Pretending Not to Love You [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Half an hour later, Xiao Baijun quietly opened Zuo Qiu’s bedroom door a crack, checked left and right for any movement, and finding the outside as quiet as when they entered, he slowly opened the door wider. He waved to Zuo Qiu on the bed, grabbed his jeans, and tiptoed out, slipping into the study room where he was staying.

Zuo Qiu looked at the just-closed door, lay for a while longer, and then slowly sat up, supporting his lower back, and began to clean up the “post-war battlefield.”

The combination of prolonged abstinence and eating a plate of chives made a certain person terrifying. Zuo Qiu figured if it weren’t for the inappropriate location, that person could have easily gone for two more rounds.

…

Waking up the next morning, Zuo Qiu had mostly recovered. He got up early and went around the house, finding that his parents had already gone out. He then went to the study room, planning to call Xiao Baijun to wake up.

Opening the study door, he saw Xiao Baijun sprawled out on the folding bed, lying on his back. He was only wearing a short T-shirt and shorts and had no covers on him. His T-shirt was even pulled up, exposing his white belly.

Zuo Qiu reached for the quilt on the side and placed it over his stomach. Although the house was warm as spring, it was still winter, and he could easily catch a cold. After covering him, Zuo Qiu paused. Wasn’t I going to wake him up? Why am I covering him up now? After a moment of internal debate, Zuo Qiu was defeated by the severe dark circles under Xiao Baijun’s eyes. Forget it. It’s still early. Let him sleep a little longer.

After standing for a while, Zuo Qiu turned to walk toward the door.

Just as Zuo Qiu was about to open the door and leave, the supposedly-sleeping Xiao Baijun jumped off the bed and hugged him from behind.

“Since Mom and Dad aren’t home, stay in bed with me for a bit,” Xiao Baijun whispered, breathing softly into Zuo Qiu’s ear.

Zuo Qiu was startled by Xiao Baijun’s sudden move. “No! My parents could be back at any moment.”

Being seen by his parents lying in bed together, both disheveled… he couldn’t even imagine it.

“Just ten minutes.” It had been a long time since they shared a bed. Xiao Baijun wanted to relive the moment.

Zuo Qiu looked at Xiao Baijun’s eager eyes and compromised a little. “Just one minute.” It wasn’t early, and his parents could return any minute. Just one minute to satisfy him.

Xiao Baijun embraced Zuo Qiu and walked toward the bed. One minute is one minute. No need to argue, he thought. Once they were in bed, whether it was one minute or ten minutes, he was the one who decided…

However, half a minute after the two squeezed onto the single folding bed, Zuo Qiu’s sharp ears caught the sound of a key turning in the front door lock. In a panic, he pushed Xiao Baijun away and leaped out of bed toward the door, while the poor Xiao Baijun, who was just embracing the warm, soft jade of his lover, was caught off guard and pushed straight onto the floor with a thud…

Zuo Qiu reached the door before realizing what the “thud” was. He turned back and saw Xiao Baijun lying sprawled out on the floor. At that moment, he didn’t care about his parents anymore. He quickly ran to Xiao Baijun’s side, helped lift his head, and asked, “Are you alright?”

“What happened to Jun-jun?” Yun Duo had just entered the front door when she heard her son’s anxious voice. Ignoring the matter of privacy, she pushed the door open and saw Xiao Baijun lying on the floor.

Xiao Baijun’s head had hit the floor, and he was still feeling a little dizzy. “Auntie, I’m fine. I just accidentally fell out of bed while I was sleeping.”

Even with a slightly foggy head, Xiao Baijun still maintained Zuo Qiu’s image in front of his mother-in-law.

Yun Duo smiled upon hearing this. “This folding bed is too small. You must not be used to it.”

Hearing this, Xiao Baijun was terrified that Yun Duo’s next sentence would be that the bed was too small and he should stay in a hotel. He quickly scrambled up and said, “No, no, I like this bed very much. The folding bed is great.”

Seeing that Xiao Baijun was fine, Yun Duo turned to walk out. “Alright then, if you like it. I was going to buy a double bed for you two, but since you’re used to this, never mind.”

Zuo Qiu had slept in the current single bed since childhood. Yun Duo wasn’t a stickler for unnecessary things. Since the two were officially dating now, there was nothing wrong with them sharing a bed. But since Jun-jun liked the small bed, she’d let them be.

Xiao Baijun, who was behind Yun Duo, heard the latter part of the conversation and immediately wanted to slap himself. Serves you right for talking too much! The duck is already in your mouth, but it flew away!

