Xiao Shulang's ears turned red, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he leaned in to kiss him, whispering, "You're so good with words..."
Qin Shuang hugged him, letting out a soft laugh from her chest. She slowly and tenderly kissed his earlobe and cheek, cuddling him for a while before letting go: "I'll go cook."
A couple so sickeningly sweet it's almost painful to watch.
Qin Shuang told the aunt yesterday not to rush back, and the aunt understood. She only returned home this afternoon, after Qin Shuang had already gone out, leaving Xiao Shulang alone at home.
The bed sheets in the master bedroom had been changed, and Qin Shuang had washed them before leaving. The housekeeper smiled without saying anything and cooked some light dishes for dinner.
Qin Shuang met up with the rest of the crew in the afternoon and officially started work in the evening. He sent Xiao Shulang a short backstage video, and Xiao Shulang replied with an emoji saying "Good luck with your work."
In the past, no one could have imagined what Qin Shuang would look like with a gentle expression while staring at her phone. Now they all know. The female lead exclaimed, "Being in love really makes a difference. Even Qin Shuang, who is usually so cold, can be melted."
Qin Shuang never engages in scandals. The romance in the drama is fine to enjoy within the drama itself, but he would never let anyone misunderstand him off-screen. Once, someone tried to create a CP (couple pairing) with him, but after being rejected by Qin Shuang, they deliberately acted intimately in an interview. However, Qin Shuang remained indifferent, and no matter how much the other person wanted to connect, they couldn't spark any romance.
After everyone knew what kind of person he was, they all kept their distance. The on-screen couples were over, but off-screen they were just friends.
Therefore, during interviews, even if entertainment reporters tried to steer the conversation towards romantic topics, everyone answered without much error. Plus, Qin Shuang is currently in a relationship, so as long as they want to work together in the future, they won't be so tactless as to try and cling to her.
However, the host's skills during today's interview segment were clearly lacking. The more he tried to liven things up, the more out of line he became. It's okay to deviate from the original script, but a lack of professionalism is a serious problem. Many actors were speechless inside, but they still had to find ways to deal with it on the surface.
And now he's pulled another awkward move. He just asked the female lead about her love life, and after she answered him with high emotional intelligence, he turned to Qin Shuang and asked her the same question.
His words implied a desire to bring the on-screen couple to the stage tonight, as if he couldn't continue hosting without discussing them.
The female protagonist thought to herself, "Why don't you just shut up!"
The host, seemingly oblivious to the others' thoughts, continued, "So what type of person do you like in real life?"
There was an audience member at the stage tonight, and some of them were whispering among themselves, saying that the host was making a lot of unreliable statements.
The host wanted to hear a description, hoping Qin Shuang would answer in terms of personality and hobbies, but Qin Shuang didn't play by the rules. He directly said, "I like someone like Xiao Shulang."
The audience immediately exclaimed "Wow!" in excitement.
"Ah, well, that's true too."
Qin Shuang's words surprised the host, and the female lead seized the opportunity to interject: "Teacher Qin, don't forget to remind Teacher Xiao to watch the show!"
Realizing the host's unreliability, the actors simply talked more and started chatting themselves, reducing the host's space and actually improving the viewing experience.
After a busy night, the production team apologized to them, admitting they hadn't chosen a good host. After a long time, the entire crew reunited, and dinner was inevitable. When they returned to their lodgings, many windows were already dark, and everyone was sound asleep.
In the past, when filming and running PR campaigns, she always traveled alone and never felt uncomfortable. But now, in her hotel room, Qin Shuang felt empty and something was missing.
He took out his phone and sent a message anyway: "Are you asleep?"
There were still a few picture messages in the message box that Xiao Shulang had shared with him while he was working. He would see them when he finished, if Xiao Shulang was already asleep...
Xiao Shulang replied instantly: Not yet.
Not only Qin Shuang, but Xiao Shulang felt the same way.
After living and eating together for months, I've gotten used to seeing each other's faces during the day and feeling each other's warmth on my chest or back when I rest at night. Now that I'm all alone, I suddenly feel a little empty inside.
Xiao Shulang had already lain down, but he just couldn't fall asleep.
