Chapter 9: Backdoor Privileges. Then Why Don’t You Use Mine Too

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After his evening shower, Shi Qiu curled up on the beanbag in his room, tablet in hand, ready to dive into the original novel The Long Winter from start to finish.

Two knocks landed on his door. By now, Shi Qiu could recognise Jiang Fengmian’s knock,  quick and clean, always two in a row.

“Come in,” Shi Qiu said, setting the tablet aside and sitting up to watch Jiang Fengmian walk in.

Jiang Fengmian had his coat on, clearly about to head out.

He glanced at Shi Qiu, who was dressed in fuzzy pajamas, and said gently, “Why are you lying down with wet hair?”

Shi Qiu touched the damp ends of his hair, a little sheepish.

The heating had already kicked in today, so there was no need for the air conditioner. He’d been too lazy to use the hairdryer.

Jiang Fengmian knew his habits well. He beckoned. “Come here, I’ll dry it for you.”

“Okay,” Shi Qiu said sweetly, getting up and following him to the living room, where Jiang Fengmian started blow-drying his hair.

As he gently ran his fingers through Shi Qiu’s hair, Jiang Fengmian said, “I’ve got something tonight, so I’ll be out for a bit. If anything comes up, call me.”

“When will you be back?” Shi Qiu asked, eyes half-closed, enjoying the warm air.

“Tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll be fine sleeping alone,” Shi Qiu mumbled lazily.

“Alright.” Jiang Fengmian gave his soft hair one last pat and turned off the dryer. “I’m heading out.”

“Okay, bro,” Shi Qiu said, watching him leave. Then he slowly shuffled back to his beanbag and flopped down again.

He picked up the tablet and resumed reading.

Just as he was getting absorbed in the story, a message popped up from Zhong Xiyuan.

“Guess who I ran into at the bar?”

Shi Qiu was deep into the novel and didn’t appreciate the interruption. But judging by the message, it probably had something to do with Jiang Fengmian. Even though he didn’t really want to engage, Shi Qiu, ever committed to his persona, opened the image Zhong Xiyuan had sent.

It was a candid shot of Jiang Fengmian. When he wasn’t around Shi Qiu, all that gentle warmth vanished. In the photo, Jiang Fengmian sat on a couch, expressionless, slightly bowed, lips touching the rim of a glass filled with pale liquor and a large ice cube. A man beside him was laughing and saying something. Under the soft pink-purple lighting, Jiang Fengmian looked both restrained and seductive.

Shi Qiu stared at the photo for a long time. Was Zhong Xiyuan secretly a photography major? How could a candid shot look like an art piece? If this were a short video clip, posted online, it would easily rack up millions of likes.

Then it hit him, Jiang Fengmian had ditched him at home to go out and party.

How rude.

Shi Qiu suddenly felt like going out to party too.

“Host, your wrist stitches haven’t been removed yet. You’re supposed to avoid spicy and greasy food, and definitely no wild outings. Also, remember to stay in character,” 09 reminded him sweetly.

Jiang Fengmian going out was fine. But a lovesick bottom who adored Jiang Fengmian wouldn’t go out partying.

Shi Qiu quietly lay back down and played dead.

Determined to stay in character, he thought for a moment and replied to Zhong Xiyuan: “You’re there too. You’re no saint either!”

Zhong Xiyuan nearly laughed out loud at the reply.

This little simp. he hadn’t even said anything bad about Jiang Fengmian yet, and Shi Qiu was already defending him.

“Yeah, I’m no saint. But I don’t stay out past midnight. Think Jiang Fengmian’s coming home tonight?”

After sending that message, Zhong Xiyuan tried to check Shi Qiu’s profile  only to find he’d been blocked.

The simp had snapped.

Oddly enough, Zhong Xiyuan’s irritation melted away.

Shi Qiu, meanwhile, climbed into bed and kept reading his novel.

He had no idea why Zhong Xiyuan was tattling, and frankly didn’t care. He was too hooked on the story.

The phone screen glowed into the early hours.

09 watched as his host sobbed under the covers, quietly manifested into physical form, hugged him, and gently patted his head.

“09… sob sob… this is killing me…” Shi Qiu cried with genuine emotion, clinging to 09.

09 silently grabbed tissues and wiped his tears.

“That author’s insane. Why did they have to kill off the male lead?” Shi Qiu sobbed and cursed, determined to finish the ending.

09 held him close, stroking his back like a big cat.

Shi Qiu nestled against him, finished the final chapter, and cried even harder. “They’re both so tragic… why did I even read this book…”

09 patted his back. “Don’t cry, host. Your eyes are all swollen.”

Shi Qiu wailed louder.

After all that drama, he finally fell asleep around 4 a.m.

At 8:30, Jiang Fengmian returned with breakfast. Seeing Shi Qiu still asleep, he knocked on the door. A messy-haired head peeked out from the blankets, and Jiang Fengmian smiled. “I brought breakfast. Want some?”

Shi Qiu groaned, clearly still half-asleep.

“If you don’t want to get up, I’ll leave it on the table. Just microwave it when you’re ready,” Jiang Fengmian said gently.

Shi Qiu nodded instinctively, then frowned. “Are you going out again?”

Jiang Fengmian nodded. “Going to study at the school library.”