Zuo Qiu wanted to laugh at Xiao Baijun’s expression, but he didn’t agree with Xiao Baijun. Zuo Qiu felt he couldn’t bring himself to buy a double bed and openly show affection in front of his parents at this stage.

…

Life in W City was very leisurely. Starting from the third day after Xiao Baijun arrived, Zuo Qiu would take him out for a stroll every day. Xiao Baijun wasn’t interested in the historical sites or famous attractions. Instead, he was fascinated by the schools Zuo Qiu attended since childhood, his favorite breakfast shops, and even the library he often visited.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been to a library.”

He had visited all the schools Zuo Qiu attended and tasted the food at his regular breakfast spots. Now, the two were in the library Zuo Qiu frequented. In Xiao Baijun’s mind, a library was only a place for bookworms, yet he never expected it would one day become his dating spot.

Zuo Qiu didn’t speak; he just put his index finger to his mouth and quietly shushed him, indicating he should keep quiet.

Xiao Baijun looked around. Since it was a weekday and students were not on holiday, there were barely a few people in the library. Even if he spoke aloud, he wouldn’t disturb anyone!

Zuo Qiu wouldn’t let him speak loudly. Xiao Baijun decided that keeping quiet was fine, but doing something else must be okay, right? So, when Zuo Qiu turned to the last row of bookshelves to look for a book, Xiao Baijun seized the opportunity when no one was around and pressed Zuo Qiu against the bookshelf for a two-minute kiss.

…

With about ten days left until New Year’s Day, Zuo Qiu received a call from Ou Sheng. Wild Jun was officially scheduled to premiere on January 3rd, the third day of the New Year holiday, so promotional activities had to start.

At the dinner table that evening, Zuo Qiu told his parents about it. Ou Sheng had already booked their plane tickets, and they had to leave tomorrow afternoon.

Yun Duo was already very satisfied that her son could stay home for more than ten days. Although reluctant to see them go, she nodded in agreement.

After dinner, Xiao Baijun thoughtfully spoke up, “Uncle and Auntie, a lot of news about us might surface online in the coming period, and it will be accompanied by many unpleasant words. Please bear with it for a while.”

The strategy to deal with Lingqu had already been finalized. Xiao Baijun decided to let them release all their dirt first and then counterattack all at once. Therefore, they wouldn’t have peace for a long time, and their families would also be affected.

Zuo Qiu felt bad for his parents, knowing that many people in their school and residential community would be judging them.

“Mom and Dad, why don’t you take a leave of absence and stay at Grandma’s place for a while?”

Grandma lived in a small fishing village, where there were fewer people and the environment was simpler, so his parents would suffer less harm.

Yun Duo smiled when she heard this. She patted Zuo Qiu’s hand. “No need. Don’t worry about us, Dad and I are prepared. If things truly reach a point of no return, your father and I will just resign,” she said, then joked, “Anyway, the money my son has given me this past half year is enough for us to live for the rest of our lives.”

Zuo Qiu had transferred a substantial amount of money to Yun Duo over the past six months. Yun Duo and Zuo Qinmin were not big spenders, so if they were thrifty, it would definitely be enough for the rest of their lives.

Hearing his mother say this, Zuo Qiu’s eyes started to tear up. His parents had been teaching all their lives and loved their profession. Now, because of his career choice, they faced early retirement and would be scrutinized by countless people. Zuo Qiu felt terrible. If he hadn’t chosen to become an artist, perhaps their pain wouldn’t be this great.

“Mom, Dad, I’m sorry.”

Yun Duo shook her head, her voice still gentle. “Child, don’t talk nonsense. You need to understand one thing: your father and I have taught our whole lives, and you are our most proud student.”

Zuo Qiu burst into tears instantly.

…

As Wild Jun progressed to its second promotional stop, negative news about Xiao Baijun and Zuo Qiu began to surface online.

First, Y Network posted a sensational Weibo message: See you Wednesday. We’ll explain the reason for the “oversight” regarding a certain drama a while ago! The Weibo was accompanied by a silhouette of two boys standing together.

As soon as the Weibo was posted, many netizens speculated that it was an explanation for the delayed re-broadcast of I Think I Love You.

Sure enough, at 8 PM on Wednesday, Y Network’s Weibo directly uploaded the edited video of the I Think I Love You crew recording the program on Y Network. Immediately, the internet was filled with comments like: “Z.X is already arrogant before even becoming fully famous,” and “Xiao Baijun is utterly uneducated. What kind of man confronts a girl, and even gets physical? He’s no man!”

The discussion heated up online. Trolls and uninformed netizens who blindly cursed the duo repeatedly pushed Z.X to the hot search list.

