TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 70

Chapter 68: Your sister-in-law won’t allow it!

Zhuo Huaimo suddenly sat up in bed, his back soaked in cold sweat.

In his dream, his parents fell in a pool of blood, his uncle fell from a high building, and finally Qi Yanwang—

He was covered in blood, standing in a sea of fire, reaching out to him, his lips moving, as if saying,

“It’s all your fault.”

Everyone surrounded him, pointing at him, their voices overlapping,

“Murderer…”

“Ah—”

Zhuo Huaimo gasped for breath, his fingers clenched the bedsheet tightly, his knuckles turning white.

The door was pushed open, and Qi Yanwang rushed in, his hair slightly disheveled, but his eyes were clear, not like someone who had just been awakened in the middle of the night.

“Huaimo?”

He quickly walked to the bedside and reached out to touch his face,

“Nightmare again?”

Zhuo Huaimo subconsciously flinched, but was quickly pulled back by him.

Qi Yanwang’s palm was warm and dry, his fingertips gently wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

“I…”

Zhuo Huaimo’s voice was a little hoarse, “It’s nothing.”

Qi Yanwang frowned, obviously not believing him,

“What did you dream about?”

Zhuo Huaimo didn’t answer, just hugged his knees tightly.

Qi Yanwang didn’t press him, just sat on the edge of the bed, reached out and pulled him into his arms, gently patting his back like a child,

“It’s okay, I’m here.”

Zhuo Huaimo leaned on his shoulder, his breathing gradually calming down.

Since coming back, Zhuo Huaimo had never admitted their relationship, and Qi Yanwang wouldn’t force him to do anything, but he couldn’t resist Zhuo Huaimo’s shameless insistence on moving in together, so they had been sleeping in separate rooms.

He knew that Qi Yanwang’s sleep had always been enviable, and he never woke up in the middle of the night.

But since he started having frequent nightmares, he always found various reasons to come to him as soon as possible.

“How did you wake up?” Zhuo Huaimo asked in a low voice.

“Got up to drink water,” Qi Yanwang said casually.

Zhuo Huaimo didn’t call him out on it.

The two were silent for a while, then Zhuo Huaimo suddenly remembered something and looked up at him,

“Did you recently take on an action film?”

Qi Yanwang raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, *Fire Line*, starts shooting next month.”

“Did you sign the contract?”

“Not yet, signing it tomorrow.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s fingers unconsciously clenched his pajamas,

“Don’t sign it.”

Qi Yanwang was stunned, “What’s wrong?”

“That film has explosion scenes, right?”

Zhuo Huaimo’s voice was a little tense, repeating, “Don’t sign it, don’t sign it!”

Qi Yanwang chuckled, “Explosion scenes are nothing, the crew hired a Hollywood special effects team…”

“I said don’t sign it!”

Zhuo Huaimo suddenly raised his voice, yelling at him,

“You’re not allowed to take any more dangerous scenes in the future!”

Qi Yanwang was stunned, then smiled, “So worried about me?”

“I’m not kidding!”

Zhuo Huaimo pushed him away violently, his voice almost a roar, “Get out if you’re going to sign it!”

Qi Yanwang was shocked by his sudden outburst of anger, but quickly reacted.

He pulled him back into his arms, his hand clasped the back of his head, his voice low and firm,

“Okay, I won’t take it, I won’t take it.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s breathing was still a little rapid, but his body gradually relaxed under his comfort.

Qi Yanwang gently kissed the top of his head, “I’ll listen to you, I’ll turn it down tomorrow.”

Zhuo Huaimo didn’t speak, just leaned in his arms and closed his eyes.

Qi Yanwang didn’t press him further, just held him, stroking his back gently, as if silently telling him—

“I’m here, nothing will happen to me.”

But Zhuo Huaimo knew clearly in his heart that some things, even if he didn’t want them to happen, would still happen.

Qi Yanwang’s office was spacious and bright, the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a magnificent view of the city skyline.

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the *Fire Line* contract, his mind replaying Zhuo Huaimo’s terrified expression last night and the words

“Don’t sign it!”