The reason you feel like something is missing is because you have more attachments in your heart.
I used to think it was unbelievable that other people would miss each other so much after breaking up. But when it happened to me, I realized that it wasn't an exaggeration; I really couldn't bear to be apart for even a second.
Xiao Shulang lay alone in his room and typed a few words on his phone: "Thinking of you."
The "typing" notification disappeared on Qin Shuang's end, and he immediately made a video call.
When the video call connected, Qin Shuang saw that the screen was dimly lit. Xiao Shulang probably only had a bedside lamp on. Her soft hair was lying on the pillow as she looked at him tenderly through the screen.
Qin Shuang reached out and touched the screen: "I miss you too."
"Just arrived at the hotel?" Xiao Shulang looked at Qin Shuang's attire. "She hasn't changed yet. Her look is quite nice tonight."
Qin Shuang held her phone a little further away so that Xiao Shulang could see it more clearly. The clothes she wore tonight were chosen by the sponsor, and Qin Shuang had already given them to him.
Xiao Shulang: "It looks good."
He also raised his hand and touched the screen, his beautiful eyes slowly fluttering, his voice particularly hazy in the night, touching the softest part of people's hearts.
"I just can't kiss him."
When he said that, Qin Shuang almost wished she could immediately pass through the screen and go back to him so he could kiss her.
Qin Shuang felt a stirring in her heart, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "I'll go back tomorrow."
He spoke to Xiao Shulang, and also to himself.
Xiao Shulang just looked at him and smiled, and Qin Shuang said, "Go to sleep."
Xiao Shulang: "Is that all?"
"Put your phone on the shelf and I'll watch you," Qin Shuang said. "If you can't sleep, I'll keep trying to soothe you."
Xiao Shulang laughed out loud. He turned over, holding his phone up to his face, and asked, "So when are you going to sleep?"
"I'll sleep if you fall asleep."
Xiao Shulang then got up, found a shelf, put his phone on it, and left the video on: "Go wash up, it's getting late."
Qin Shuang nodded. He didn't turn off the call, left the phone in the room, and went to the bathroom to wash up. The sound of running water didn't bother Xiao Shulang. He closed his eyes and listened. When Qin Shuang came out and picked up the phone, she found that the person on the other end of the screen was already asleep.
Qin Shuang then lay down, held her phone, and quietly watched him for a while until the smart bedside lamp in the house turned off by itself and the image on the screen became unreadable. Only then did he hang up the video call.
The next day, after finishing everything, Qin Shuang immediately rushed back. In the past, the house was taken care of by the housekeeper, and no one in the family was waiting for him or needed him, so his pace on the way back was always unhurried. Now that there was someone who missed him, he really wished he could sprout wings and fly back directly.
Although Qin Shuang rushed, she encountered traffic on the way and arrived home a little late at noon. However, there was still food left on the table, along with two sets of bowls and chopsticks.
“I let Auntie eat first,” Xiao Shulang said. “I’ll wait for you to come back so we can eat together.”
Qin Shuang squeezed his hand: "Eat first next time you're hungry."
"I'm not that hungry." Xiao Shulang hugged him. "You said you'd be home soon, so I wanted to eat at the same table as you. It's okay if we wait a little while. Welcome back."
Qin Shuang's throat moved slightly: "I'm back."
Xiao Shulang cooked lunch today; it was simple and home-style, but delicious enough. Qin Shuang drank the warm soup and said as she put down her bowl, "Let's go on a trip."
Xiao Shulang blinked: "A date?"
Qin Shuang nodded: "A date."
Since they started dating, they haven't had a proper outing together.
Xiao Shulang put down his chopsticks: "Okay, let's both schedule our time and make sure we have some free time."
I want to go out and see different scenery, and most importantly, be with the person in front of me.
Chapter 70 "I want to be your real family, will you?"
Although they had decided to go on a trip, Qin Shuang had several promotional activities for her new drama, and Xiao Shulang also had a few good jobs. So, with their schedules arranged, they wouldn't be able to find time to travel properly until a month later.
The good news is that they have more than ten days free, and they have planned a route where they can see a lot of scenery along the way.
