The Entire Entertainment Industry Knows the Best Actor Has a Crush on Me - Chapter 20

Just as Pei Yuan said, as long as you express the thoughts in your head, everything else follows.

Although Qiao Zhiyu failed twice at the beginning because he wasn’t used to the size of the drums, he didn’t drop the ball in the end. The director was in a great mood and immediately called it a day. By 8:25 PM, Qiao Zhiyu successfully made it back to the dressing room.

Qi Le’an sat beside him, excitedly discussing the scene they just filmed.

“That dance was absolutely beautiful! I saw it all from offstage!”

Because Ruan Yuan was in confinement, his family’s invitation to the banquet had been revoked, so the character didn’t appear in the scene. Qi Le’an had finished work just in time to see Qiao Zhiyu dancing on the water, his skirt swaying gracefully. He was so enchanted he couldn’t look away.

Similarly, Bai Chao sat silently to the side, lost in deep thought. He was pondering a serious question: Does a “wife” necessarily have to be a woman?

Qiao Zhiyu was amused by their reactions. “It wasn’t that exaggerated.”

“Yes, it was! I swear that segment is going to go viral the moment it airs!!”

Qi Le’an wanted to say more, but out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a figure emerging from the changing room and chose to shut up. Pei Yuan was carrying the cloth bag Qiao Zhiyu had left behind. He tilted his chin and asked, “Ready to go?”

“Wait, I want to take a photo for my social media.”

Since reposting the promotional photos, he hadn’t posted anything on his Weibo for several days. After what happened yesterday, he felt the need to make a “bubble” post to check the public sentiment.

Pei Yuan naturally had no objection and silently moved closer behind him. Through the camera lens, Qiao Zhiyu once again noticed Yu Yuan sitting in the corner. The boy was still all alone.

After a moment of hesitation, Qiao Zhiyu turned and called out to him.

“Do you want to take a photo together?”

He didn’t use a name, but the intention was clear. Yu Yuan reacted immediately, pointing at himself in surprise. Qiao Zhiyu nodded with a smile. “I’m planning to post on Weibo. Want to join? If it’s inconvenient…”

It’s no big deal…

Yu Yuan stood up abruptly and was in front of him in a few steps. His expression was a bit stiff. “Okay.” He paused, then added: “The dance was really wonderful…”

“Thank you.”

What a cute kid, Qiao Zhiyu thought. He felt the boy’s vibe really suited current trends. What was it called? If melancholy were a talent?

Qiao Zhiyu smiled and opened the camera app. Qi Le’an, whose scalp was aching from the wig cap, shouted for him to look at the lens. But the moment Qi Le’an turned around, he suddenly jumped up.

The makeup artist behind him was nearly knocked into next week. Accompanied by a scream, Qiao Zhiyu’s hand slipped and hit the shutter.

A photo titled “The Scream” was fresh out of the oven.

“…”

On the way back to the hotel, they actually ran into a crowd of fans. As they exited the studio, they were momentarily stunned by the sea of people.

“Brother! We came to see you!!!” “Waaah, Brother, you look so handsome today too!”

Except for Pei Yuan and Bai Chao, everyone else’s eyes widened. This massive crowd consisted entirely of Pei Yuan’s fans. He waved to them, then turned to Qiao Zhiyu. “Go back first. I’ll be a while.”

“Then I’ll just post the Weibo?” “Go ahead.”

Qiao Zhiyu took his bag and was flanked by Qi Le’an and Yu Yuan as they returned to the hotel.

“Is this what it’s like to be a top star? So cool!” “If you film well, you’ll have it too,” Qiao Zhiyu said. “Really?!”

Qiao Zhiyu nodded with a smile and saw the two back to their respective rooms. It wasn’t exactly a lie; in the future, both of them would develop quite well. He still hadn’t remembered why Yu Yuan eventually left the industry, though. It had happened very quietly; he only found out when Song Yuanjia mentioned it casually once.

