I Became the Koi Actor After Entering the Book

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**Chapter 78: A Good Beating Will Fix Everything**

Translator: Namizaki

*********************

Even from a distance, Chi Zhongqiao could see Lu Yuzhou’s somber expression. Though he didn’t know what had happened, his heart overflowed with tenderness, impossible to conceal.

Only when Lu Yuzhou saw him did his restless emotions begin to calm, the fiery blaze in his heart finally contained. Yet, with so many eyes upon them, Lu Yuzhou refrained from showing too much affection, wary of being noted by those with ulterior motives.

Instead, he reached out, his fingertips brushing Chi Zhongqiao’s before firmly grasping his hand.

Chi Zhongqiao’s heart melted at this small, intimate gesture. “What’s wrong? Who dared to bully our Yuzhou?” He gently squeezed Lu Yuzhou’s hand, startled to find it icy cold.

Unlike Lu Yuzhou, who was always warm even in winter, never feeling the cold even in light clothing, what had happened today?

Fu Jingshen, who had been standing silently nearby, patted Li Xi’s back reassuringly before interjecting, “No one bullied him. We nearly had an accident just now.”

Chi Zhongqiao froze, then led the group to a small break room and locked the door.

“What happened?”

Lu Yuzhou restrained himself from hugging Chi Zhongqiao, but Chi Zhongqiao could feel his rapid, frantic heartbeat. His body was even trembling slightly, clearly still shaken from the near-miss, his entire being caught in the grip of lingering fear.

Chi Zhongqiao had never seen him like this before. A mix of heartache and anger surged through him as he turned to Fu Jingshen. “What exactly happened?”

Fu Jingshen explained, “We had a business dinner today, so we drove there together. The assistant was driving. On the way, you texted Yuzhou to remind him about the contract. The assistant had forgotten he’d already taken it out, so we pulled over to look for it…” His expression darkened as he continued.

Li Xi gripped Fu Jingshen’s hand tightly. Fu Jingshen licked the corner of his lip and said, “At the next intersection, a truck ran a red light at high speed, causing a chain-reaction collision. A van was sent flying and crashed into our car. We’re both fine, but the assistant was less fortunate—he’s in the hospital with a mild concussion.”

They had been incredibly lucky, escaping without even a scratch.

Fu Jingshen added, “Honestly, if we hadn’t stopped to look for the contract, we would have been at that intersection already.”

There would have been no escape. They would likely be lying dead in the hospital by now.

He let out a long sigh, the lingering shock still palpable. Even in the dead of winter, he was drenched in a cold sweat. After such a harrowing experience, both men yearned for comfort. They canceled their dinner appointment—the contract wasn’t particularly significant anyway, and the management team could handle it just as well.

Fu Jingshen’s words seemed to strike a nerve with Lu Yuzhou. He gripped Chi Zhongqiao’s hand tightly, as if holding onto the only lifeline tethering him to this world, so forcefully that Chi Zhongqiao felt a slight ache.

Chi Zhongqiao stroked the back of Lu Yuzhou’s hand and leaned down to press a gentle kiss against it. “Don’t be afraid,” he murmured. “I’m here.”

Lu Yuzhou clenched his jaw, his emotions stretched taut as if they might shatter at any moment. After a long silence, he simply leaned heavily against Chi Zhongqiao, exhaustion weighing him down. “Qiao-ge,” he whispered.

Chi Zhongqiao squeezed Lu Yuzhou’s hand tightly. “I’m here.”

Only then did Lu Yuzhou exhale softly, wrapping his arms around Chi Zhongqiao and falling silent.

He was far more terrified than Fu Jingshen. In his previous life, he hadn’t had Chi Zhongqiao. The Old Master had passed away before him, leaving him with no attachments in death. Even now, reliving the day he received the death notice brought no fear. But this life was different. The mere thought of death and the loss it would bring sent shivers down his spine.

I don’t want to lose him.

Lu Yuzhou gently kissed Chi Zhongqiao’s ear, finding temporary solace only in their close physical contact.

But…

Hearing the film crew outside calling for them, he reluctantly released Chi Zhongqiao, even managing a faint smile. “Qiao-ge, go shoot your scene first. I’ll wait for you for lunch.”

Chi Zhongqiao, still worried, squeezed Lu Yuzhou’s hand. As he saw Lu Yuzhou, his icy hand gradually warmed.

Fu Jingshen reassured them, “He’s just shaken up. Seeing you two has calmed him down. Hurry and get back to filming—Director Yu’s temper is worse than mine.”

Chi Zhongqiao leaned down and kissed the corner of Lu Yuzhou’s slightly reddened eye before leaving, glancing back repeatedly.

Li Xi, eager to keep an eye on the shoot, reluctantly followed.

As soon as Li Xi was gone, Fu Jingshen couldn’t resist teasing, “I thought you were going to cry.” To be honest, today’s experience had been quite novel—almost dying on the road. If Chi Zhongqiao hadn’t sent that timely message, and if the assistant hadn’t momentarily lost the contract in a daze, they would have been lucky to escape with just partial paralysis.

