I Became the Koi Actor After Entering the Book

**Chapter 80: The Peony Awards**

Translator: Namizaki

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

Seventeen days after its release on February 6th, the magazine had sold 170,000 copies and was completely sold out.

All ten bookmarks had been found, and those who obtained them couldn’t resist showing them off online.

With only ten bookmarks hidden among 170,000 copies, anyone who drew one could truly be considered a super lucky charm. Who wouldn’t strut around like a proud seal basking on the shore?

Before all ten bookmarks were claimed, Lu Yuzhou had quietly bought over a thousand copies. But whether his luck had run out or not, he didn’t find a single bookmark.

After tearing open the last magazine, Lu Yuzhou shook it out. Nothing.

Lu Yuzhou: “……”

After a moment of contemplation, he concluded: Qiao-ge must have been too busy lately to look after him, which explained his poor luck.

“Yuzhou.”

A knock on the door accompanied Chi Zhongqiao’s voice: “Do you remember where I put that watch I bought last week?”

Lu Yuzhou reflexively tossed the magazine into a cardboard box. Through the gap in the open box, one could see neatly stacked magazines, each copy pressed flat at all four corners.

There were six such boxes in the storage room.

Lu Yuzhou opened the storage room door to find Chi Zhongqiao standing at the entrance with an empty box in hand. Seeing him emerge, Chi Zhongqiao asked, “Why were you in there so long?”

Lu Yuzhou cleared his throat. “Just organizing some things.”

He took the box from Chi Zhongqiao, glanced at the logo, and said, “Why did you decide to wear this? It got a little wet the other day and I sent it in for repairs. Qiao-ge, you should wear a different one.”

Chi Zhongqiao replied, “Isn’t the Peony Awards opening today? I wanted to wear a new watch.”

As a celebrity, wearing the same suit or accessories repeatedly would invite ridicule from the media.

Lu Yuzhou said, “Qiao-ge, go change first. I’ll get you a watch.”

Chi Zhongqiao had no idea where any of the miscellaneous items in the house were kept. If Lu Yuzhou hadn’t already laid out his suit, he might have struggled to find it even in the walk-in closet.

“Alright, I’ll go change then.”

For Chi Zhongqiao, the Peony Awards this month were different from last month’s Flying Hope Awards. At the Flying Hope Awards, he had merely been an observer, but at the Peony Awards, he was a nominee for several major awards.

Du Yusheng was in a frenzy from early morning, pacing anxiously. Chi Zhongqiao had received three nominations, and the media’s attention on him was overwhelming. Even while Chi Zhongqiao was still in bed, Du Yusheng had called Lu Yuzhou, urging him to wake Chi Zhongqiao, get him dressed, and prepare his acceptance speeches.

Chi Zhongqiao changed into a suit in the walk-in closet. His taste in clothing was the complete opposite of his preference for flashy light signs—he loved flamboyant signs but always dressed in minimalist styles.

Especially for formal occasions, his suits were almost always solid black or white, rarely even striped.

But the simpler the color, the more it accentuated his features.

After changing into a black suit, he glanced down to fasten his watch. As he walked out of the closet, he noticed Lu Yuzhou staring at him. He smiled, “Do I look good?”

Lu Yuzhou stepped forward and gently wrapped his arm around Chi Zhongqiao’s waist, careful not to wrinkle the suit. He leaned down affectionately, nuzzling Chi Zhongqiao’s cheek. “You look amazing. It really suits you, Qiao-ge.”

Chi Zhongqiao lightly pinched Lu Yuzhou’s chin and leaned in for a quick kiss. “You can look all you want now. Once we’re out, everyone else will be looking too.”

Lu Yuzhou glanced at the small clock on the bedside table and chuckled. “Then I’d better get my fill first…”

He asked politely, “May I have five minutes for kisses?”

