When they returned home, Mrs. Yan and Yan Tiefeng were still in the living room. It was already late at night, yet they were waiting for him.
Yan Tiefeng smiled and asked: "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Shen Jintai said: "I'm a little disappointed but I've adjusted to it. It's only normal when five people are competing for a single prize, there's an 80% chance you'll fail."
Yan Tiefeng nodded and said: "Victory or defeat is commonplace for soldiers. This kind of thing will be indispensable in the future, and it will be the same in any circle."
"Alright, enough." Mrs. Yan tugged at him and said to Shen Jintai, "It's getting late. You must be very tired too. Go back and rest."
Yan Qiuchi followed him upstairs when Mrs. Yan stopped him: "Qiuchi, stay for a while. I have something to tell you."
After Shen Jintai went upstairs, she motioned to Yan Qiuchi to sit down and asked Yan Tiefeng to go back to his room to sleep.
Yan Tiefeng: "What's so secretive that you won't let me listen."
"About Qiuchi's company," Mrs. Yan said.
Yan Tiefeng smiled, probably knowing what she was going to say, so he went upstairs.
Yan Qiuchi unbuttoned his suit, sat down, and looked at her.
Mrs. Yan: "What do you think of Xiao Jin's acting? Is it good?"
Yan Qiuchi thought she was still annoyed about the award ceremony, so he replied: "There are many factors that made it hard for him to win tonight's award. It doesn't mean that his acting was worse than others."
"His popularity is now first-class in China, right?" Mrs. Yan asked again. Yan Qiuchi turned and looked at her. She continued: "Working with such an actor is also a good thing for Sunshine Media. He won't drag you down. If you have a good outlook, you must first consider Xiao Jin. Your company takes in so many projects every year. If there's a suitable one, you must choose him. Today's regret will be repaid."
Mrs. Yan was even more devastated and emotional than Shen Jintai himself.
Yan Qiuchi was silent for a while, then nodded: "I will."
Mrs. Yan then asked: "What happened to your watch?"
Yan Qiuchi, who getting up, glanced down at his wrist when he heard her question.
Mrs. Yan also stood up and said: "The watch you and Xiao Jin are wearing is the same model. Is it a coincidence?"
Yan Qiuchi said: "No." He was straightforward and didn't hide it: "I gave it to him on his birthday. I have this watch and thought it suited him, so I gifted him one as well."
Mrs. Yan thought this statement should be true. After all, if her son knew about couples' watches, he wouldn't be single at his age right now. However, she still felt there was something subtle between Yan Qiuchi's feelings for Shen Jintai.
"Go and rest," Mrs. Yan said: "My Xiao Jin is going to take best actor. Even if you don't help him, you have to at least let me get this off my chest. I'm extremely upset tonight."
—
Shen Jintai took a shower and then laid on his bed as he read his messages. Many people had sent him messages to comfort him. There were too many and he didn't want to reply to them so he let out a sigh, turned off the light and laid in the dark.
When he woke up the next day, the entire internet felt sorry for him. As a top idol, his fan wouldn't pity him too long, but he was so hot that he had successfully abused a handful of them. It wasn't only just gold powder that were injected with chicken blood and loyalty. Even many passersby have became fans. They pity Li Xu in the drama and now Shen Jintai in reality. Since then, his black history truly became history.
After this battle, he officially became a top star.
Next month, he would be entering the crew for his new film where he plays a pilot. Physical training was indispensable so during the day he went to his coach for special training. When he returned to the Yan's house at night, he didn't relax. He continued his fitness regime in the home gym. He planned to build up some abs.
During his special training he was seen by the director when he was undressing. The director felt that he didn't have the look of a soldier. His comments were "too pink and tender".
Shen Jintai was embarrassed by what he said. He wanted to blame this hateful system!
"Xiao Ai!" he called.
With a ding dong, Xiao Ai came online: "Dear!"
"It's been a long time since I saw you. Has Qingquan's affection for me not changed at all? It's not possible."
He abused a wave of fans last night, and he should have abused Bai Qingquan too.
