Chapter 101 – This Tragic Movie Emperor – “Honk, Honk, Honk” (06/08)
Xie Chenyang logged into Yan Qing’s Weibo. “Mind if I post this video using your account?”
Yan Qing: “Go ahead.”
Xie Chenyang uploaded the entire video directly with the caption: Went to a bar to meet an uncle and unexpectedly ran into Academy Award-winning actor Ke Ming! I just wanted to film a quick video as a keepsake, but who knew… he’d be such an Academy Award-winning actor!
Then, he tagged Ke Ming.
Yan Qing watched his actions with slight confusion. “They’ll contact someone to delete this Weibo post, right?”
“Not so fast.” Xie Chenyang smiled at him. “He’s still on his way home. He won’t be checking Weibo anytime soon.”
Ke Ming was the type to keep his account firmly in his own hands. He might hand his phone to his agent to manage it while he was aware, but he’d never give his login details to anyone.
In the story, Shen Yangfan’s heart had broken precisely because he knew Ke Ming’s Weibo account was in his own possession.
A few minutes later, Xie Chenyang logged into Shen Yangfan’s account—dormant for a year—using his own phone. Unlike when he was at his peak, his follower count now barely broke ten thousand.
He followed Yan Qing, reposted his Weibo, and added, “Though it was an accident, gotta say, kid, you nailed it!”
Then he tagged several entertainment influencers he knew.
[Dad, is this really okay?]
You Huang: “Mhm. In this world, as long as you’re not secretly installing listening devices or cameras in someone’s home, using video and audio recordings as evidence in public spaces is perfectly acceptable.”
[That’s a relief.]
The evening was a prime time for entertainment. The Weibo post quickly went viral.
After posting, Xie Chenyang silenced his phone and ignored it, turning his attention to Yan Qing. “Staying here tonight? Did you tell your parents?”
Yan Qing clenched the chocolate bar in his pocket. “I did.”
Xie Chenyang leaned close, sniffing him lightly. “Kid, have you been drinking?” He flicked Yan Qing’s forehead. “No alcohol before you’re of age, got it? Don’t do it again, understand?”
Yan Qing grunted. “Got it.”
“Alright, you’ll sleep in Xiaosong’s room tonight.”
“Then where will Xiaosong sleep?”
“With me, of course.” Xie Chenyang curved his lips. “He’s my nephew. If he doesn’t sleep with me, then… you’ll sleep with me?”
Yan Qing’s brows furrowed slightly. “We’re friends. I’ll sleep with him. Uncle, you can sleep alone.”
Xie Chenyang: “Fine.”
Yan Qing: “…” So quick to agree.
Wait, how did we end up talking about sleeping arrangements?
Xie Chenyang ruffled his hair and stood up. “I’m going to wash up and turn in myself. You two shouldn’t stay up too late.”
Yan Qing rose along with him. His voice carried an unusual edge of nervousness. “Could you open your hand?”
“Huh?” Xie Chenyang smiled and held out his palm.
Yan Qing pulled his hand from his pocket, slipping a small, exquisitely-crafted chocolate into Xie Chenyang’s palm. His usually composed voice trembled slightly. “I… I’ll be of age in just over four months.”
Xie Chenyang: “Then…”
“I’m going back to sleep now!” Yan Qing turned to leave, only to be pulled into Xie Chenyang’s embrace.
Xie Chenyang held him close, one hand resting on the back of his head, his voice deep. “Little devil, I’ll wait for you.”
Yan Qing relaxed slightly in his embrace, burying his face in his chest, and murmured, “Mm.”
Tao Xiaosong yawned as he stepped out, and was utterly bewildered when he saw them. “Uncle, Brother Qing, what are you two—”
Xie Chenyang released Yan Qing, chuckling softly. “Your classmate secretly drank some alcohol and got a little tipsy. Xiao Song, you need to look after him properly tonight.”
Tao Xiaosong: “Huh?”
Xie Chenyang returned to his room in high spirits.
[Honk-honk-honk!] Laughing so hard it sounded like a honking goose.
You Huang: “It’s not that cute, really, it’s not.”
[He’s so adorable. Honk-honk-honk]
[Did you see his face? He must think he’s got perfect facial control, acting all bashful like a little goosling—]
“SMACK!”
Xie Chenyang was suddenly kicked by a foot that materialized out of thin air, sending him flying into the wall. He slid down slowly, clutching his chest.
Xie Chenyang covered his chest in disbelief: [My dad couldn’t possibly be so rough! Who are you? Give me back my gentle dad!]
Xie Chenyang took a deep breath and obediently went to the bathroom to run the shower. Staring at the red marks on his face in the mirror, he sighed softly: [Maybe this is just him going through menopause. I need to sympathize with Dad.]
“Thud!”
“Ouch!”
——- ——- ——
Tao Xiaosong, unusually, didn’t continue gaming. When Yan Qing finished showering and came back, Tao Xiao Song leaned in to ask, “Brother Qing, did you really go drinking?”
Yan Qing sat down at his desk, drying his hair as he casually replied, “Yeah.”
Tao Xiaosong looked skeptical. “Then what happened earlier with my uncle…”
Yan Qing thought: Me and your uncle made a little agreement.
“I just lost my balance.”
Tao Xiaosong exhaled in relief, then said diplomatically, “Brother Qing, next time… um, maybe you shouldn’t come looking for me so often.”
Yan Qing frowned. “What do you mean?”
Tao Xiaosong scrambled over to lock the door, then sat cross-legged on the bed and looked at Yan Qing earnestly. “First, you have to promise me you won’t tell anyone about what I’m about to say tonight.”
Yan Qing paused mid-towel. “Mm.” He could probably guess what was coming.
