He slept all the way to the airport.
Thanks to the status of the two big figures, Xu Qinghe and Qi Xun, Chen Yuxi tagged along through the VIP lane, entering the first-class cabin quietly and swiftly.
He sat down and continued to sleep.
He slept continuously until Xu Qinghe patted him awake.
“Are you alright?” Xu Qinghe asked with a worried look beside him. “Did you not sleep well last night?”
Still leaning back against his seat, Chen Yuxi put on a smile: “Yeah, I’m a bit sensitive to unfamiliar beds, so I couldn’t fall asleep for most of the night.”
Xu Qinghe let out a small sigh of relief: “No wonder. You were sleeping so soundly. If your complexion didn’t look fine, I would’ve patted you awake earlier.”
Chen Yuxi giggled: “I slept so deeply I didn’t hear anything. First class really is comfortable.”
Xu Qinghe was rendered speechless.
Chen Yuxi looked past him to meet Qi Xun’s gaze across the aisle, offered a soft smile, withdrew his eyes, and slowly sat upright, asking, “Are we about to land?”
Xu Qinghe: “Yeah, probably landing in about ten minutes or so. Sit up and take a moment to wake up.”
Scanning his face for a couple of seconds, he asked once more, “Are you genuinely okay?”
Chen Yuxi laughed: “I was just sleeping, what could possibly be wrong?”
Thinking that made sense, Xu Qinghe asked, “My family is coming to pick me up later. How about we give you a ride back?”
He knew Chen Yuxi didn’t have a studio or a talent manager, meaning no one would be picking him up, and he didn’t have a partner either—so of course he’d have to make his own way back.
Chen Yuxi waved his hand: “It’s fine, I’ll just take—”
“I’m going the same way,” Qi Xun spoke up calmly from the other side. “I’ll drop Teacher Chen off later.”
Chen Yuxi: “?”
“How do you know where I live?”
Xu Qinghe was surprised as well: “You know where Yuxi lives?”
Qi Xun: “I saw the production team’s registration form, though it only stated you’re in Yuan’an District.”
Light dawned on Chen Yuxi. Since he didn’t have a studio, the address he left with the production team was his rented apartment; Qi Xun likely hadn’t seen the complete address.
Xu Qinghe also remarked: “No wonder… Though is the production team’s document management really that lax?”
Qi Xun said casually: “Presumably.”
Without thinking further of it, Xu Qinghe turned back to tell Chen Yuxi: “Then just take his car. I heard from my spouse that the two of them are meeting tomorrow, so he definitely didn’t schedule any work for today—might as well take advantage of a free ride.”
Chen Yuxi glanced at Qi Xun, hesitating: “Isn’t that a bit inappropriate? In case we get snapped by paparazzi…”
Qi Xun: “Oh, I understand. We can’t affect the public reputation of top-tier superstar Teacher Chen, right?”
Chen Yuxi: “!”
“That’s not what I meant—” He pursed his lips. “Then I’ll trouble Teacher Qi.”
Qi Xun smiled without warmth: “Thank you, Teacher Chen, for not looking down on it.”
Chen Yuxi: “…You must be joking. If I get photographed with you, I’m afraid I’d have to pay you advertising fees.”
Qi Xun: “Sure. We can sign a contract later—acquaintance discount: buy two exposures, get one free.”
Chen Yuxi: “…”
He was actually making a joke?!
He looked at Qi Xun in disbelief, only to see the utterly distant, cool side profile of a guy playing it ice-cold.
…It was probably just his habit of having a sharp tongue.
Xu Qinghe was thoroughly amused: “Are you two performing a cross-talk routine—”
The plane’s PA system rang out, announcing that the flight was preparing to land.
He had no choice but to pause his banter.
Having slept intermittently for almost four hours, Chen Yuxi’s state was much better. Listening to the broadcast, he began packing away his eye mask and jacket.
The plane descended, touched down, and the passengers queued to disembark and head over to the baggage claim.
Given Xu Qinghe and Qi Xun’s immense popularity, both were wearing hats and sunglasses, wrapped up tightly.
Once they retrieved their luggage, Xu Qinghe couldn’t wait to head out: “My spouse is waiting outside, so I’ll head off first~ Little Xun, remember to drop Yuxi home—Yuxi, let me know when you get back!”
Qi Xun: “Bye.”
Chen Yuxi: “Bye-bye, Brother Qinghe~~”
Dragging his suitcase, Xu Qinghe vanished like a puff of smoke in the blink of an eye.
Withdrawing his gaze, Chen Yuxi sighed with emotion: “Brother Qinghe and his husband have been married for over ten years, right? Their relationship is wonderful.”
Qi Xun turned his head slightly, looking at him through his sunglasses: “If you’re envious, you can find a partner too.”
Pushing his luggage trolley slowly forward, Chen Yuxi remarked casually: “Can’t find one. Who’d like—sigh, I’d love to, but is a partner something you can just find whenever you want? Why haven’t you found one?”
Qi Xun shifted his gaze away: “Soon.”