“I really can’t do anything with you!”

Qi Yanwang murmured softly, a doting smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

He picked up his phone and dialed the director’s number.

“Director Chen, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

Qi Yanwang cut to the chase, “I probably won’t be able to act in *Fire Line*.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone for three seconds, then Director Chen’s raised voice,

“What?! The contract is already drawn up, and we’re starting shooting next week!”

“I’ll pay the penalty for breach of contract.”

Qi Yanwang’s tone was light, “But I’ve found you a better choice—Lin Yan, he’s really hot right now!”

“Lin Yan?”

Director Chen’s voice softened immediately, “But his action scene experience…”

“I’ll have the martial arts team train him more.”

Qi Yanwang interrupted, “Xingyue Media will add another 5 million to the special effects budget.”

Director Chen was clearly wavering, “But… why suddenly…”

“The one at home won’t let me act.”

Qi Yanwang’s voice contained an undisguised smile, “You know, explosion scenes are too dangerous.”

A meaningful “Oh—” came from the other end of the phone,

“I understand, I understand, it’s Director Zhuo’s intention, right? The word in the industry is that you two are going to collaborate on a new film…”

Qi Yanwang smiled without answering and called producer Wang Lei.

“President Wang, I have some bad news…”

“Don’t tell me you’re quitting!” Wang Lei was immediately on alert.

“Smart.”

Qi Yanwang leaned back lazily in his chair, “But I’ve found you a more cost-effective alternative…”

Half an hour later, Qi Yanwang hung up the last call and threw his phone on his desk.

The sun was shining just right outside the floor-to-ceiling window, making the smile on his lips impossible to hide.

The entertainment industry is a place with no secrets.

Although Qi Yanwang and Zhuo Huaimo had never publicly admitted their relationship, the news of them living together had spread like wildfire since Zhuo Huaimo returned from abroad.

Not to mention their interactions in public over the years, and the CP supertopic that had never been banned, with its continuously growing number of fans.

“President Qi, here are the details of the penalty for breach of contract for *Fire Line*.”

The secretary carefully handed over the document, “As you instructed, we’ve already had Lin Yan take over the role.”

“Yeah.”

Qi Yanwang flipped through a couple of pages at random, “Eighty percent of the pay?”

“Lin Yan’s manager requested it on his own, saying that being able to take this role is already a steal.”

Qi Yanwang chuckled and signed his name on the document in a flourish.

Just as he closed the folder, his phone vibrated again.

The caller ID read “Liu Jinchen,” which made him raise an eyebrow.

“Yo, the great Film Emperor Qi is finally willing to answer the phone?”

A sarcastic voice came from the other end of the phone,

“I heard someone has found their person again and is shamelessly living with them?”

Qi Yanwang twirled his pen, his tone light,

“What, jealous? Go find one yourself if you have the guts!”

“I’m jealous of your ass!”

Liu Jinchen laughed and cursed, “You’ve been back for so long, let’s get together? The brothers miss you.”

“Not recently,”

Qi Yanwang looked at his smug reflection in the glass, “Your sister-in-law won’t allow it.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone for three seconds, then an outburst,

“Qi Yanwang, have you no shame! Has he even admitted to you, and you’re already calling him sister-in-law? I heard you’re still sleeping in separate rooms!”

Qi Yanwang was hit where it hurt, and he retorted defensively,

“That’s called spicing things up! What do you know!”

“Ha!”

Liu Jinchen pressed his advantage, “Someone who doesn’t even have a title is showing off here?”

“Liu Jinchen, you—”

The phone was hung up crisply.

Qi Yanwang snorted at the darkened screen,

“Jealous, pure jealousy!”

He got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking in the entire Jiang City skyline.

So what if we’re sleeping in separate rooms? It’s only a matter of time!

It’s good enough as long as he’s by my side!

“President Qi.”

The secretary knocked and came in, “Director Lin has scheduled you to discuss the casting of *Early Spring* tomorrow.”