"My Dear, first thing you call me for me is because of Qingquan," Xiao Ai's tone was flattering but seeing as Shen Jintai was serious, he hurriedly said: "It's like this dear. He went from extremely disgusted to not so disgusted, then from not so disgusted to affectionate. This level of change was extremely drastic, so the system has more basis for scoring. Now that his favorability has risen to friendship, no matter how it changes, the change is still between the levels of friends. There has been no further development, so the score cannot be move."
"Do you know why he doesn't feel anything other than friendship for me?" Shen Jintai said: "Just because of your rewards, I now have a nicer ass than him, a more tender chest than him, and a thinner waist than him. From head to toe, how could I look like this and attack him? He is a victim! A victim! I want to attack him! You should make me more aggressive!"
Xiao Ai smiled and said: "Kiss~ Don't get excited. If you only look at body types when attacking and receiving, what do you think about those tall 0's or short 1's. Although you are beautiful, you have a heart of a gong. Oh! And you can improve your body shape with exercise and practice. You already light and have good abdominal muscles. Personally, I think the way you are now is best and will help your career the most!"
Hearing Xiao Ai talked about his career, Shen Jintai calmed down. What he said was true. If he doesn't undress, he really has the best looks and figure for an actor. It wasn't too stiff or too weak. It's not overly beautiful but had splashes of handsomeness. He could be a beauty that can advance, attack, retreat, and defend. Such versatility!
"It's a problem if it's going to stay like this all the time. Now that filming of East Palace is over, he and I have very little interaction." Shen Jintai said: "I can't flirt with him even if I want to."
Xiao Ai: "Dear, do you want to listen to Xiao Ai's suggestion?"
Shen Jintai: "Go ahead."
Xiao Ai: "Xiao Ai recommends that you participate in <When You're Older>. That movie tells the story about an entanglement of a pair of gay men for several lifetimes. From passionate love to parting, there will be lots of intimate contacts! This would be a chance for you to show your charm!"
Shen Jintai was a bit influenced by Xiao Ai's words.
Xiao Ai: "Dear, if I were you, I wouldn't consider where to take a role or not. Complete the task first, be able to survive, and become a normal person. This is the most important thing, isn't it? Otherwise, wouldn't your success and fame be like a dream in the end?"
This felt... quite reasonable.
Shen Jintai: "As long as I let Bai Qingquan fall in love with me, that'll also clear the main task?"
Xiao Ai: "Well, it's one in the same. Bai Qingquan, as the original book shou, has the strongest view of love. Once he falls in love with someone, he will never love another again in this life... The protagonists in the novel are all set in this way... So, if he falls in love with you, it will naturally be no different from the male protagonist not falling in love with him."
Shen Jintai: "You mean... I don't have to let Bai Qingquan fall in love with me? As long as one of them falls in love with someone else, I will clear the task?"
Xiao Ai: "Well, the system makes sure it has to be foolproof, so it may not be enough to simply fall in love. It takes a very powerful love for the volcano to erupt!"
"......"
Xiao Ai: "Dear, the characters in the novel have a strong view of love. Believe me, as long as they fall in love with you, sooner or later there will be that day where 'every day and night' is not a problem!"
What a shameless novel!
After Xiao Ai went offline, Shen Jintai thought about it. If he doesn't attack Bai Qingquan, there was also the alternative of making Yan Qiuchi fall in love with someone else. While lost in his thoughts, as he entered the room, he saw Yan Qiuchi running on the treadmill.
Yan Qiuchi was running crazy with headphones on. His neck and face were red, as sweat was dripping down completely drenching his T-shirt that clung tightly to his back.
"What a coincidence. You're here too." Shen Jintai hurriedly greeted him.
Yan Qiuchi turned to look at him. He suddenly lost his footing and almost fell to the ground. Shen Jintai was so frightened that he quickly stretched out his arm to help him, and when he touched Yan Qiuchi's body, he found that he was drenched. The sweat from Yan Qiuchi's body had covered his hand.
Shen Jintai: "Be careful."
Yan Qiuchi stopped the treadmill. He looked at Shen Jintai while panting as beads of sweat dripped down his flushed cheeks.