Chen Yuxi: “…”
Did he really fool himself into believing that? Is a partner something you can just find whenever you want?
The two low-key exited through the VIP passage and went straight to the parking garage.
Chen Yuxi looked around: “Has the person picking you up arrived?”
Qi Xun: “Who said someone was coming to pick me up?”
He dragged his suitcase and turned in another direction.
Chen Yuxi hurried to keep up: “Ah? Are we taking a taxi? It’s really far from the city center here.”
Qi Xun: “Driving.”
Chen Yuxi: “…You parked your car at the airport?”
Qi Xun: “Mhm.”
Chen Yuxi: “…”
Even if it only cost about a hundred yuan a day, after filming a two-day show, why didn’t he get a driver to pick him up? This didn’t fit Film King Qi and Director Qi’s status at all!
“Aren’t you tired? Driving back to the city center from here takes another two hours!”
Qi Xun swept a glance over him: “Didn’t you take a nap on the plane?”
Chen Yuxi: “…”
Since the other party put it that way, he decided not to stand on ceremony.
Following him around the underground garage, he climbed into the man’s luxurious Rolls-Royce Spectre Cullinan.
The car glided slowly out of the garage, merging into the bustling airport road network.
Chen Yuxi glanced at Qi Xun, who had taken off his sunglasses, and hesitated before saying: “If you’re tired, we can swap and I’ll drive.”
Qi Xun threw him a glance: “You dare drive this?”
Chen Yuxi: “…It’s fine, though I don’t drive often, so my skills might not be top-notch, but safety shouldn’t be an issue.”
Qi Xun: “If it gets scratched, will you pay for it?”
Feigning shock, Chen Yuxi replied: “No way? You’re so rich and you’d still make me pay?”
Qi Xun: “…”
Chen Yuxi burst out laughing.
Qi Xun looked at him again, suddenly asking: “What’s the process if someone wants to order a song from you?”
Chen Yuxi casually answered: “No process needed. Whatever kind of song you want, I’ll just write it for you.”
Qi Xun: “…What about a contract?”
Chen Yuxi: “Of course there is! There are templates available—different copyright tiers have different templates. If you’re worried, you can have a lawyer check it.”
Qi Xun: “…Alright.”
Chen Yuxi stole two glances at him and added: “My songs are very cheap, and if you’re not satisfied, you can request revisions anytime.”
Qi Xun: “It’s fine. We’ll go by market rates; I don’t scam acquaintances.”
Chen Yuxi’s eyes brightened slightly, and he couldn’t help but smile: “Does this mean I count as an acquaintance now?”
Qi Xun: “…We’re not well acquainted. Get out of the car.”
Chen Yuxi: “Haha, we are, we definitely are!”
After saying that, he couldn’t help feeling emotional: “I never thought there’d come a day when I could sit around cracking jokes with a Grand Slam Film King.”
Qi Xun: “…What’s wrong with that? Am I not human, or are you not human?”
Chen Yuxi: “Hahaha.”
Without cameras and onlookers around, he realized Qi Xun spoke much more. Though his tongue remained sharp, it was… rather amusing.
He turned his head to study Qi Xun.
Qi Xun remained completely unperturbed, driving calmly.
Curious, Chen Yuxi asked: “Do you have many friends in the industry?”
Qi Xun asked calmly: “Think I have a sharp tongue and no friends?”
Chen Yuxi laughed again, putting it tactfully: “It’s alright, you’re just quite direct when you speak.”
Qi Xun: “As long as there are mutual interests, there are plenty of friends.”
…That was true enough.
Chen Yuxi had wanted to offer a few words of advice, but no matter how polite Qi Xun was, the reality was that they had only known each other for two days.
Deep advice between casual acquaintances was a major taboo.
Yet he heard Qi Xun ask him: “You write songs and sell songs… I heard you also take on some street performances. Why don’t you sign under a talent agency? Did you part on bad terms regarding profit-sharing with your former company?”
Perhaps because it was just the two of them, Qi Xun was talkative compared to his performance on the variety show.
Chen Yuxi’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a lighthearted tone: “Not really. I was just obscure, so my old agency didn’t make things hard for me. We parted ways amicably, that’s all.”
“Not considering signing with another one?”
“Probably not. I don’t have that much ambition. Talent agencies act like donkey drivers, driving people to work relentlessly. I’m way too lazy and laid-back; we wouldn’t get along.”
Qi Xun: “What if it’s an agency that doesn’t drive you like a donkey?”
Chen Yuxi didn’t take it seriously: “Where on earth is there an agency that doesn’t drive its artists like donkeys? Capitalists prioritize profit. If you don’t do work or take on gigs, how could an agency possibly keep you around?”
Qi Xun: “Then sign a commission-based profit-sharing agreement with no guaranteed salary.”
Amused, Chen Yuxi replied: “Then how is that any different from my current state? I’d just be giving away a cut of my earnings for nothing.”
Qi Xun: “An agency has far more resources; you wouldn’t need to go out sourcing gigs yourself.”