He threw himself into the soft bedding. After lying there for a bit, he edited his Weibo post and sent it out. Looking at the group photo on his phone, Qiao Zhiyu closed his eyes happily.

His head had been aching slightly since the filming earlier tonight. I’ll sleep for a bit… Pei Yuan probably wouldn’t be back for a while. He had vaguely heard that Pei Yuan had ordered milk tea for the fans.

“…”

“Brother, the milk tea is here!”

Because the staff hadn’t all left yet, Bai Chao borrowed the crew’s dining cart to push the milk tea out. The three-tiered cart was packed to the brim. However, the wheels were a bit wonky and wouldn’t go straight. Pushing it felt like lifting 60 pounds of iron. Bai Chao was gasping for air.

“Good job. I’m giving you a five-thousand-yuan bonus.”

Bai Chao was instantly re-energized. But before he could celebrate, he heard Pei Yuan say: “Go drink some traditional medicine later to regulate your body.”

Bai Chao: “…”

They distributed milk tea to the enthusiastic fans. Regardless of whether they were locals or from out of town, Pei Yuan reimbursed all their travel expenses. The fans were reluctant to leave, repeatedly telling him to “take care of your health and get more rest” as they boarded their cars, looking back at every step.

After sending off the last fan, Pei Yuan and Bai Chao each carried two full bags of gifts back to the hotel. It was nearly 11:00 PM.

“Brother, should I take the gifts to my room first?” Bai Chao feared they would take up too much space. He knew the production was “poor” before and everyone was sharing small rooms. He had planned to book a better room for his artist, but Pei Yuan had firmly refused.

“No, leave them here so I can look through them slowly.”

Pei Yuan opened the door gently. The lights were on, but the room was silent. The other master of the room was lying on the bed with his back turned. He set the gifts down and approached quietly. He’s asleep.

Qiao Zhiyu’s face was flushed red in his sleep, and his breathing was heavy. Pei Yuan reached out to touch him—his forehead was scorching. Did he catch a cold from falling into the water today?

He grabbed a quilt to wrap him up, then rummaged through his luggage for a small first-aid kit. He measured the sleeping man’s temperature first; seeing it was a fever, he mixed a cup of antipyretics according to the instructions.

Pei Yuan propped him up, trying to wake him. “Zhiyu, get up and take some medicine.”

“Zhiyu?”

Qiao Zhiyu’s eyelashes fluttered. After a brief struggle, he forced his eyes open. “You’re back…”

“Yeah. Get up and drink this before you go back to sleep.”

Qiao Zhiyu’s brain was slow to react. He didn’t understand why he had to take medicine. Pei Yuan explained patiently, “You have a fever.”

As soon as he heard that, the person in his arms turned his head away in resistance. “No! It makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t want it.”

Now it was Pei Yuan’s turn to be confused. “Be good. You’ll feel uncomfortable if you don’t take it.”

But no matter how much he coaxed, the man stubbornly refused. “If you don’t take it, your brain will fry.”

“You’re scaring me again…”

Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow, looking at the half-asleep Qiao Zhiyu, and remained silent for a moment. Again? Did he mistake him for someone else? That manager named Gu Jiao? It was possible; she did live at his house…

He felt a tug on his clothes. Looking down, he saw Qiao Zhiyu looking at him with misty eyes.

“Can we go to sleep now? I’m tired…”

Who is this person? How are they this lucky? (referring to the person Qiao might be mistaking him for).

Since he couldn’t get the medicine down, he had to try other methods. Otherwise, a 39°C fever really would fry his brain. Pei Yuan intended to go to the bathroom to get water for a physical cooling compress. But just as he tried to put the man down, Qiao Zhiyu clung to him again.

“I’m a bit cold… Yuan…”

“Because you have a fever. I’ll call the front—”

“Can we sleep together?”

Oh, it’s me he’s talking to. Never mind then.