“Postpone it, tomorrow I’m accompanying…”

Qi Yanwang suddenly paused, and as if remembering something, he picked up his phone, “Wait, I’ll ask the one at home first.”

The secretary covered her mouth and giggled, and wisely retreated, gently closing the door.

At the same time, Liu Jinchen threw his phone on the sofa, where a delicate-looking young man was anxiously waiting for him to finish the call.

“Brother Qi… will he come?”

Xiao Zhu asked timidly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Liu Jinchen looked at Xiao Zhu’s reddened eyes and sighed,

“Don’t wait, that guy only has room for one person in his eyes.”

“I know.”

Xiao Zhu forced a smile, accidentally knocking over a champagne glass as he got up,

“I’ll go check on the fruit platter.”

Liu Jinchen watched the young man’s hurried departure and shook his head, then pulled out his phone to send Qi Yanwang a WeChat message,

“What a sin you’re committing!”

Qi Yanwang replied quickly: “?”

“Xiao Zhu was almost crying just now.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Liu Jinchen was furious as he typed, “Can’t you be a little more tactful?”

“I haven’t even added his WeChat, isn’t that tactful enough?”

Liu Jinchen shook his head, muttering to himself,

“What a mess this is…”

After work, he refused the driver and decided to drive himself.

On the way, he passed Zhuo Huaimo’s favorite dessert shop and made a special stop to buy the new mango mousse.

When he pushed open the door of his home, he found Zhuo Huaimo sitting on the sofa in the living room, a laptop on his lap, staring intently at the screen with a frown.

“I’m back,”

Qi Yanwang waved the dessert box in his hand, “I brought you mango mousse.”

Zhuo Huaimo looked up at him, a complicated emotion flashing in his eyes,

“The *Fire Line* thing… is it settled?”

“Yeah,”

Qi Yanwang put the dessert on the coffee table and sat down next to him,

“It’s all been turned down, Lin Yan will take over my role.”

Zhuo Huaimo visibly breathed a sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing,

“That’s good…”

Qi Yanwang couldn’t help reaching out to smooth the wrinkles between his eyebrows,

“Now can you tell me why? Why are you so opposed to me acting in this film?”

Zhuo Huaimo avoided his gaze, his voice almost inaudible,

“It’s just… I think it’s too dangerous.”

“Huaimo,”

Qi Yanwang cupped his face, forcing him to meet his gaze, “How many years have we known each other? Do you think this kind of excuse can fool me?”

Their eyes met, and a trace of struggle flashed in Zhuo Huaimo’s eyes.

“You said I don’t have to say it if I don’t want to!”

Qi Yanwang looked at his pale face, and in the end, he couldn’t bear to press him,

“Okay, I won’t ask. But…”

He changed the subject, revealing a sly smile, “I lost a lot by turning down this film, shouldn’t you compensate me?”

Zhuo Huaimo looked at him warily, “What compensation?”

“Let me hold you to sleep tonight,”

Qi Yanwang pleaded, “Just one night, I promise I won’t do anything.”

“No way!”

Qi Yanwang pretended to be heartbroken,

“I gave up an international blockbuster for you, and you won’t even agree to this small request?”

“You…”

Zhuo Huaimo was speechless, but unable to refute.

In the end, he compromised, “Just… just tonight.”

Qi Yanwang’s eyes lit up, and he immediately pressed his advantage,

“Then can I kiss you? Just once!”

“Qi Yanwang!” Zhuo Huaimo was furious and embarrassed, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him.

When the night was quiet and still, Qi Yanwang had gotten his wish and held Zhuo Huaimo in his arms.

The person in his arms was breathing evenly, seemingly already asleep.

He gently kissed the top of Zhuo Huaimo’s head and whispered,

“No matter what secrets you have, I’ll wait for you to tell me on your own.”

He didn’t see Zhuo Huaimo’s tightly closed eyes trembling slightly in the darkness, a tear silently slipping down…

In the darkness, Zhuo Huaimo’s poster was nailed to the wall, and darts were thrown one by one, piercing his face…