Even Fu Jingshen was terrified. When the van crashed into them, his first thought was: It doesn’t matter if I die, but what about Li Xi, that foolish child?

Being older, he recovered quickly. Lu Yuzhou, however, had already died once. He knew that death meant oblivion. With the people he cherished most still alive, he clung fiercely to life.

Lu Yuzhou retorted coldly, “When I cry, Brother Qiao comforts me. When you cry, does Li Xi comfort you?”

Fu Jingshen fell silent.

Comfort my ass! Li Xi would probably think he’d suffered a brain injury from the crash.

Fu Jingshen grumbled sourly, “Older lovers are definitely more considerate.”

Lu Yuzhou sat stiffly to the side, his expression dark. He suddenly remembered that in his previous life, Fu Jingshen had died in a car accident shortly before filming <The Patriot>.

So much has changed.

In his past life, he had first encountered the script for <The Patriot> at seventeen but had held off on filming it. Shortly after his college entrance exams, he uncovered Lu Zhuo’s schemes and severed all ties with the Lu Family. The Old Master, torn between him and Lu Zhuo, collapsed from a sudden cerebral hemorrhage and died.

After leaving the Lu Family, he never returned. At twenty, he used the assets he’d gained from his comeback with <Empress of the World> to finally produce <The Patriot>. He ultimately died at the film’s celebratory banquet.

Lu Yuzhou rested his hand against his jaw, meticulously organizing the timeline in his mind:

The day of the celebration banquet was his birthday. To be precise, he had died exactly at the age of twenty-one. This year, he was twenty. If he followed the timeline of his previous life, the Old Master would have had his accident last year. But in this life, Lu Yuzhou had been vigilant about the Old Master’s health. Every checkup showed the Old Master was in excellent condition—so vigorous that he could chase Lu Zhuo around with his cane when his temper flared. Still, the Old Master had been unwell for a few days during that period, staying in the hospital until he recovered. Throughout it all, Brother Qiao had made every effort to be by his side…

In his previous life, he and Fu Jingshen had never been close. He couldn’t recall the exact date of Fu Jingshen’s accident, but based on his calculations, it must have been around this time as well…

The greatest misfortunes had been averted in the gentlest way possible. Though faint traces of those events lingered in this life, someone with a more resilient spirit could likely ignore those lingering ripples.

However, he had indeed brought bad luck to Fu Jingshen this time.

Fu Jingshen shuddered. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Lu Yuzhou sneered. “Because you’re lucky to be alive.” He was freeloading off Brother Qiao’s good fortune.

Fu Jingshen had no retort. He was indeed lucky to be alive.

*****

“Brother Qiao! It’s your turn!”

Chi Zhongqiao had just stepped out of the break room when he heard someone call out to him. He acknowledged the call and walked over with steady steps.

Behind him, Li Xi noticed him tossing a tissue into the trash can.

Despite wiping away the cold sweat from his palm, Chi Zhongqiao remained a consummate actor. Facing Zhong Yin’s worried gaze, he replied without a flicker of emotion, “It’s nothing. Yuzhou just misses me.”

Zhong Yin: “……”

Why did I have to stick around and witness this dog food?

He turned to look at Li Xi, whose expression was strained, and asked with concern, “Did Director Fu come by for something?”

Li Xi replied woodenly, “No, he just misses me.”

Zhong Yin: “……”

After filming wrapped up, Chi Zhongqiao couldn’t bear leaving Lu Yuzhou alone watching him act. He asked Director Yu for a half-day off. After all, half his mind was always on Lu Yuzhou anyway, making it impossible to fully immerse himself in his performance. Rather than racking up retakes, he figured it was better to go back and keep Lu Yuzhou company.

Meanwhile, the Old Master, who was walking his dog at a friend’s house, learned about Lu Yuzhou’s near-death accident. So frightened, he refused to eat lunch until he could video call Lu Yuzhou and confirm his safety.

Chi Zhongqiao decided to go back to the Lu Family residence with Lu Yuzhou for dinner.

The Old Master’s heart, which had been hanging by a thread, finally settled when he saw his lively grandson bouncing around.

No matter how perilous the ordeal had been, at least Lu Yuzhou had returned safe and sound, limbs intact.

“As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters,” the Old Master said. “May the boundless heavens, Amitabha Buddha, and Jesus Christ protect you.”

Chi Zhongqiao: “……”

“Our Qiaoqiao is truly a lucky star,” the Old Master continued. “If he hadn’t sent that warning message… Aiyo, no, no, it’s all over now, it’s all over.”

The Old Master couldn’t even finish his hypothetical scenario before trailing off.

Lu Yuzhou and Chi Zhongqiao sat on either side of him, comforting him for a while until he calmed down. “How’s your assistant?” the Old Master asked. “Did you make sure he’s being well taken care of?”

“Mild concussion,” Lu Yuzhou replied. “He’s under observation in a VIP hospital room for two days. If everything checks out, he’ll be discharged. I’ll cover all medical expenses, plus additional compensation for trauma and nutrition.”

The Old Master sighed. “What a tragedy. Why rush for those few seconds? It caused a chain reaction of accidents. So many people in the news… Have you made a donation?”

