HTI: Chapter 61

On the way home, Qiu Xing kept his eyes closed. Xie Yang didn’t bicket with Qiu Xing and concentrate on chatting with Qin Cheng. Qin Cheng was extremely efficient. He had already completed his handover with Hu Biao and was analyzing Xie Yang’s career on WeChat.

Qin Cheng: If an artist doesn’t maintain continuous exposure then their heat will soon drop. Since you don’t want to take the popular route and plan to rely on your work to gain a foothold in the circle, you must start production of your new album soon.

Qin Cheng: In addition, in light of the fact that you want to rely on work and your identity as the boss of Yang Xing, I am going to let you take the high-end route of ‘starting at the summit’ to reduce your low-quality exposure. I will only give you high quality resources and endorsements. This way, we can avoid a resources competition between you and other singers in the company. What do you think?

Xie Yang was very realistic: If this can reduce my workload then the answer is yes.

Qin Cheng was quiet for a while before starting to type again.

Qin Cheng: I will explain in advance that if you take this route well, you can indeed go up to the sky in one step. However, if you want to go this way then your own strength must be sufficiently excellent.

Qin Cheng: It is only when it is good enough that the public will recognize you as ‘starting from the top’ and investors and collaborators will offer you high quality job offers when you are just a newcomer. I can help you do many things but you can only rely on yourself in this aspect.

Qin Cheng: So are you sure you want to go this way?

Xie Yang was never blindly confident but…

He typed: If the work you’re referring to is music then I’m certain. You arrange it.

Qin Cheng immediately arranged it: There is a saying in the industry that image building starts with the wardrobe. Starting today, you are no longer allowed to pick your clothes. Tomorrow, I will take a stylist to your house and clear and expand your wardrobe. First, tell me about the style of clothes you usually wear and if you have a favourite brand. I will try and have the stylist buy clothes according to your preferences.

What brand of clothes? Xie Yang looked at the dark grey jacket on his body and typed: I used to wear X Brand but now all my clothes are given by Qiu Xing.

Qin Cheng: …The price of X Brand’s clothes is good but you should wear it as little as possible in the future. You must have a sense of fashion if you want high-end clothing endorsements. What is the brand of the clothing your husband usually gives you?

Xie Yang touched Qiu Xing with his elbow and leaned over to place his phone in front of Qiu Xing’s face. “My agent asked about the brand of clothes you usually give me.”

Qiu Xing saw the screen as soon as he opened his eyes. The words ‘your husband’ filled it and his heartbeat increased. He raised his hand reflexively to grab Xie Yang’s hand and press down the phone.

“……”

Xie Yang looked at his hand that was being held and raised his eyebrows.

Qiu Xing’s senses returned and he threw away Xie Yang’s hand. He sat up straight and sorted out his clothes and cuffs. “Don’t talk about so many messy things with your agent. What brand? Your clothes were personally made by someone.”

“Can I stop drinking milk every day? If I get calcium deficiency, I won’t grow taller and you can save money on constantly buying clothes.”

“……” Qiu Xing threatened him, “Try it.”

Xie Yang smiled and looked down to reply to Qin Cheng. Qiu Xing saw Xie Yang’s bright smile and was uncomfortable. He wanted to ask Xie Yang about the smile but was unwilling to speak, so his expression became even darker.

Xie Yang touched Qiu Xing again. “Qin Cheng asked about where you got the clothes for me.”

Qiu Xing stiffened and reprimanded Xie Yang. “Where are you touching with your foot?”

Xie Yang stared at Qiu Xing.

“……” Qiu Xing tidied up his clothing again and reported a foreigner’s name. “Your clothes are all from his private studio.”

Xie Yang had little knowledge about luxury brands and famous designers in this world. After getting the answer, he directly sent the name to Qin Cheng. Qin Cheng replied with a string of ellipsis.

Xie Yang: What is it?

Qin Cheng: There is no need to look at your wardrobe. You just need to wear the clothes given by your husband. By the way, find some spare time. I want to take a set of photos of you in your private clothing.

Xie Yang said there was no problem and put down his phone.

“You let your agent…”

Xie Yang turned toward Qiu Xing.

The moment Xie Yang looked at him, Qiu Xing shut his mouth again. He leaned back, closed his eyes and stopped talking.

***

Qiu Xing went upstairs immediately after returning home and didn’t come down until dinner. The table was very quiet. Qiu Xing had an expression that implied ‘don’t disturb me, I want to concentrate on eating’. Therefore, Xie Yang didn’t take the initiative to open his mouth. Qiu Xing watched the soup in front of him and drank it.

The meal ended and Qiu Xing quickly returned upstairs. He refused to stay in the dining room a second longer. Before going to bed that night, Xie Yang knocked on Qiu Xing’s door.

Qiu Xing opened the door to see Xie Yang and his expression was unnatural for a moment. He raised his hand to tidy the collar of his robe, touched his semi-dry hair and asked coldly, “What’s the matter?”

