ARTBFAEWM 30.1

Chapter 30: Where’s the Hard Heart You Promised? Why Did It Soften? Part 1

Zhou Beiyang’s face turned red, but clearly, after years of pretending to be gentle and obedient, he didn’t lose his temper. Instead, his tone softened: “I told you everything already.”

As he said this, he walked out. Jin Yanliu grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, but missed. The pillow flew out of the bedroom, landing in the living room where Xiao Pangzi was, who stood there stunned.

Knowing these two brothers had conflicts was one thing, but seeing it firsthand was another.

He was shocked that they could argue like this.

Zhou Beiyang, with a dark expression, walked out directly. Xiao Pangzi picked up the pillow from the floor, hugged it, and stood at the bedroom door. Jin Yanliu was kneeling on the bed, looking fierce, and threw another pillow. Xiao Pangzi caught it in his arms: “Yanliu-ge, it’s me.”

Jin Yanliu asked, “Did you let him in?”

“No, no,” Xiao Pangzi immediately backed down. “I was just about to go out, and he was standing at the door. I greeted him, and he pushed the door open himself.”

Jin Yanliu said, “From now on, don’t let him into my room.”

“Got it.” Xiao Pangzi carefully walked over, placed the pillow back on the bed, and said, “You should rest. I won’t disturb you.”

“Rest? What rest!” Jin Yanliu’s face was flushed with anger. “I’m so mad, I’m wide awake now.”

Xiao Pangzi chuckled, licked his lips, and asked, “Why did you and Yang-ge argue? Didn’t things seem fine during dinner yesterday? What happened between you two last night?”

Jin Yanliu beckoned Xiao Pangzi over to sit on the chair.

“Do you think my relationship with Zhou Beiyang is… normal?”

Xiao Pangzi was taken aback: “…What do you mean?”

“Do I look like his brother?”

“Well…” Xiao Pangzi hesitated, “Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, no.”

Jin Yanliu frowned, “What do you mean ‘no’? If not brothers, what? Lovers?”

Xiao Pangzi, wanting to lighten the mood and speak a few kind words for Zhou Beiyang, laughed and said, “Yeah, we’ve all said that Yang-ge is sometimes more considerate than a boyfriend. My brother and I aren’t like that. We fought growing up, and after he got married, we grew even more distant. We only see each other during holidays and barely have anything to talk about. But you and Yang-ge are so close. Every time I see you two, I feel envious.”

Jin Yanliu lay down on the bed. “Really?”

He knew that in this world, especially for brothers like him and Zhou Beiyang who weren’t related by blood, some would grow distant. But he never thought there was anything abnormal about how close he and Zhou Beiyang were.

“Actually, it’s normal for brothers to have friction. Even couples sometimes want to strangle each other. Now that filming has started, you and Yang-ge are going to see each other all the time. You should make up. If nothing else, think about how carefully Yang-ge takes care of you day in and day out.”

Jin Yanliu turned over and looked at Xiao Pangzi, who continued, “I can see he’s upset, and you’re upset too. What’s the point?”

“It’d be great if he were upset to death,” Jin Yanliu said. “I just want to see him cry.”

Xiao Pangzi: “…”

Are you sure about that? Have you ever seen Zhou Beiyang’s terrifying side?

Even though Xiao Pangzi hadn’t seen it himself, he had a feeling that if Zhou Beiyang ever lost it, he’d be scarier than anyone.

When Cheng Fei arrived, he first pulled Xiao Pangzi out to ask what had happened. Xiao Pangzi said, “I don’t know.”

“You’re with him every day, and you don’t know anything? You don’t know why he’s been acting strange lately, and you don’t know why he argued with Zhou Beiyang?”

“I really don’t know. I asked, but he wouldn’t say… But Yanliu-ge did ask me earlier if I thought his relationship with Yang-ge was normal or not…”

Cheng Fei was startled.

Damn, he smelled gossip!

He immediately asked, “Why did he ask that?”

“I don’t know,” Xiao Pangzi said. “He asked out of the blue, and I was stunned.”

Cheng Fei felt like he had figured it out.

There was a 90% chance their relationship had been exposed. Jin Yanliu was probably afraid people would say they were messing around as brothers, and the psychological pressure led to their argument.

But really, this was something to take seriously. If anyone online ever dug up their brotherly relationship and spun it maliciously, it could turn into a massive scandal.

