After getting back into the car, he was still somewhat dazed, so he didn't ask where they were going next. It wasn't until Qin Shuang drove to their destination that he came to his senses and stammered, "We are..."
Qin Shuang: "My home."
Xiao Shulang shut his mouth and curled his fingers.
The villa that Qin Shuang is currently living in was bought by the Qin family from the original owner of the body. Last time Xiao Shulang came over drunk, Qin Shuang said, "I won't take my luggage to the film set. Leave it at my house."
Xiao Shulang pursed his lips and nodded.
Qin Shuang pulled her suitcase, and the two entered the house. The housekeeper greeted them, "Young Master is back! Oh dear," she exclaimed softly when she saw Xiao Shulang's red eyes, "What happened..."
Qin Shuang shook her head at her, handed her the suitcase, and asked her to help put it away. The aunt took the suitcase, still a little worried, but seeing that the two didn't seem to be arguing, she didn't feel comfortable asking.
Xiao Shulang sat down alone on the sofa. Qin Shuang took out the dessert made by the aunt from the refrigerator and placed it in front of Xiao Shulang.
Everyone says that sweets can improve your mood. The aunt's caramel pudding looked pretty good, but Xiao Shulang scooped up a small spoonful, raised his hand twice, and still couldn't get the spoon to his mouth.
He put his hand back on the table, the spoon making a soft sound as it landed on the porcelain plate. He didn't raise his hand, but another spoon touched his lips—it was Qin Shuang feeding Xiao Shulang her portion of pudding.
Qin Shuang held up a spoon: "Here you go."
Xiao Shulang's lips moved slightly, and finally he opened them and sipped the spoonful of pudding into his mouth.
It melts in your mouth, has a moderate sweetness, and is soft and smooth – it's delicious.
After Xiao Shulang and Qin Shuang confessed to each other about their time travel, they chatted about the origins of Qin Shuang's current residence. Qin Shuang then scooped up another spoonful of pudding and handed it to him, saying, "Until we choose a new house, live with me."
Xiao Shulang raised his eyes, but before he could speak, his mouth was stuffed with sweet pudding.
"If you don't like it here, we can move." Qin Shuang has another house, which is not as well located as this one, and she hasn't lived there for a long time, but she can move in immediately after hiring a housekeeper, which is also very convenient.
Xiao Shulang shook his head. He kept the previous house out of consideration for the Xiao family, while this villa was sold to the Qin family. Even if he had the original owner's memories of life in his mind, Xiao Shulang would not feel uncomfortable about it. The Qin family bought it with real money, and the house was nice, so why bother moving it away again?
"Didn't you say you really liked this place? Since that's the case—"
Qin Shuang interrupted Xiao Shulang: "Wherever you want to go, I'll go with you."
He put down the pudding, took Xiao Shulang's hand, and they had both been homeless before, so they understood each other's feelings best.
Having given my heart and pledged my love, I will never leave the other person alone again.
Qin Shuang cupped Xiao Shulang's hands in her own: "You are not alone."
Xiao Shulang's throat moved, and his eyes, which were still red, became sore again, but he couldn't help but smile.
My mouth and throat were filled with the taste of blood and rust after I had just cried, but now the sweet aroma flowed into my stomach and enveloped my heart. The credit didn't go to the two bites of pudding, but to the person in front of me.
“No need to change. For me, location is not a problem.” Xiao Shulang stretched out his other hand. “With you here, anywhere is fine.”
Qin Shuang was willing to go anywhere with him, and it didn't matter to Xiao Shulang. With Qin Shuang around, it didn't matter where they went.
The aunt put down her suitcase and was about to bring over two cups of hot tea when she saw their hands clasped together in the distance. She stopped and did not go forward. Qin Shuang looked up and met her gaze, then gently shook her head at her.
The aunt understood, placed the tea where Qin Shuang could see it, and then looked away.
After confirming that the aunt had left, Qin Shuang put her arm around Xiao Shulang and used a kiss to pry open his lips and teeth.
Xiao Shulang closed his eyes and welcomed him without resistance.
Whether it's sweet or bitter, it's all shared through close interaction, openly offered to each other without reservation. The sweetness of two people combined is very sweet, while the bitterness of two people sharing it diminishes the bitterness.
Qin Shuang's tongue lingered on the taste as she left, Xiao Shulang's chest heaved as he calmed his breathing, and Qin Shuang's fingers touched the corner of his reddened eyes: "Next time you come back, I'll introduce you to my family."
