a palm. Inside was an exquisite, slightly thin, and mechanical style watch.
While the clothes and shoes might add up to around a hundred thousand yuan, when factoring in the watch, the total cost might soar into seven figures.
Xie Guan looked troubled facing this pile of items, appearing somewhat at a loss. After observing for a moment, Huang Cheng suggested, “Why not try them on first? Time is tight, and we might not have time to buy clothes now.”
Xie Guan lifted his eyes faintly, glanced at him, then lowered his head again, sighing, “Let’s try.”
Seeing that he finally agreed, Huang Cheng quickly stepped forward to help him change.
Surprisingly, all the clothes and shoes were a perfect fit.
After putting on the jacket and adjusting the cuffs, Xie Guan casually asked Huang Cheng, “Are you actually working for Huo Mingjun?”
Caught off guard by his sudden attack, Huang Cheng’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately denied it, “No.”
“I’ve never taken you to meet him,” Xie Guan calmly adjusted his tie, turned around, and with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, said, “At this point, you should be asking me, ‘Who is Huo Mingjun?'”
Lol, poor Huang Cheng got caught. Thank you for the chapter (´,,•ω•,,)♡
Damn he’s smart
Uh oh busted 😂 xie guan is too quick-witted haha