When the crew returned to B City after finishing activities in S City, a crowd of reporters and onlookers surrounded the entire crew. The entire airport was instantly blocked, preventing not only the crew but also other travelers from moving forward.

The scene was too chaotic. Xiao Baijun protected Zuo Qiu behind him. Guo Chen took the opportunity to find airport security for help, while Zhao Zhixian, who had been accompanying the crew during the promotional period, tried hard to communicate with the media, hoping they wouldn’t obstruct others and suggesting they could arrange a time for questions. However, the reporters at the scene completely ignored him, surrounding the crew and relentlessly asking questions and taking photos.

Twenty minutes later, with the joint assistance of ten airport security guards, order was slowly restored, and the crew was finally able to reach the underground parking garage and drive home.

Ou Sheng and Cheng Ye got into the car with Xiao Baijun and Zuo Qiu.

“How about you skip B Channel tomorrow and just join us for the last stop, H City, the day after?”

They didn’t know anyone well at the Beijing Channel. To avoid awkward questions from the host, Ou Sheng didn’t want the two to go and feel embarrassed. H City, where Z Channel was located, was different. The station director had a good relationship with Zhao Zhixian, and the environment would be much better.

Zhao Zhixian, sitting in the passenger seat, pondered for a moment and made the decision for the two. “I think it’s feasible. Let the news ferment for a while.”

Even if the two didn’t participate in the TV program, busybody netizens would continue to discuss them. Coupled with the fueling of Lingqu and Y Network, the pair’s popularity wouldn’t fade soon. High popularity for the lead actors meant high popularity for the film.

Since both the director and the manager had spoken, Zuo Qiu and Ou Sheng didn’t insist. Running promotions had been exhausting lately, so tomorrow would be treated as a holiday.

As they were about to get out of the car, Zuo Qiu said to Ou Sheng, “Brother Sheng, I’m sorry. Our situation might affect the box office.”

Although the clarification of the situation was planned before the release, some people would inevitably disapprove of them, and the film’s box office and reputation might be affected.

Ou Sheng smiled. “Don’t say that too early. I actually think I’ll have to thank you both when the film finishes its run.”

In fact, Ou Sheng wanted to thank them even now. To secure more screening slots for Wild Jun, all of Bai Le’s cinemas would take down some other films early. To cooperate with the promotion, there would also be discount events within the cinemas. It was safe to say that Bai Le was going all out to help Wild Jun.

Furthermore, the film was niche to begin with, and the possibility of it flopping was something Ou Sheng had anticipated. Ou Sheng wouldn’t blame anyone.

Zuo Qiu thought Ou Sheng was comforting him and didn’t take Ou Sheng’s words seriously, still feeling a sense of guilt.

Xiao Baijun was more optimistic than him. “If it flops, it flops. Brother Ye and Ou Sheng can afford a flop.”

Ou Sheng and Cheng Ye were not short of money; making films was like a hobby for them.

But the frugal Zuo Qiu couldn’t afford a flop. “That’s a lot of money…”

Even for a small production like theirs, the total cost was tens of millions.

Xiao Baijun ruffled his hair. “When you marry me, forget tens of millions, you’ll have hundreds of millions.”

If the two got married, not only would his Grandma, Dad, and Mom give them money, but even the foundation left by his Grandpa would allocate a large sum for their wedding subsidy. All that money combined would easily be over a hundred million.

Zuo Qiu blushed. Was this an alternative marriage proposal?

Xiao Baijun rubbed his chin, suddenly thinking that “marriage” sounded pretty good. So he discussed with Zuo Qiu, “How about we get married next year after we get our graduation certificates? I’ll ask Brother Sheng and the others where they got their license… Hey, Qiuqiu, why are you leaving? I haven’t finished talking!”

Zuo Qiu walked straight toward the room, completely ignoring what Xiao Baijun was saying. Marriage and all that sounded too unreal.

…

That evening, a new story broke online. A prominent Weibo influencer used the “intimate photos” of Xiao Baijun and Zuo Qiu at the airport today as a starting point, revealing the news that Xiao Baijun and Zuo Qiu were a couple.

The blog post listed many pieces of “hard evidence.”