"You practice so hard." Shen Jintai said with a smile.
Yan Qiuchi replied with a "Nn" and wiped his face with a towel.
Shen Jintai had already gone to the treadmill next to him. Yan Qiuchi glanced at him, put on his headphones, and continued running. His energy has nowhere to vent, and his mind is always thinking about it. He needed extreme fitness methods so that he had no time to think about anything else.
A pool of autumn water ripples, and a golden pavilion is reflected in the ripples*.
*Clarity: This is a metaphor that needs to be deconstructed to fully understand and appreciate the meaning. Pool of autumn refers to Yan Qiuchi. Qiuchi (秋池) means autumn pool. Water ripples is a metaphor for his emotions. Its referring to normally his heart (pool of Autumn water) is always calm, but it's now affected by something/someone causing "ripples". The source of that someone is the golden pavilion which refer to Shen Jintai. Remember Jin (金) in Jintai means gold. Put it all together it means the normal quiet feelings inside Yan Qiuchi is now being stirred by Shen Jintai.
Yan Qiuchi pursed his lips tightly. His face flushed. Out of the corner of his eye, he looked at Shen Jintai next to him.
It was May and the weather was hot. Shen Jintai only wore shorts and a thin shirt. The shirt was well-fitting, that it showed off a good figure underneath. He had a long neck and wide thin shoulders. His undulations on the treadmill looked smooth and natural. From top to bottom he had perfect ravines and mountains. His legs were fair, thin and long, with very little leg hair.
Shen Jintai started to sweat after a while of running. His hair became damp as sweat ran down his throat, making him look extremely seductive.
Yan Qiuchi opened his mouth slightly and felt that he was desperately thirsty. He staggered under the treadmill and quickly stopped it. He turned slightly to his side, back facing Shen Jintai, as he started panting.
Shen Jintai turned his head to look at him while running only to see Yan Qiuchi's drenched back. Even his trouser was soaked.
Yan Qiuchi was in shape so he should know what he was doing and wouldn't encounter any problems.
Suddenly Shen Jintai recalled what he was thinking about before entering the fitness room. If he compared Yan Qiuchi with Bai Qingquan, he felt that Bai Qingquan was more likely to fall in love. He looks like a thirsty little 0 beauty on the surface. Unlike Yan Paifang, who seems emotionally stunted, it shouldn't be difficult for Bai Qingquan to have feelings.
He turned his head and glanced at Yan Qiuchi again examining his wide shoulders and thin waist. His tall and sturdy silhouette was wrapped in drenched clothes. Just looking at his shoulders and back, Shen Jintai could tell he was a man among men.
It's a pity that at an age when Yan Qiuchi's body was in peak demand, Shen Jintai wasn't sure how long it will take for Yan Qiuchi to meet another person. From what he could tell, it may take a very long time. He was still a domineering president of a company, and everyone regarded him with an icy abstinence personality. In reality, he was a patient with a severe skin hunger. Shen Jintai couldn't help but feel pity and emotional thinking about it.
It's not because the weather was too hot that he couldn't sleep so he's pushing himself like crazy doing exercises, right?
Thinking about it this way, Shen Jintai sympathized with him even more.
A harmonious society and a harmonious system. How could they make the male protagonist full of sexual tension.
While thinking about this, Shen Jintai noticed that Yan Qiuchi had turned his head. He immediately snapped his gaze away, adjusted the speed on the treadmill dripping sweat onto his arm, and pulled up his shirt to wipe his face.
Yan Qiuchi caught sight of Shen Jintai's exposed abdomen, and his eyes focused on the smooth and well-proportion waist. It was hypnotizing.
This waist......
The author has something to say:
This waist is not only beautiful but also practical.
Kinky Thoughts: Shen Jintai... #1 naïve person in the world.
Shen Jintai: I'm a gong! Why are you making my body into a #1 shou?!
Xiao Ai: As long as your heart is a gong it'll never change~~ Besides this body is perfect for your career!
Shen Jintai: ...you have a point.
I too look forward to 'every day and night'. That practical waist will be put to good use.