He immediately went into Jin Yanliu’s bedroom.

Jin Yanliu was still in a daze. When he saw Cheng Fei come in, he asked, “Why are you here?”

“I heard you and Beiyang had a falling out. I came to check on you.”

Jin Yanliu frowned. “Where’s Pangzi?”

“Don’t blame him. He’s just worried about you.” Cheng Fei pulled up a chair and sat down. “Come on, let’s talk.”

Jin Yanliu sat up. “Talk about what?”

“You and Beiyang. Are you scared?” Cheng Fei asked. “Honestly, there’s nothing to be scared of. It’s not like you were caught kissing in public or anything. I actually think the fact that you two were brothers is a good thing. Even if you get caught on a date or living together, you can always explain it away—brothers can be close, right? You wouldn’t even have to worry about losing fans over a relationship. Look how—”

“Wait a minute.” Jin Yanliu stared at Cheng Fei. “You…”

“I’ve known for a while,” Cheng Fei said smugly. “I think it’s great. I don’t know why you’re so embarrassed, not even telling us. Beiyang is a great guy, top-notch in every way. As long as your families agree, I think…”

“Wait, what?” Jin Yanliu cut him off. “You think we’re dating?!”

Cheng Fei: “…Aren’t you?”

“Dating my ass! He’s my brother. Brother!” Jin Yanliu said. “Why do you all think we’re dating?!”

Cheng Fei: “…”

As they continued talking, Cheng Fei exclaimed, “So, Zhou Beiyang has a one-sided crush? No wonder! I always thought your relationship seemed more than just brotherly.”

Well, that confirmed what Xiao Ai had said. He had really been too insensitive.

But thinking back, when did Zhou Beiyang start having feelings for him?

The more he thought about it, the creepier it felt.

He treated Zhou Beiyang like a brother, but Zhou Beiyang wanted to sleep with him every day!

Cheng Fei felt like this was going to be a real headache.

“Still, there’s no need to argue with him. Just talk it out. Beiyang isn’t the type to be unreasonable. Honestly, your relationship is something people admire. It’d be a shame if it ended like this.”

“There are things you don’t understand,” Jin Yanliu said. “I plan to draw a clear line between us from now on.”

Now was the best time to do so, the best excuse. If they reconciled now, they’d still have to break up later. Better to cut it cleanly in one go.

Jin Yanliu made up his mind.

He didn’t rest long before getting up. That night, the crew was shooting an important scene: Mu Huaying’s assassination of his biological father, Ye Qingdu. It was a group scene with a lot of action, including wire work.

When Jin Yanliu arrived at the set with Cheng Fei and the others, the other actors had already finished filming the banquet scene leading up to the assassination. Cheng Fei, with his gossip radar on, glanced at Zhou Beiyang and saw that his gaze never left Jin Yanliu.

That look was so blatant, so intense!

He had always thought Zhou Beiyang’s gaze toward Jin Yanliu was intriguing. But now, knowing the backstory, Zhou Beiyang’s gaze seemed filled with a tortured, burning passion that was both thrilling and worrisome.

Under the staff’s help, Jin Yanliu donned his wire rig. His upcoming stunt was a high-difficulty one. After a banquet, the slightly tipsy Ye Qingdu, supported by his servants, left the hall. In the empty courtyard, Mu Huaying would descend from the rooftop, sword in hand.

Because the post-production would involve special effects, the background was covered with a green screen. Jin Yanliu, with the help of Fang Dawei, climbed to the rooftop. Fang Dawei noticed his legs trembling. “Are you afraid of heights?”

“No,” Jin Yanliu replied. “I haven’t slept well the past few days, and I haven’t been eating properly.”

Combined with the excitement and nervousness of a wire stunt, he couldn’t stop shaking.

He was a bit of a diva, but safety wasn’t an issue. Liu Qichang and the team were more nervous than he was, double-checking the safety measures. Jin Yanliu glanced down and saw Lu Yao and the others watching him from below.

He immediately spotted Zhou Beiyang, standing with the safety crew, as if ready to catch him at any moment.

With Zhou Beiyang there, Jin Yanliu felt strangely reassured.

Zhou Beiyang was reliable.

The set lights dimmed, leaving only one faint light overhead. Jin Yanliu could only make out Zhou Beiyang’s blurry silhouette.

“Everyone ready? Shooting in 3, 2, 1, ACTION!”