Shi Qiu slowly crawled out of bed, confused. “Didn’t exams just end? Why study?”

Wrapped in his soft bunny pajamas, the neckline had slipped low, revealing part of his chest. Jiang Fengmian walked over and adjusted it.

“I’ve got an audition in a week. Just doing some prep,” he explained.

“Can’t you prep at home?” Shi Qiu scratched his head, baffled.

Jiang Fengmian sighed. “Wouldn’t I be disturbing you?”

“What? What could you possibly disturb?” Shi Qiu’s brain short-circuited. The big bunny stumbled out of bed. “It’s easier if you stay home. If you go to school, I’ll have to come with you…”

Jiang Fengmian saw his red, puffy eyes and didn’t know what to say. He tried to reason. “I already booked a spot at the library. I have to check in. You stay home and rest. Next time, come with me, okay?”

“Nope.” Shi Qiu got up and wobbled off to wash up. “You’re not leaving without me…”

Jiang Fengmian watched him float into the bathroom like a ghost and sighed, settling onto the couch to wait.

Inside, Shi Qiu looked in the mirror and finally understood why Jiang Fengmian kept staring at his eyes, hesitant to speak.

They were so swollen it was obvious he’d cried all night.

He instinctively reached for eye cream. His body usually bounced back fast, a cold compress and some cream would fix it. But halfway through, he remembered: he wasn’t a celebrity anymore. No need to fuss over this stuff.

Ah, freedom.

The big bunny yawned and lazily started brushing his teeth.

Shi Qiu moved fast. By the time Jiang Fengmian had read three chapters of his novel, Shi Qiu had already finished breakfast.

“Don’t eat so fast. It’s bad for your stomach,” Jiang Fengmian said.

“Mm.” Shi Qiu quickly finished, changed clothes, and came out. Jiang Fengmian had barely made it to chapter five.

“Let’s go, bro,” Shi Qiu said, slipping on a mask.

Jiang Fengmian took him to X Film Academy, as usual, asking someone to wait in the student council office.

This time, when Shi Qiu walked in, he saw Zhong Xiyuan sitting in a chair.

Zhong Xiyuan leaned back and asked, “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

Shi Qiu remembered last night’s tattling and snorted, ignoring him as he settled onto the little couch.

Zhong Xiyuan finished signing a few documents, then looked up and noticed Shi Qiu’s obviously swollen eyes. His smile faded.

So you blocked me all tough-like, then cried under the covers till your eyes puffed up?

For the first time, Zhong Xiyuan found himself seriously annoyed by a lovesick simp.

“What happened to your eyes?” he asked casually, twirling his pen.

Shi Qiu didn’t respond, curled up on the couch. The heating was on, and the radiator nearby was making him sweat. He took off his puffer jacket, revealing a soft, loose white sweater.

He looked sweet and obedient, but Zhong Xiyuan knew better, this guy was a hopeless romantic who’d cry over a bar photo and then get mad at the messenger.

Oh, and cry himself into puffy eyes.

Then show up the next day, trailing after his crush like a puppy.

Zhong Xiyuan adjusted his glasses, sat across from Shi Qiu, and looked at his sulky profile

Zhong Xiyuan adjusted his glasses, sat across from Shi Qiu, and looked at his sulky profile. The urge to pinch his cheek came back strong.

“You’ve got quite the temper,” Zhong Xiyuan sighed.

And it was a temper reserved only for him. When it came to Jiang Fengmian, Shi Qiu didn’t have a single complaint.

“If you think I’ve got a temper, then stay away from me,” Shi Qiu snapped.

“No can do,” Zhong Xiyuan replied with a polite smile that somehow still felt smug.

He wasn’t even sure why he found Shi Qiu so interesting.

Probably lust at first sight.

Because that face really did look pinchable.

Zhong Xiyuan accepted his own shallowness without shame and said, “If I were you, I wouldn’t be acting so salty right now.”

“And why’s that?” Shi Qiu asked, still sulking like a grumpy little dumpling.

“Because even if Jiang Fengmian misses one of his exams, the only person who could realistically compete with his résumé… is me.” Zhong Xiyuan leaned in slightly, watching for the tiniest flicker of emotion on Shi Qiu’s face. “Do you know who my parents are?”

“Who?” Shi Qiu shrank back against the couch, his voice suddenly much softer.

“Look it up,” Zhong Xiyuan said, satisfied, reaching out to pinch his cheek again. Still soft. “But since we share a surname, you probably already have a guess.”

Shi Qiu blinked. There weren’t many public figures with the surname Zhong. Then it hit him, Zhong Xiyuan’s father was that legendary figure in the film industry. A titan of the directors’ guild, a gold award judge, one of the top names in the business.

Shi Qiu stared at him, stunned. He’d known Zhong Xiyuan had connections, but this? This was next-level.

“You’re… using the backdoor?” Shi Qiu asked weakly.

“Then why don’t you use mine too?” Zhong Xiyuan’s fox-like eyes narrowed with a smile.

Shi Qiu’s eyes went wide with alarm. What kind of extracurriculars were they teaching at X Film Academy?

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Translator note: 📌

Thank you for reading 💖 see you again in the next chapter, my lovely cherries 😘

📍Note: I’m pretty free lately, so I will be posting 3  to 4 chapters a day. Enjoy 🤭

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