• Evidence 1: The identical “couple” jade pendants worn by the two. #Image Attached#
• Evidence 2: The two still living together after their debut. Cameras repeatedly caught them returning home together. The blogger also listed Zuo Qiu’s income after his debut, suggesting Zuo Qiu had the means to buy or rent a place. Continuing to live together despite financial independence seemed far-fetched.
• Evidence 3: In S City, the two stayed overnight in the presidential suite on the top floor of a non-crew-rented hotel. They acted intimately when leaving the hotel the next day. #Image Attached#
• Evidence 4: During the filming of I Think I Love You, Zuo Qiu’s chemistry in the couple scenes with Daisy was not as natural as his “brotherly love” scenes with Xiao Baijun. Eyes don’t lie. #Edited Video Attached#
• Evidence 5: When Zuo Qiu returned to his hometown, the two’s behavior at the airport was too affectionate under the camera.

Although the so-called hard evidence was mostly speculation in the eyes of many netizens and not very solid proof, it couldn’t stop the netizens from transforming into Sherlock Holmes, starting to look for clues in the variety shows they participated in, the TV series they starred in, and their Weibo posts. Eventually, some keen-eyed netizens discovered that the two frequently appeared in photos with the famous gay couple in the industry, Ou Sheng and Cheng Ye. The dynamic between Zuo Qiu and Xiao Baijun was very similar to that of Ou Sheng and Cheng Ye. This was counted as the sixth piece of evidence.

The internet was abuzz with activity, but no matter how the media contacted Zhao Zhixian, and no matter how netizens or fans called on the duo to clarify on Weibo, the duo’s Weibo account and Bai Le remained silent. This action was interpreted by netizens as tacit admission.

…

The next day, Zuo Qiu and Ou Sheng did not attend the program in B City. Ou Sheng, as the director and producer, became the main “interrogation” target of the TV station reporters.

“Ou Sheng, may I ask if you chose Zuo Qiu and Xiao Baijun to star in your autobiographical film because they are also homosexual?”

Ou Sheng was displeased by the question. He didn’t answer the reporter’s question but instead asked back, “What’s wrong with being gay? Please don’t ask me this question with a biased tone.”

The reporter choked, feeling a bit embarrassed. He softened his tone and asked, “Then, are you aware that they are a couple?”

Ou Sheng frowned. “I am here today to promote my film. If you cannot continue asking the questions you provided earlier, I’ll have to leave.”

The reporter was unwilling to leave without digging deeper information but dared not easily offend Ou Sheng. So, he had no choice but to put away the latest question outline, flip through the bottom of a stack of materials to the original interview script, and continue with the program.

…

The next day, the entire crew arrived at the final stop of the promotion—Z Channel. The hosts of the program they were attending were two familiar faces: Liu Min and Zheng Yang.

Liu Min sighed upon seeing Zuo Qiu. “Now you two are truly famous, sensationally famous!”

Having worked in the entertainment industry for many years, Liu Min clearly saw that such concentrated attacks were deliberately orchestrated by someone. The evidence couldn’t have been collected in just a day or two. The person’s intention to ensure they couldn’t recover was too obvious.

Zuo Qiu sensed the kindness in Liu Min’s tone and joked with a smile, “It’s better than never getting famous at all.”

Still in the mood to joke, Liu Min sighed again, patted his shoulder lightly, and said no more.

The program recording went smoothly. Z Channel was now forced to be associated with them. After so many incidents, many netizens directed their criticism at Z Channel for constantly giving resources to Z.X. Thus, Z Channel had not been peaceful lately. But Zuo Qiu noticed that no one at the station was hostile toward them, and their attitude remained the same as before. He didn’t know what Zhao Zhixian had discussed with the station director.

After all the promotional activities were finished, Zuo Qiu and Xiao Baijun finally had free time starting on December 30th. They ignored the turmoil online and stayed home.

“Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. Grandma wants us to go home for dinner in the evening.”

Zuo Qiu, who was revising his thesis, didn’t turn his head. “Oh, okay.”

Seeing he was busy, Xiao Baijun didn’t bother him, lying on the sofa next to Zuo Qiu and playing games on his phone.

After a while, Zuo Qiu suddenly asked, “Should we bring anything when we go back for dinner tomorrow?”

It was a holiday, so they should at least bring something symbolic.

Xiao Baijun had never considered this question. Why would he need to bring anything when going home for dinner? It would be good enough if he didn’t try to take anything from home.

“I’ve never brought anything.”

He only started bringing things after being with Zuo Qiu. Of course, those things were limited to local specialties bought during filming.

Zuo Qiu thought for a moment. “What do you think they would like the most? Or what do they need the most?”

Giving a gift is about expressing one’s feelings, so the gift should reflect their sincerity.

Xiao Baijun spared a glance at Zuo Qiu. “Need the most? My Grandma needs a great-grandchild, and my Mom needs a grandson. So, do you want to have a baby?”

Zuo Qiu was utterly speechless. Unless he could genetically mutate and grow a uterus… Alright, never mind what he just said!