“My uncle is a good man, but…” Tao Xiaosong bit his lip, whispering. “My uncle is… Well, you know, not straight. You understand, right?”
Yan Qing understood perfectly. Not only did he understand, but he’d also discovered he was the same. He’d even confessed and secured a promise.
“Mhm.” Hope you won’t be too shocked when I become your auntie after I turn eighteen.
Tao Xiaosong took a deep breath. “Let me put it this way, Brother Qing. You’re so handsome—everyone secretly calls you the school heartthrob. When I saw you two earlier… my uncle’s gaze… wasn’t right. You probably shouldn’t hang around him anymore.”
That said, his uncle’s gaze earlier had genuinely given him goosebumps.
Yan Qing: “What kind of look?” Yan Qing set down the towel he’d used to dry his hair. “What kind of look did your uncle give me?”
Tao Xiaosong hesitated. “It was… really gentle and… deep… I don’t know how to describe it. Uncle’s been single for a long time. I’m worried he might be desperate.”
Yan Qing replied coldly, “Desperate? What do you mean? You think I’m not good enough?”
“That’s not what I mean, bro.” Tao Xiaosong groaned, head pounding. “I’m worried about you! Sure, he’s my uncle, but you’re my friend!”
“Oh, relax.” No need to worry. It’s already settled.
Relieved that he’d understood, Tao Xiaosong scrambled to his feet. “I’ll grab a shower too. If you’re tired, go ahead and sleep.”
——– ——– ——-
Xie Chenyang slumped listlessly on the sofa while smoking.
After You Huang hit him twice, he’d vanished. Xie Chenyang wanted to apologize, but he didn’t know if You Huang could hear him.
[Dad, I was wrong. I was just talking nonsense.]
Knock-knock. “Uncle, can I come in?”
Xie Chenyang stubbed out his cigarette, took a sip of water, and chuckled softly. “You’re quite the sensible one. Make yourself a bed on the floor.”
Tao Xiaosong sat down across from him. “Uncle, I didn’t come here to sleep on the floor.”
Xie Chenyang: “Need something?”
“Uh-huh.” Tao Xiaosong fidgeted with his shirt hem. “Uncle, my friend. He’s… pretty handsome, right?”
Xie Chenyang recalled his lover’s appearance in this world and casually replied, “Not bad.”
Tao Xiaosong: “…” So dismissive? He cautiously asked, “Uncle, you don’t have any feelings for Brother Qing, do you?”
Xie Chenyang curved his lips into a smile. “Ridiculous. Would I make a move on a minor?”
Tao Xiaosong: “That’s good.”
Xie Chenyang snorted with laughter.
Tao Xiaosong scratched his head. “So Uncle, where should I… sleep tonight? I’ll head back to my room.” Given the choice, of course he’d sleep in his own room!
Xie Chenyang watched him leave, his smile fading: [Silly kid. I don’t make a move on minors. But once they’re adults? Then, it’s honk-honk-honk.]
You Huang sighed: “I remember you never laughed like this before, honking away—not elegant at all.”
[Dad, you’re honking too.]
——– ——- ———
Early the next morning, Xie Chenyang quietly left the two in the guest room and went alone to file a lawsuit at the courthouse. He accused Ke Ming of defaming him a year prior, causing damage to his reputation, finances… and more. He submitted the video Yan Qing had recorded as evidence.
After receiving court approval, Xie Chenyang returned home, bringing breakfast for the teens.
Just as the three were eating breakfast, Ke Ming, who hadn’t slept all night, received the court summons. His pent-up frustration finally erupted.
Facing his agent’s questioning, he snapped, “How was I supposed to know someone would find him and film it? If I’d known, do you think I’d spill everything? Huh?”
His agent, who had worked all night for him, sneered. “If you had any sense, you wouldn’t have gone looking for him again. What were you doing there? Bored out of your mind? I told you to hand over your Weibo account ages ago. But what did you do? You clung to it like it was a lifeline, as if you feared I’d harm you.”
“I told you it was a coincidence! How could he have known I was coming to see him, and ready with a camera? It was just a coincidence. Instead of figuring out how to fix it, why are you blaming me?“
”Didn’t I try to fix it? I didn’t sleep all night! But Ke Ming, this is video evidence. You admitted it yourself—you deliberately framed him back then. How am I supposed to clear your name? Once this gets out, everything you did back then will look like a joke. It’ll be seen as biting the hand that fed you, pure scumbag behavior!“
“You—”
——- —— ——
Unaware that Ke Ming and his agent had already started arguing, Xie Chenyang left Tao Xiaosong at home after breakfast under the pretense of driving Yan Qing home.
Whether it was because of their agreement or not, Yan Qing’s attitude had shifted completely.
Sitting in the passenger seat, he tilted his head and asked, “Uncle, aren’t you going to help me with my seatbelt?”
Xie Chenyang closed the door and asked with a smile, “Can’t you do it yourself?”
Yan Qing gave a nonchalant reply, “I’ve never been in a car before.”
Xie Chenyang leaned over to fasten the seatbelt for him, tilting his head slightly to meet Yan Qing’s gaze, their faces inches apart. “Kid, where do you live?”
Yan Qing’s eyes darkened slightly. “My name is Yan Qing.”
“Ah Qing.”
The sound of that name was low and incredibly tender. Yan Qing’s heart fluttered, and he tipped his head forward slightly.
Xie Chenyang reached out, pressed his head back gently, and moved back to the driver’s seat. “Where do you live?”
Yan Qing’s gaze followed him.
Xie Chenyang tugged at his collar. “Where?”
Yan Qing gave a soft hum and a location.
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
