Chapter 150: Jin Xia: So Reluctant To Part, Sister Qianzi: The Plague God Has Arrived
September 5th.
《Xing Ni》 wrap-up day.
The S+ modern idol drama crew, which had been in operation for a full three-plus months, finally ushered in its finale day.
Professor Chi was finally returning to his “planet.” He was about to leave Earth and also about to usher in the “ending” of his relationship with Qian Songyi.
On this day, a massive meteor shower descended, and people flocked outdoors, looking up in awe at the magnificent celestial spectacle.
Professor Chi and Qian Songyi stood side by side on the balcony of their home, a gentle breeze brushing past, teasing Qian Songyi’s hair.
She playfully coquetted with Professor Chi, her voice soft and glutinous: “Professor Chi, shall we make a wish together?”
Professor Chi’s face was calm, but a trace of sadness flickered deep in his eyes.
Qian Songyi was as lively and cute as ever. She closed her eyes, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her cheeks, her lips parting slightly as she silently made her wish.
I hope Professor Chi lives a life of peace and joy… um… peace seems unnecessary, so… joy it is.
Professor Chi gazed at her, his eyes filled with attachment and reluctance.
He thought he would say those words casually, but when he spoke softly, his voice trembled slightly, as if suppressing the sorrow about to surge from his heart—would an alien facing a girl like her also be “foolish and willing” like a human?
“Songyi, take good care of yourself. Remember… no kiss scenes, no intimate contact with other men… I’ll keep searching for a way to stay by your side, so don’t worry. Live happily.”
Qian Songyi kept her eyes closed, a teardrop quietly sliding down, tracing her cheek and dripping onto the balcony.
“What if… what if I really can’t come back? Then forget me completely.”
Qian Songyi abruptly opened her eyes, panic in her gaze. When she anxiously turned around, reaching out to grasp something, she found no one beside her.
Her hand froze in mid-air, her whole body drained of strength. She stood stunned for a long time, then slowly squatted on the ground and burst into unreserved sobs.
At this moment, she had shed the big star’s halo and idol burden.
She was just an ordinary girl who had “lost” her lover.
Indeed, she had never had any burdens in front of him—whether it was getting drunk at their first meeting, the elevator encounter, or the 15-second kiss…
She was so reluctant to let him go, so reluctant.
“I can’t do it. You… you can’t leave… Professor Chi, I order you not to leave…”
In the night, she uttered the most familiar “order” between her and Professor Chi. Professor Chi used to tease her for being “bossy,” but he was willing to listen, and she was willing to do it.
She wanted to be bossy one more time.
But unfortunately, no one cooperated this time. Professor Chi had really left—perhaps they would never meet again, never return.
Time almost stood still. Outside the camera, Chi Ye quietly walked up to Director Liu, looking at the girl in the shot who was crying uncontrollably, almost beside herself.
An inexplicable sadness and throb stirred in his heart.
—I won’t leave you.
“So good…”
Director Liu wiped the corner of his eye, and the female staff nearby all had slightly reddened eyes.
Jin Xia acted so well, it didn’t seem like acting at all…
《Xing Ni》’s story is so good. It’s not a BE; it’s the key HE that will explode across Asia!
“Director… should we call cut?”
Learning from last time, he only spoke weakly after Jin Xia had cried until her voice was almost hoarse.
“Are you dumb? How will she shoot later with a hoarse voice? Call it! What are you waiting for!”
Director Liu flew into a rage.
Deputy: “？!”
“Cut!”
The deputy called cut.
But Jin Xia was still crying.
Chi Ye felt a bit unsettled watching and walked over to squat down: “Don’t cry…”
“Why did you come out again?!”
Before he finished, the Empress Dowager pointed at Chi Ye with snot and tears: “You scum, how can you just leave like that!”
Chi Ye: “？？？”
“I didn’t! I…”
He paused, his tone suddenly softening: “I’m always right here.”
“Teacher Chi.”
Jin Xia suddenly reached out and gently hugged Chi Ye: “Don’t leave, okay? Let’s not separate.”
“Yeah, no separating, not leaving.”
“Promise me!”
“I promise you.”
After Chi Ye spoke, he asked curiously: “Why did you get so into character all of a sudden? Uh… I mean, haven’t I always been here? You weren’t like this before.”