Lu Yuzhou replied, “Brother Qiao reminded us on the way back. Fu Jingshen and I anonymously donated some money to the families who lost loved ones in the accident.”

The Old Master nodded repeatedly. “Zhongqiao is so thoughtful, so thoughtful… Oh, don’t go back tonight. Stay here for the night.”

Neither of them objected.

The Old Master, likely shaken by the incident, became unusually talkative with Lu Yuzhou, holding onto him and chatting until past nine o’clock, reluctant to let go.

Chi Zhongqiao decided to let the Grandfather and Grandson bond properly and went upstairs to wash up.

Watching Chi Zhongqiao’s retreating figure, the Old Master murmured, “Zhongqiao is such a thoughtful child, kind-hearted and blessed. I’ve heard he often brings gifts to the orphanage children despite his busy schedule. Most of his fans are young girls with soft hearts, and they frequently donate in his name. Zhongqiao himself is very fond of those girls. No wonder they adore him so much…”

Lu Yuzhou listened quietly.

The Old Master concluded, “Perhaps those who do good deeds truly receive blessings in return.”

Lu Yuzhou smiled faintly. “I know, Grandpa. Brother Qiao used to say, ‘Always leave some room for maneuver in life, not just for others, but for yourself too.'”

The Old Master squinted at him for a moment, muttering, “You’ve grown up… you really understand now.”

He picked up his cup and took a sip of water, then waved Lu Yuzhou away. “Alright, alright, go to bed. You’ve talked my mouth dry.”

Lu Yuzhou helped the Old Master upstairs to the second floor. When they passed Lu Yuzhou’s own room, he didn’t go in but instead escorted the Old Master to his bedroom door.

The Old Master looked puzzled. “I’m not crippled yet.” Having spent his life in the military, the Old Master’s iron-willed tenderness rarely lasted more than a few hours. Once the initial warmth faded, he started grumbling about his Grandson.

Lu Yuzhou replied, “It’s on the way.”

“On the way where? Your room is back there!”

Lu Yuzhou said calmly, “Get some rest.”

With that, he walked past the Old Master’s gaze, took two steps forward, and entered Chi Zhongqiao’s bedroom without even knocking.

As if it were his own room.

The Old Master fell silent.

How haven’t your in-laws in another city beaten you to death yet?

Oh, wait. That bastard Lu Yuzhou probably hasn’t made things official yet. He’s just a nameless interloper.

The Old Master entered his bedroom, his heart heavy with worry. Zhongqiao is such a good kid. How did Yuzhou manage to seduce him?

That night, after washing up, Chi Zhongqiao turned off the lights. Lu Yuzhou said, “Good night, Qiao-ge.”

Chi Zhongqiao leaned in for a quick kiss before snuggling under the covers.

But he couldn’t sleep soundly. He kept dreaming of pale, desolate tombstones, jolting awake several times. The third time he woke up, he silently propped himself up and gazed quietly at Lu Yuzhou’s face.

He couldn’t see clearly in the darkness, only a faint sliver of light. Yet those features were etched in his mind, having been traced countless times in his heart. Even with his eyes closed, he knew exactly what the man beside him looked like.

When awake, Lu Yuzhou was attentive and clingy.

But in sleep, he suddenly softened, his slightly stern brows relaxing as he nestled against the pillow, completely unguarded.

Chi Zhongqiao leaned closer, using the faint light to gently kiss Lu Yuzhou’s forehead.

Sleep well, my little clingy thing.

*****

After that, Lu Yuzhou seemed to have flipped a switch, becoming unusually clingy. Sometimes, Chi Zhongqiao felt like he was sleeping next to a sentient mochi rather than a living person.

He would often say things like, “Sometimes I’m afraid I won’t see you again.”

“I had a nightmare last night. I dreamed you couldn’t see me or hear me talking.”

“I love you the most, Qiao-ge. I’ll give you my whole life.”

*****

Chi Zhongqiao: “……”

He suspected Lu Yuzhou had fallen into a sugar jar and been pickled in sweetness.

He called Li Xi and subtly inquired, “Did Director Fu have any aftereffects after going home? Like, suddenly becoming extra talkative?”

Li Xi grumbled, “Yeah, he’s been super clingy. Yesterday, he insisted on taking me to an amusement park. A nearly thirty-year-old man wanting to go to an amusement park? Does he think I’m crazy? I have work to do with the crew! I don’t have time to goof around with him.”

Chi Zhongqiao quickly asked, “So, what did you do?”

Li Xi: “Beat him up, of course. A good beating usually fixes things.”

Chi Zhongqiao: “……”

He glanced back at Lu Yuzhou, who was intently reviewing documents. Behind his non-prescription glasses, his high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes, his features seemed sculpted to Chi Zhongqiao’s exact liking—impeccably handsome.

Chi Zhongqiao: I don’t think I could bring myself to hit him.

Mr. Chi fell into deep thought: Why is that?

Zaki~ English is not my first language, but I’ll try to get the translations as close as possible to the Author’s work. If you see any grammatical errors or mistakes in the translation, please feel free to drop them in the comments section so I can correct them immediately. Thank you and Happy Reading 🙂