Chen Yuxi: “With my obscure level of fame, the resources and commercial gigs an agency gets me might not even match what I can get on my own… Forget it. Floating along like a lazy bum can still earn me a living, which is pretty good.”
Qi Xun: “You’re obscure precisely because you can’t source good resources yourself, not because you’re obscure that—”
“Alright, alright,” Chen Yuxi interrupted him with an amused chuckle. “Teacher Qi, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were planning on venturing into the talent management business.”
Qi Xun: “I’ve already ventured into it.”
Chen Yuxi: “…”
Keeping his eyes straight ahead, Qi Xun said: “Couldn’t you tell? I’m attempting to convince you to sign with my company.”
Chen Yuxi: “…You really know how to joke around, hahaha.”
Qi Xun said nothing.
Chen Yuxi: “Wait, you’re being serious?”
Qi Xun: “Why wouldn’t I be? It’s been open for three months already.”
Chen Yuxi was dumbfounded.
“I have no fame and… no ambition. Why would you want to sign me?”
Qi Xun: “Does Teacher Chen have so little confidence in his own musical talent?”
Chen Yuxi spread his hands: “Whether someone gets famous or not doesn’t depend on talent.”
Qi Xun: “…Fine. Give it some proper thought.”
Give what proper thought? Chen Yuxi wanted to poke fun at it, but glancing at the man’s cold face, he swallowed his words and changed the subject: “Don’t just talk about me, what about you… Are you really not going to act anymore?”
“Depends on my schedule and the script. My focus right now is on corporate management.”
Chen Yuxi knew this; the entire entertainment industry knew it.
Acting was merely a leisure activity for Young Master Qi; he was a genuine heir from a wealthy multi-generational family who joined the circle to experience life, inadvertently sweeping up a Grand Slam along the way.
At any rate, Qi Xun hadn’t taken on any acting roles in the past two years.
Speaking of which, Qi Xun’s first public appearance in two years was actually recording Long Vacation?!
It really was… regretful.
Chen Yuxi sighed: “With your talent, it’s a pity not to act.”
Qi Xun paused for a moment, countering with a question: “You think it’s better if I act?”
Chen Yuxi thought about it: “Your life and career should naturally follow whatever you enjoy doing. It’s just that as a movie fan, I’d still occasionally hope to see movies you star in.”
Qi Xun: “…You’re a fan of my movies? Forgive me for not being able to tell.”
Chen Yuxi smiled, tilting his head to look at him: “Who isn’t? Very few people aren’t fans of your movies, right? Even if I’m not an obsessive fan, I’m at least a casual moviegoing fan—I’ve contributed plenty of box office ticket sales for you.”
Qi Xun fell silent for a short while, then said: “I got it.”
Chen Yuxi: “?”
Got what?
Puzzled, he asked in a half-joking manner, “You’re not planning on going back to acting just because of a couple of words from me, are you?”
Qi Xun repeated his earlier line: “Depends on my schedule and the script.”
Chen Yuxi: “Oh, I see.”
So it was just polite pleasantries after all.
…It seemed they were still distant.
All that talk earlier was probably really just to sign him to his company.
To play it safe, Chen Yuxi stopped discussing industry topics and pivoted to casual, everyday chit-chat.
One moment they talked about food, the next about movies, and then they moved on to various national policies and the international situation… Each topic was safer than the last. RAMBLING on and on, they managed to chat for over an hour.
It wasn’t until Qi Xun asked, “Where is your place?”
Only then did Chen Yuxi notice they were almost at the district where his rental apartment was located. He quickly recited the address.
Qi Xun: “Set the navigation.”
“Oh, right, right.” Chen Yuxi pulled out his phone, turned on GPS navigation, cranked the volume to maximum, and placed it on the center console.
Following the navigation cues all the way, Qi Xun drove him straight into the residential compound, dropping him off at the underground parking garage before driving away.
Feeling thoroughly relaxed, Chen Yuxi dragged his luggage back to his rented apartment, took a shower, and didn’t forget to send Qi Xun a message asking if he had arrived home safely.
Qi Xun: Image.jpg
Surprised, Chen Yuxi tapped to enlarge it: it was an interior view featuring massive floor-to-ceiling windows, showing a night view of the city’s central CBD right outside—
!
Did Qi Xun go straight back to work at his office?
Unable to believe it, he couldn’t resist sending a text to inquire.
Qi Xun: Yes.
Chen Yuxi: …
He had just finished recording half a day of a variety show, took a flight for several hours, and then drove for another two hours…
It was already 8 PM, yet he still went back to work overtime…
Capitalists really didn’t have it easy either.
After a moment’s hesitation, he sent two more messages.
Chen Yuxi: Thanks for your hard work! [Clenched_fist.jpg]
Chen Yuxi: If I’d known you were going back to work overtime, I should have driven earlier.
This time, he waited for quite a while, but Qi Xun didn’t reply again.
Chen Yuxi tossed his phone aside and collapsed onto the sofa.
It seemed that a temporary intersection brought about by work had come to a final close right here.