“…” The Empress Dowager wiped her eyes, whimpering like a schoolgirl: “I remembered… you said before you were an alien… I was just thinking, what if you really are… After all, you’re so good-looking and talented. I’m afraid one day you’ll just fly away, wuwuwu…”
Chi Ye: “…”
6.
“Teacher Chi, you’re not Professor Chi, but you’re even better than him.”
“Alright, alright, I get it. I’m not an alien. I was joking, and you actually believed it?”
Chi Ye pulled the Empress Dowager up, and staff were already coming to do makeup.
Normally, with the Empress Dowager’s personality, she would “throw a small tantrum” and feel these people were “disturbing” them, but this time, she just messily wiped her face and said: “Hurry, hurry! I want the HE ending! I don’t want this ending!”
HE ending.
《Xing Ni》’s ending.
The entire film crew deliberately saved the ending for last because Director Liu had sensed that these two leads “could no longer distinguish between on-screen and off-screen.” Very sly.
But he hadn’t expected Jin Xia to be so proactive.
The large-scale set was taken down.
Three years later.
Qian Songyi’s career had seen significant development.
On this day, she attended the film festival activity with her companions.
Qian Songyi wore a gorgeous dress, drawing all eyes the moment she appeared, with flashbulbs flashing nonstop.
Just as she was about to step onto the red carpet, everything around her suddenly froze.
The crowd was frozen in place, even the confetti flying in the air hung motionless.
Qian Songyi’s eyes widened in shock, then she saw Professor Chi slowly walking toward her.
Professor Chi approached Qian Songyi and suddenly sniffed, smiling: “Sneaking cola again?”
He paused, took off his jacket, and gently draped it over Qian Songyi, his tone indulgent: “So afraid of the cold—why didn’t you wear more?”
Qian Songyi’s mind went blank, as if unable to believe her eyes. She slowly reached out, trembling as she touched Professor Chi’s face, tears instantly spilling out and sliding down her cheeks.
“Is it really you? Am I not dreaming…”
Professor Chi said nothing, pulling Qian Songyi tightly into his arms, his voice full of apology: “Sorry, I came back too late.”
He leaned in, and the two embraced and kissed.
The surrounding time and space returned to normal. The people around saw Qian Songyi and Professor Chi embracing and kissing, mouths agape in shock, the scene in uproar, flashbulbs flashing wildly—the red carpet kiss.
…
Night.
Home.
Comfortable massage chairs were placed on the spacious terrace, the coffee table laden with all sorts of little snacks Professor Chi bought for Qian Songyi, classic spicy strips, cola, barbecue, fried chicken, beer.
Professor Chi and Qian Songyi lay on the massage chairs, each holding a book, reading quietly. Occasionally, he lifted his head, gazing tenderly at Qian Songyi.
Qian Songyi tilted her head, smiling at Professor Chi, her peach blossom eyes curving into crescents.
Moonlight bathed them, plating them with a silver edge.
In this moment, the world seemed to quiet down, leaving only each other. Time was still, peaceful—this was probably the happiest moment in the world.
“…”
“Cut!!!”
“I declare, 《You Who Came from the Stars》—wrapped!”
3 a.m.
Director Liu dragged out the words, excitedly shouting the phrase that thrilled everyone—though some were reluctant, like Jin Xia, like Chi Ye.
“Teacher Chi, wrapped.”
Jin Xia was glum: “I don’t want to wrap.”
Wrapping meant rushing to other announcements and other work again.
“No worries, there’ll be plenty of opportunities later.”
Chi Ye comforted her, then said three words to the beaming Director Liu: “Rush it, rush it, rush it!”
He was still waiting for his share of Lao Ji’s cake!
“OK.”
Director Liu responded wearily yet excitedly—called a wrap-up day, but that classic red carpet kiss had taken the crew three full days to perfect.
It wasn’t a problem with Chi Ye or Jin Xia; this big scene involved too many actors and was on a huge scale, so they polished it until now.
But even so, his heart throbbed.
They say directors in the thick of it sometimes don’t know if they’re making a good movie or a bad movie.
He’d flipped the car multiple times before, but this time alone, he was certain 《Xing Ni》 was a good movie—it would sell big!
The leads’ appearances were too high, the character setups explosive, the plot explosive, the behind-the-scenes team explosive. He couldn’t think of a reason to lose again!
Those who looked down on me before—this time, I’ll make you see me in a new light!
Meanwhile.