*****

Lu Yuzhou personally escorted Chi Zhongqiao to the opening ceremony of the Peony Awards. Turning back, he fastened Chi Zhongqiao’s suit jacket, while Du Yusheng, sitting in the back seat, could barely stand to watch.

Lu Yuzhou slowly withdrew his hand, his voice low and gentle: “I really can’t stay with you today, Qiao-ge.”

Today’s meeting was crucial; he had to attend. Even using his influence to carve out personal time wouldn’t allow him to stay with Chi Zhongqiao.

Chi Zhongqiao had Lu Yuzhou’s schedule. Though Lu Yuzhou never mentioned the perilous power struggles at Lu Corporation headquarters, Chi Zhongqiao knew how deep the waters ran there and how unavoidable today’s meeting was.

Suppressing his worry and helplessness, Chi Zhongqiao smiled. “The business world is a battlefield. I’ll be waiting for your triumphant return.”

Sunlight streamed through the windshield, casting layers of tender warmth. Lu Yuzhou replied, “Alright.”

Though nothing had happened in the car, Du Yusheng in the back seat felt like he was going blind. He bitterly regretted not riding with Zhong Yin and the others. What was I thinking? he wondered. Worrying about Chi Zhongqiao being nervous and needing psychological support? I’m the one who needs psychological support now!

Du Yusheng choked, nearly suffocating himself.

Chi Zhongqiao woke up at the sound of his coughing. “What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.

Du Yusheng replied expressionlessly, “Choked on the dog food.”

With that, he automatically got out of the car and wandered off to the side.

Chi Zhongqiao chuckled and pushed open the car door. “Alright, you should get to work.”

Lu Yuzhou swiftly brushed his fingertips against Chi Zhongqiao’s.

Chi Zhongqiao’s gaze softened. Afraid he’d be unable to leave if he stayed in the car any longer, he quickly got out, closed the door, and waved through the window at Lu Yuzhou. Knowing Lu Yuzhou wouldn’t leave first, he took two silent steps in place before turning and walking away.

Only after Chi Zhongqiao’s figure disappeared from sight did Lu Yuzhou start the car. The black SUV glided smoothly out of the parking lot.

*****

Chi Zhongqiao met Yan Yiyun and the others backstage. Yan Yiyun had also been nominated for the Best Newcomer Award, but she knew she stood no chance. Even without Chi Zhongqiao, the award wouldn’t go to her.

Yan Yiyun wore a champagne-colored cocktail dress and striking makeup, a stark contrast to her pure and flamboyant campus belle image in <Campus Prince and Campus Belle>. Spotting Chi Zhongqiao, she eagerly rushed over, lowering her voice, “Brother Qiao, did President Lu drive you here again today? Where is he? Where is he?”

A mischievous grin spread across her face as she craned her neck to peek behind Chi Zhongqiao.

Chi Zhongqiao chuckled, “He had to work today.”

Yan Yiyun drew out her response, “Oh—” So, if President Lu weren’t working, he’d definitely be here with Brother Qiao, right? she thought gleefully. Last time, Brother Qiao personally dismantled the Zhouqiao CP with Xu Xingzhou, but this time, my Lu-Chi ship is guaranteed to sail!

“Brother Qiao, I saw Brother Ye Hang! He’s right next door to us!”

Ye Hang’s film <Dear Mother> had been nominated last year, earning him a Best Actor nomination as well. Strangely, among the Four Young Male Stars, Ye Hang had the weakest foundation and lowest popularity. Yet, besides him, only Li Jinghong, whose acting skills were praised to the heavens by fans, had also received a Best Actor nomination.

Li Jinghong’s <A Sea of Falling Stars>, his transition into art-house cinema, was explicitly aimed at winning awards.

The Best Actor category had four nominees: Chi Zhongqiao, Li Jinghong, Ye Hang, and Yang Hao, the frontrunner for the award.

Yang Hao’s nominated film, <Between Mountains and Rivers>, had been released early last year. A quintessential art-house film, it had achieved astonishing box office success, surpassing even commercial blockbusters during its theatrical run.