If the Xiao family can't become Xiao Shulang's true relatives, then there's still the Qin family.
He wanted to formally introduce Xiao Shulang to his family and let Xiao Shulang into his home.
"So you're meeting the parents already?" Xiao Shulang's originally heartbroken red eyes disappeared after Qin Shuang applied rouge to them. His expression became more relaxed, and his words flowed more smoothly.
Xiao Shulang said half-jokingly, "I'm not ready yet."
"There's still time." Qin Shuang kissed the corner of his eye. "Let's prepare together."
Qin Shuang heard a soft chuckle and a low response: "Mm."
After the heartbroken man left the Xiao family mansion, Qin Shuang comforted him at her own home, and the two even went to the kitchen together to cook a sumptuous dinner.
The auntie originally wanted to take over the cooking, but seeing how energetic the two of them were in the kitchen, she knew it was just the young couple having fun, so she didn't bother them and walked away with a smile, giving them enough space.
After having dinner early, the two took a taxi to the airport. Before boarding the plane, Xiao Shulang replied to a few work-related messages. His gaze swept over Xiao Mingfeng's profile picture—Xiao Mingfeng hadn't sent him any messages.
Back at the hotel where the crew was staying, Xiao Shulang even applied a compress to his eyes, as it would be troublesome to go on set with swollen, red eyes the next day.
Fortunately, the crying happened during the day, and the tears had mostly subsided by night. After applying eye compresses, there were no visible traces the next morning.
The director was absent yesterday due to an event, and I don't know what inspired him, but he was even more enthusiastic today, and he was stricter in instructing everyone on acting. Xiao Shulang seemed to like this.
An excellent guiding price means that he can study hard, make progress all the time, and immerse himself in the play and become another person. It seems that he can also temporarily put aside his own troubles. However, if this mentality goes too deep, it is easy for people to be unable to get out of the play.
Fortunately, he had Qin Shuang by his side, who made him aware of the time and place. When Qin Shuang transformed back into himself from Chu Beiyao, Xiao Shulang was able to immediately step out of the role of Hua Che.
After all, while it's good to forget all your troubles, he can't bear to forget his feelings for Qin Shuang, which is also the thread that brought him back.
Three days later, the crew encountered a large-scale war scene. In the plot, Hua Che and Chu Beiyao arrived at the border. Chu Beiyao led his army to fight against the enemy, while Hua Che defended the city and resisted the attacking enemy.
To create a grand and impressive effect, the production team hired a large number of extras and set up numerous camera positions, including aerial shots.
First, they filmed scenes of Chu Beiyao fighting the enemy on the plains, which included a lot of action and dialogue scenes. Then, they filmed the enemy's attack on the city, which took a whole day.
Everyone, from the actors to the crew, was exhausted after a long day, but they were all really looking forward to tomorrow because the emotionally charged scenes and famous moments from the drama were going to be filmed tomorrow.
Originally, a continuous scene was filmed separately, and the emotions could easily be interrupted. However, when Xiao Shulang was sleeping at night, his mind was full of the director's instructions, telling him to make his gaze even more ruthless and to do his best to portray Hua Che's image of being physically weak but having a heart as firm as a rock.
He tossed and turned all night, and the next day his emotions were still running high. When the clapperboard sounded, Xiao Shulang opened his eyes and revealed the look he had been preparing for.
Like a silent knife, sharp and keen, it shines in my eyes, supporting my ailing body while slaying all my enemies.
The director, watching through the camera, almost shouted "Bravo!"
Xiao Shulang let Hua Che come out.
His face was pale, and in front of him were people constantly reporting to him.
"Report! The arrows at the East Gate have all been used up!"
Hua Che remained completely calm and methodical: "Throw stones, wood, and heavy objects; we can't let them climb the city wall."
"The enemy has launched a new offensive towards the north gate. The city gate... the city gate... it seems it can't hold out!"
Everyone inside looked panicked, and one civil official cried out in despair, "Reinforcements... will we ever see reinforcements again...?"
"Stupid question."
Hua Che suddenly chuckled. He had caught a cold a couple of days ago, and today he was wearing a thick cloak and looked pale. He walked out slowly, untying the cloak as he went.
"Your Highness is engaged in battle with the main enemy force at Tiansha Pass. Once you win, you can immediately turn around and wipe out the enemy that has circled around to our side. We must defend the city for the sake of our dynasty's peace and prosperity, and for the sake of the people in the city."