Chi Ye was also saying goodbye to Jin Xia.
Yes, because the schedule was too tight, the CCTV Mid-Autumn Gala started on the 17th, less than 15 days away. He was supposed to go rehearse two days ago, since he was singing a song from his new album and needed to discuss preparations with the arrangement teacher in advance.
Unexpectedly, wrap-up was delayed two days. Now that it had just wrapped tonight, he had to fly back to the capital city to quickly join his team for production.
“Teacher Chi, remember to sleep and wake early, no staying up late… Your skin’s gotten worse lately. And every morning, noon, and night, you have to talk to me. I won’t message you first, but you have to message me first—I’ll reply instantly!”
Jin Xia trotted after Chi Ye back to the hotel, then started “packing” his suitcase—um, this suitcase had been packing for five days and somehow got messier.
Mainly because the Empress Dowager obsessively wanted to fold every piece of clothing to eye-pleasing perfection, refolding if unsatisfied, and liked adding “little thoughtful touches” for Chi Ye.
For example, she’d secretly slip little notes into Chi Ye’s clothing pockets, with things like “Remember to eat on time, no being picky!” “Sleep early, wake early, match my schedule” “When you miss me, look at the sky—maybe I’m missing you too” and other little girl thoughts.
Also, whatever clothes she liked on Chi Ye, she’d buy them and put them in his suitcase. For daily items like his worn-out razor, she’d secretly replace them with luxury brand new models she’d bought him.
—No way it could be fast.
Chi Ye looked at the “meticulously” yet “messy” suitcase and felt a headache coming on.
Let’s be real, the Empress Dowager can’t do this job— no need to force it. A suitcase that’s constantly moved can’t stay perfect.
“Teacher Chi, wait for me five minutes… fifty minutes, I’ll be done soon.”
Chi Ye moved his lips and looked at Sister Mi.
Sister Mi patted her head, speaking softly: “Xia Xia… Chi Ye is going to an official program, very important.”
“…”
Jin Xia silently stood up, mood low, mumbling: “Fine… then I won’t pack. You go.”
Chi Ye: “?”
Seeing her like this, Chi Ye inexplicably softened, wanting to reach out but remembering how after last time’s off-script “forced kiss” the Empress Dowager avoided him for days, so he held back and just said: “Next time, I’ll let you start packing a month in advance!”
“Huh?!”
Jin Xia’s eyes lit up, then she pouted: “Who cares? I just like playing this game… aiya, go go, don’t be late. I’m not bothering you anymore!”
As she spoke, she turned and went back to her room. Chi Ye wasn’t surprised; he knew the Empress Dowager wasn’t mad but afraid of “parting.”
“Then that’s it for now… Take good care of Xia Xia usually. She’s gone wild lately, but no too much junk food—what if it ruins her health later?”
Chi Ye was going full Reversing Heaven and Earth now.
Sister Mi found his words absurd—damn, who’s the agent here?
And you, you met Xia Xia precisely “thanks to” junk food, and now you’re dropping the bowl to curse the cook!
“Got it, son-in-law.”
Sister Mi’s tone was neither warm nor cold.
Chi Ye’s face stiffened: “What kind of talk is that? I’m not that kind of person!”
You’re not human.
Sister Mi spat.
“I’m off.”
Chi Ye didn’t chat more with Sister Mi, waved, Xiao Liu swiftly grabbed the stuff, and Chi Ye took his team members straight to the capital city—CCTV Building.
…
The next morning.
CCTV Building.
Shi Jinwei’s team arrived on site. In the backstage, Sister Qianzi crossed her legs, her little face shocked and incredulous: “What did you say?!”
“The program team wants me to duet with Chi Ye?!”
“Yes.”
The assistant nodded, then glanced around, lowering her voice excitedly: “Sister Shi, I heard the inside story—apparently after Chi Ye got the CCTV invitation, he proactively requested to duet with you!”
“Huh?!”
Shi Jinwei’s fine brows arched, her mouth twitching up uncontrollably before smoothing, then she snorted coldly: “Impossible! Tell the program team, how could I, Shi Jinwei, perform a duet with someone like him?!”
“I’d sooner jump from here than cooperate with him!”
The assistant paused, cheekily saying: “Sister Shi, just laugh if you want to laugh. No one’s around.”
Shi Jinwei: “？!”
She “raged”: “You think I’m happy? Wrong! Quite the opposite!!”