Upon learning of the nominations, Chi Zhongqiao immediately watched the film. Afterward, he succumbed to the old habits of a second-dimension youth—secretly indulging in fanfiction on other platforms for days. This only underscored the film’s excellence. <Between Mountains and Rivers>, both in its acting and as a work of cinema, could rightfully be called the most successful Chinese film in recent years.

Yang Hao, the lead actor, had always maintained a low profile. Now approaching thirty, he differed from the young actors who bounced between television and film. His career was primarily focused on the big screen, and he had recently begun developing projects overseas. In a few years, he would likely become the male equivalent of Yan Qingbo.

When Chi Zhongqiao saw the list of nominees, he knew they were just there as filler. The film industry had been struggling for the past two years, with truly outstanding works few and far between. It seemed they’d had trouble filling the nominee slots, so even typical commercial films like <Campus Prince and Campus Belle> had received a surprising number of nominations.

While <Campus Prince and Campus Belle> being nominated wasn’t surprising, the sheer volume of nominations across the board still stunned Chi Zhongqiao.

“Yeah,” Chi Zhongqiao said. “Didn’t Ye Hang send a greeting in the group chat this morning?”

Yan Yiyun sighed. “So many industry heavyweights are here. I heard Teacher Yan is presenting the Best Actress award this year.”

Chi Zhongqiao, who had insider information, replied, “En, Teacher Yan has already won three Peony Awards. If she didn’t join the judging panel, the other actresses would be crying foul.”

After a brief exchange, a backstage staff member called them to the red carpet.

Chi Zhongqiao smiled and offered his arm. “Please.”

Yan Yiyun linked her arm through his and whispered, “Brother Qiao, I’m so nervous.”

Chi Zhongqiao reassured her, “Don’t worry. When we step out there, we’ll be the brightest stars on that carpet.”

She was a few years younger than Chi Zhongqiao, the same age as Lu Yuzhou. Her cheerful nature, familial warmth, and maturity had led Chi Zhongqiao to treat her like a cherished younger sister.

Yan Yiyun burst into laughter, smoothed her skirt, and strode out of the backstage area with Chi Zhongqiao, her head held high.

Although the average quality of this year’s Peony Awards nominees wasn’t particularly high, the judges were exceptional, drawing a crowd of industry titans to the red carpet. The media frenzy was even more intense than usual.

As Yan Yiyun stepped onto the red carpet, her legs suddenly went weak amidst the cacophony of camera flashes.

Chi Zhongqiao steadied her with a firm grip, leaning down to whisper, “Don’t be afraid. Come on.”

Biting her lip lightly, Yan Yiyun regained her composure with Chi Zhongqiao’s silent support and stepped onto the red carpet. She knew her position on the red carpet was entirely due to Chi Zhongqiao’s influence.

With so many media outlets here, I can’t embarrass Brother Qiao or Zhaohui.

It’s just taking photos, right? I dressed up so beautifully precisely for you guys to capture!

I’m the brightest star on this red carpet!

Yan Yiyun straightened her back.

Chi Zhongqiao’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he maintained a steady pace, quickly catching up with Ye Hang, who had deliberately slowed down ahead of them. Ye Hang grinned at him, and the two exchanged a light fist bump on the red carpet.

Yan Yiyun greeted cheerfully, “Brother Ye!”

Ye Hang replied, “Gorgeous as ever, beautiful! You look absolutely stunning today.”

The four of them maintained a steady pace on the red carpet, sending the media’s cameras into a frenzy.

According to media speculation, Ye Hang was supposed to have the worst relationship with Chi Zhongqiao among the Four Young Male Stars. After all, during this year’s rankings, Ye Hang had nearly been ousted from the list. If not for a prestigious media outlet’s unconventional decision to single out Chi Zhongqiao and place him alongside the Four Young Male Stars, Ye Hang would have been definitively removed from the list.