“An artist under me is going to C City tomorrow to make a micro-movie. I am the script provider and will go with him. I should be able to come back the day after tomorrow if it is fast. If it is slow, it can take a week.”

Qiu Xing’s brow furrowed before soon relaxing. He still had a cold expression as he stepped back. “You don’t need to tell me this type of thing in the future. Go to bed early. Late—”

Xie Yang grabbed Qiu Xing’s hand that was trying to close the door.

Qiu Xing stopped as he felt the temperature on the back of his hand. He closed his eyes hard and spoke in a deep voice, “Xie Yang, perhaps it was my behaviour—”

“Good night.”

Xie Yang let go and turned to leave.

“……”

Qiu Xing swallowed hard until he finally suppressed the words in his throat. He watched Xie Yang’s back disappearing up the staircase and couldn’t bear it.

“Going on a business trip again… why do you always travel?!”

***

The next day, Xie Yang went downstairs with his suitcase and found that Qiu Xing hadn’t left early. He was sitting at the dining table and having breakfast. Xie Yang put down his suitcase and sat across from Qiu Xing. “Are you going to take me to the airport?”

“I have no time.” Qiu Xing finished drinking the porridge, wiped his mouth with a napkin and got up to leave.

Xie Yang followed.

Qiu Xing changed his shoes at the entrance and put on his coat. He was about to reach out for his gloves and scarf when hands stretched out with what he needed. He glanced sideways at Xie Yang and took the gloves and scarf. “I’m going.”

Xie Yang grabbed Qiu Xing’s shoulder.

Qiu Xing stopped. He held the door tightly and faced away from Xie Yang, asking in a cold and alienated voice. “Xie Yang, are you… are you really treating me as your husband?”

Xie Yang emptied out his ability and separated them into two branches, directing them to Qiu Xing’s heart and brain through the clothes. Then he withdrew his hand, stared at Qiu Xing’s back and smiled. “No, I am treating you as a landlord.”

Qiu Xing turned his head back. His eyebrows were tightly pressed together and his expression was gloomy and vicious.

“You are also a very important person. I have been under your care and favour since I came here and I’m very grateful to you.” Xie Yang added as he stared into Qiu Xing’s eyes. “Qiu Xing, if our cooperation time limit is based on your life expectancy then I hope we can continue to work together.”

Qiu Xing was slightly stunned and avoided Xie Yang’s gaze. His lips moved but he finally remained silent. He opened the door and walked out.

***

The script that Xie Yang prepared for the ‘Reincarnation’ micro-movie was very detailed and comprehensive. He made detailed settings from the plot, the scenes, the lines to everyone’s makeup, the items they carried and their accents. He even drew many scene maps and human designs.

Thanks to his meticulousness, the micro-movie that was finally named ‘Doomsday Rebirth’ was shot very smoothly and they were extremely realistic. It was as if there really was a group of people in such a bad situation, struggling to survive in the apocalypse.

Ke Lan’s acting classes in the past few months hadn’t gone to waste. His performance was very good and he captured the feelings that Xie Yang requested.

It was a plot that lasted less than 20 minutes but it took them seven days to complete the filming in various places in C City.

Once the last shot was finished, Dong Zhong literally kneeled in front of Xie Yang. “Did you really not study script writing in university? This script is really… the plot can be used as an official script for a movie on the big screen.”

Xie Yang smiled and didn’t reply to Dong Zhong.

That night, Xie Yang said goodbye to the crew and returned to B City. By the time the taxi drove to Jinghe Garden, it was 10 o’clock. Xie Yang and Wu Shui got out of the car and unexpectedly found that the house hadn’t lost power yet.

He took out his mobile phone and confirmed that it really wasn’t the weekend. He handed over his luggage to Wu Shui with a frown and quickly walked towards the villa.

A strange car was parked at the door of the villa. Xie Yang’s eyes swept over it and he took the steps in jumps of two. He directly opened the door with the key and entered the house.

In the living room, Qiu Xing was sitting on the armchair with a cup of hot tea in his hand and a blank expression on his face. Opposite Qiu Xing was an old man and a young man sitting side by side. The old man was talking bitterly while the young man was playing with his phone indifferently.

“Ah Xing, your mother is confused. Are you also confused? Yes, you are sick but this doesn’t prevent you from leaving offspring for the Qiu family. That Feng Qinglin has already separated from you and it isn’t worth being kind to him. You should listen to your uncle’s words. Hurry up and find a woman while your health is still okay. Have a child and leave behind your blood.”

Qiu Xing told him, “Uncle, I have no intention of leaving anything behind.”

“You can’t throw yourself away! If you don’t have an heir, don’t you know that the Qiu family will finally come to Feng Qinglin? There are so many relatives in the Qiu family, especially Qiu Jingbang, who are ignorant. How can they fight against Feng Qinglin?”

The old man sighed. “I know, you don’t want to drag down a good girl. In fact, this is better. I’ll help you find a surrogate. Ah Xing, think about it. Your late father will be more reassured if he knows you are leaving behind a child.”