Hua Che walked to the door, threw down his cloak, and took the sword from the rack: "If the north gate is breached, kill as many enemies as they come in. I'll be at the front, so don't panic."
He clearly still looked ill, yet his posture was as sturdy as a pine tree. Someone was shocked and hurriedly advised him, "Your Highness, you mustn't! You're still sick, how can you go into battle with a sword!"
When Hua Che first entered the Prince's Mansion, he was of low rank because of his status as a son of a concubine. Now, however, he is Chu Beiyao's legal wife, and Chu Beiyao petitioned the emperor to officially confer upon him the title of Prince, making him another master of the Prince's Mansion.
"What are you afraid of? If we don't draw our swords now, when will we?" Hua Che stepped out the door, mounted his horse, coughed a few times in the wind to suppress the coughing, and shouted, "All soldiers, follow me!"
As they rode swiftly, Hua Che took the lead and met the enemy troops who had broken through the city gates and were pouring into the city from the north.
Hua Che drew his sword, uttering only one word: "Kill."
The soldiers defending the city fought fiercely with the enemy, and Hua Che's clean clothes were stained with the enemy's blood. He could no longer remember how many people he had killed, but his body was not fully recovered and he was gradually losing strength.
In the distance, it sounded like thunder.
No, it wasn't thunder, it was horses' hooves!
Hua Che bit his tongue, forcing himself to stay alert. Were they enemy troops or reinforcements?
All the clamor seemed to fade away, until a distant shout rang out: "Your Highness! Reinforcements! Your Highness has returned in triumph! Reinforcements!!"
Your Highness...
Hua Che struggled to raise his hand to block the enemy's swinging knife. He was already too weak to exert any strength, and his palm was bleeding from the pressure. Just as the knife was about to hit his head, a gleaming knife pierced through the enemy's chest.
The enemy collapsed, revealing Chu Beiyao's figure.
Hua Che's strength was instantly drained, and he almost fell off his horse.
"Your Highness..." Hua Che tightened his grip on the reins and whispered, "I have fulfilled my mission."
Chu Beiyao touched his face: "Wait for me." He raised his sword high and ordered everyone to charge, "Pursue the enemy troops who have entered the city, leave no one alive!"
The sounds of battle from the reinforcements were deafening. The enemy's main force had been defeated, and the remaining troops were in complete disarray, hastily retreating. Hua Che dismounted, his previous murderous aura gone, and slowly moved forward as if taking a stroll. When Chu Beiyao returned after killing his men, amidst the cheers of the crowd announcing the "great victory," Chu Beiyao embraced him tightly.
Hua Che stumbled back two steps, then said helplessly, "Be gentle."
Chu Beiyao put his arm around him: "Why are you going into battle? You're still not fully recovered?"
"I'll guard the way back for the Prince," Hua Che said gently, his body covered in blood. "I'm willing to do it."
Chu Beiyao suddenly grabbed Hua Che's chin and kissed him fiercely.
The two embraced tightly, kissing amidst the lingering smoke and flames of war, and reunited in the cheers and tears of the crowd, celebrating peace and prosperity for the world and wishing them a long and worry-free life as comrades-in-arms.
Director: "Cut!"
"Good, very good!"
It was truly a grand event that they had been preparing for and looking forward to for so long! The staff applauded enthusiastically, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. Many were moved by the patriotism and even shed tears.
The director was about to give the two leads a good compliment when he discovered... the two were still kissing!
So the applause turned into a jeer, and whistles of varying pitches rose from the crowd.
"Yo↗↘↗↘"
"The two teachers haven't gotten out of character yet!"
"No, I felt like I was out of character, but the emotions were right, and I couldn't stop."
Amidst the cheers and jeers, Xiao Shulang and Qin Shuang finally separated, both with smiles in their eyes, not for Chu Beiyao and Hua Che, but for the person in front of them.
The director coughed twice, clapped his hands, and said, "Alright, that's enough! Stop making a fuss! Pack up and get ready for the next scene!"
The staff scattered like birds and beasts, and the actors could rest for a while. Xiao Shulang walked to the side of the stage to look for Xiao Jiang, but stopped when he saw the person next to Xiao Jiang.
Xiao Jiang, unaware of the situation, exclaimed with delight, "Brother Xiao! President Xiao is here! He praised you after watching your performance!"
The person standing next to Xiao Jiang was none other than Xiao Mingfeng.