Yet here they were, sharing the same camera frame on the red carpet, and their relationship seemed surprisingly amicable.

Moreover, Ye Hang and Chi Zhongqiao were currently filming a drama together, with Chi Zhongqiao playing the male lead and Ye Hang in a supporting role. Could it be that instead of clashing on set, the two had actually forged a genuine connection?

Regardless, the media kept snapping photos.

Amidst the relentless clicking of cameras, Chi Zhongqiao didn’t even blink. He smiled when appropriate and occasionally paused to pose for the photographers. He was quite experienced on the red carpet, having been a second-tier male star for some time. With a substantial filmography, he had attended numerous red carpet events. Though he never quite achieved mainstream fame, his face was familiar to audiences. When the media ran out of other material, they often turned to photographing him—a reliable, drama-free subject—like a refreshing bowl of congee after a heavy feast.

When he smiled, it wasn’t the strained, fake grin of other celebrities constantly chasing fame. Instead, the corners of his lips would curve slightly upward, and his eyes would naturally fill with warmth. Occasionally, when his gaze met another’s, the curve of his lips would deepen, revealing a flash of red lips and pearly white teeth.

Warm and gentle.

Even Yan Yiyun, let alone Ye Hang, admired his unwavering composure. Regardless of anything else, he truly commanded the room.

However, with four people—including two currently trending male stars—walking together, the media kept shouting for them to stop. The group slowed their pace slightly, and as they reached the autograph board, the other pair of celebrities caught up from behind.

Li Jinghong and Fei Xi.

Chi Zhongqiao and Li Jinghong exchanged a glance, instantly feeling a suffocating wave of awkwardness.

Fei Xi, seemingly oblivious, nodded at Chi Zhongqiao and offered a reserved smile. “You look very handsome today.”

“Thank you,” Chi Zhongqiao replied. “You’re absolutely radiant today.”

His impression of Fei Xi was lukewarm at best. Though they had worked together on a drama, he preferred to pretend he had never taken the role in <April in the Human World>. He barely participated in the promotion, posting only a few perfunctory updates.

Yan Yiyun, standing nearby, rolled her eyes while pretending to adjust her hair. This young starlet was a frequent fixture on trending topics, often stirring up ambiguous rumors with male celebrities for attention.

Before Fei Xi’s new drama had cast its male lead, she bought a trending topic to discuss all the popular male idols in the industry. She even dug up old quotes from male stars praising her, including one from their own Brother Qiao, who had supposedly complimented her. Her fans insisted that Brother Qiao had a crush on their “sister.”

Trying to create a CP with Brother Qiao? Do you even look as good as President Lu?

Yan Yiyun paused mid-stroke of her hair, abruptly halting her CP-shipping fantasies.

An eerie silence descended over the red carpet.

Li Jinghong struggled to breathe.

When Li Jinghong met Chi Zhongqiao’s gaze, the suffocating feeling intensified. He could sense the media’s anticipation—they were waiting for the two men to embrace and confirm the earlier rumors of their “close relationship.” But…

Everyone assumed they were close friends, but only they knew their friendship was as flimsy as biodegradable plastic. That superficial bond had long since crumbled into dust, leaving behind the lingering bitterness of past rivalries that resurfaced from time to time.

In the tense silence, Chi Zhongqiao smiled faintly, deliberately breaking the awkward atmosphere. He took the signing pen and offered it to Li Jinghong with a gesture of invitation. “You go first, Brother Li.”

He no longer addressed Li Jinghong as “Teacher.” As the male lead of <Campus Prince and Campus Belle>, he was now competing for the same award, standing on equal footing. There was no need for excessive humility or empty formalities. Calling him “Brother Li” was merely an acknowledgment of Li Jinghong’s earlier debut and greater seniority.

Li Jinghong took the pen, sighing inwardly. While he was still struggling with embarrassment, Chi Zhongqiao had already responded with perfect composure. Well, outmatched in grace. I’ve lost.

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 🙂