Xiao Shulang was giving a personal interview that day, and even sitting alone, the corners of his mouth were curved in a smile, his good mood was obvious to the naked eye. A staff member struck up a conversation with him: "Mr. Xiao, you seem to be in a very good mood. Did something good happen?"
"Now that I've finished today's work, I can take a long vacation," Xiao Shulang said. "I'm naturally in a great mood."
The staff understood the longing for a vacation, nodding and saying enviously, "That's great! I want to go out and relax next time I have a vacation."
Qin Shuang has finished her work. After Xiao Shulang's filming this morning, they can pack their suitcases and head to their first destination this afternoon. A leisurely vacation and a wonderful date are beckoning. Xiao Shulang is radiating joy.
The interviewers were all working with Xiao Shulang for the first time, and they found him to be very easy to get along with, completely down-to-earth, and that talking to him or being with him made them feel happy. He was simply a perfect collaborator.
This interview was a live broadcast, designed specifically for him. It mentioned the shows he had aired, as well as the completed film "No Clothes." Of course, it also touched on his love life, which is of interest to everyone.
The live stream was packed with viewers, flooded with comments. Xiao Shulang's responses during the several humorous interviews were quite interesting, and everyone watched with great interest. After watching the interesting parts, when they heard about the relationship, they eagerly awaited some sweet moments.
Xiao Shulang and Qin Shuang are not people who like to post on Weibo, and fans haven't seen the two of them showing affection in public for a long time.
The host glanced at the teleprompter, feeling a little embarrassed, and asked, "Ms. Xiao, would you mind revealing who pursued whom between you and Ms. Qin?"
Speaking of this, Xiao Shulang couldn't help but laugh, after all, Qin Shuang initially mistakenly thought that he had feelings for her.
“It’s hard to tell the difference. Let’s just say we have mutual feelings and are pursuing each other,” Xiao Shulang said. “But I was the one who confessed first.”
That's right, he was the one who initiated the relationship, so he can say that with complete confidence.
The host chimed in, "The person who confesses first actually wins the first round."
Xiao Shulang: "I think so too."
The saying "the one who falls in love first loses" applies when both parties are not equally invested in the relationship. If they are mutually attracted and inseparable, the order in which they fall in love is not that important.
The important thing is whether the other person truly cares about you.
After the interview, Xiao Shulang stood up, shook hands with everyone, gave them autographs, and prepared to say goodbye. As he and Xiao Jiang were about to leave the room where the filming was being held, a staff member ran up to him with a flushed face and excited eyes: "Teacher Xiao, someone is waiting for you in the lobby."
If someone comes looking for you, or even follows you to your workplace, the staff should give their name, but they don't. Instead, they look excited, and their eyes are full of surprise.
Xiao Shulang's heart stirred, and he made a guess.
Since we'll have to go to the front hall anyway, let's go take a look.
When he got to the front hall, he immediately saw someone surrounded by people asking for autographs.
He was very easy to recognize; whenever he appeared, he would immediately catch Xiao Shulang's eye.
Xiao Shulang smiled and said to Xiao Jiang, "You can go home now."
Xiao Jiang smiled and waved: "Okay, boss!"
Xiao Shulang walked towards the man, and the people surrounding him parted to make way for him: "Ah, Teacher Xiao is here!"
With the path cleared, Qin Shuang's figure was no longer an obstacle in Xiao Shulang's eyes. His appearance here was indeed a pleasant surprise.
"How did you get here?" Xiao Shulang asked, but his eyes were full of smiles, and the answer was already obvious.
Qin Shuang took his hand: "I've come to pick you up from get off work."
Although he already knew the answer, hearing it from someone else was definitely different. Xiao Shulang shook hands with them and said to the people around him, "Everyone, I'll be taking Teacher Qin with me now."
The crowd that had been surrounding Qin Shuang for autographs burst into laughter and waved goodbye to the two of them, saying, "Teachers, come visit again sometime!"
The two went to the underground parking lot, kissed in the car, and Qin Shuang drove home. The aunt had already prepared lunch, and they could go out after eating.
The couple's planned trip included attractions both domestically and internationally. They would first visit the sea abroad, then return to China to climb mountains, exploring both the mountains and the sea to fully enjoy their vacation.