I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth] 11

Chapter 11: The Overbearing CEO Climbs Through a Window

The first day of recording was mainly for rehearsals and getting familiar with the environment. The contestants first rehearsed on stage, drew lots, and learned about the competition schedule before being sent to a small resort next door.

This show had a rather special format, requiring the contestants to live in a dormitory for enclosed creation.

Sing Out Your Dream was different from other purely singing competition shows; it required contestants to sing their own original songs, which was why they had to be locked up together to film the creative process.

An Yize had entered with Chu Qing, so the two of them naturally ended up sharing a room. The twelve contestants lived in one villa, while the assistants and bodyguards were all housed in another.

This meant that Huo Li and Chu Qing had to live separately.

Huo Li helped Chu Qing carry his suitcase into the room and frowned slightly upon learning of the arrangement. Although the two villas were adjacent, still…

Huo Li frowned, looking at Chu Qing and then at An Yize, who was making his bed nearby, feeling extremely annoyed.

“Mr. Huo?” Chu Qing took the suitcase and looked at Huo Li, puzzled.

Huo Li asked in a low voice, “Can’t you request to share a room with me?”

Chu Qing replied, “That wouldn’t be right… it would feel like I’m pulling rank.”

Huo Li was out of options and had to let Chu Qing half-push, half-coax him out of the room.

“Before we came, Xixi told me to take good care of you,” An Yize said with a smile. “Teacher Chu, I look forward to working with you.”

“Thank you.” Seeing An Yize making his bed for him, Chu Qing opened his suitcase, took out a few bags of snacks that Huo Li had prepared for him, and handed them to An Yize.

An Yize took them with a smile. “Let’s eat them together later.”

After the two settled in, they went to the living room to gather, get to know each other, and draw lots. Since the contestants had already prepared for the first round at home, the competition recording would start directly the next evening.

It was hard to say if the organizers had deliberately saved the lot for Chu Qing, but he drew the last spot, the finale. After all, Chu Qing was the most “anticipated” contestant of the season. Too many people were curious and waiting, making him and Jiao Changxu the two main attractions.

Jiao Changxu was scheduled for the middle, and together with Chu Qing, they held up the entire show. Seeing Chu Qing staring at his number in a daze, Jiao Changxu thought he was dissatisfied with his performance order and came over with a smile. “Good luck.”

“Ah…” Chu Qing turned his head and saw a man with gentle features sitting next to him. He shook his own number and asked, “Do you want to switch?”

“No need… thank you.”

As the leader of a top-tier boy band, Jiao Changxu was indeed very handsome, with the steady demeanor of a big brother next door. His smile was very sunny, making people feel comfortable just looking at him.

What a nice person, Chu Qing thought.

“Brother Xu!” Li Tian, who was in the same group as Jiao Changxu, immediately stuck close to him, pouting. “I drew number two! It’s too early. Brother, can you switch with me!”

Li Tian was just as his name suggested, a sweet and cute young man.

[T.N:Sweet and cute young man: The original text says 黎湉人如其名，又甜又可爱 (Lí Tián rén rú qí míng, yòu tián yòu kě’ài), which means “Li Tian is just like his name, both sweet and cute.” The character 湉 (tián) in his name is a homophone for 甜 (tián), which means “sweet.”]

Jiao Changxu smiled. “A-Li will do fine. The earlier you perform, the sooner you can relax.”

Chu Qing watched the two of them with a smile.

After drawing lots, the contestants went off to practice on their own. The living room and each of their rooms were very spacious and filled with a variety of musical instruments.

Chu Qing chose to go back to his room. But as soon as he stepped inside, An Yize asked him, “Were you just talking to Jiao Changxu and Li Tian?”

“Mmm, yes.”

An Yize paused, then bared his teeth. “Well, you should probably stay away from them.”

Chu Qing asked, puzzled, “Why?”

“I’ve worked with them on another show before. Mmm… their group has a lot of drama, and each of them has their own little schemes. Just be careful.”

With Chu Qing’s brain, An Yize thought, he’ll definitely lose out if he gets close to them.

Chu Qing was a little surprised. Those two didn’t look like the type to play mind games.

But he still obediently nodded. “Okay, I’ll avoid contact with them.”

As Chu Qing was unpacking, An Yize noticed a Rubik’s Cube that Chu Qing had placed by his bed.

The once brightly colored cube now looked a bit dull and worn, as if it were many years old.

An Yize was a little surprised and curious. And Chu Qing had even brought it to the recording…?

An Yize stepped forward and reached for it. “What’s this?”

“Don’t touch it!”

Chu Qing’s voice suddenly rose as he shouted at An Yize.

An Yize was startled and quickly retracted his hand, looking bewildered.

“S-Sorry?”

Chu Qing hastily put the cube away, stammering, “S-Sorry… I…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” An Yize said with a dry laugh. He didn’t mind, but he was even more curious now.

Was it really that serious?

Chu Qing preciously put the cube away and then kept apologizing to An Yize. The matter was only considered over after An Yize finished a bag of potato chips with him.

The two then practiced and prepared on their own. During this time, Huo Li had wanted to come and visit, but he was stopped by the cameramen, as they had to film footage of the preparation process.

It wasn’t until late at night, when Chu Qing was lying in bed, that he discovered his WeChat had been nearly blown up by Huo Li.

Huo Li: What are you doing.
Huo Li: Remember to eat.
Huo Li: Have you eaten.
Huo Li: What are you doing.
Huo Li: Are you asleep yet.

…

Every message was followed by a period, giving it a formal, imposing tone.

Chu Qing saw them but didn’t reply. He just put his phone away and lay in his blanket, staring into space.

It was already late, and the surroundings were completely silent. Chu Qing lay huddled in his blanket, his eyes unfocused.

The phone, which had been tossed aside, suddenly buzzed. It was probably a call from Huo Li.

Chu Qing silenced the phone.

He didn’t want to deliberately ignore Huo Li, but he was feeling a bit down right now, or rather, exhausted. He didn’t want to talk to anyone.

Chu Qing took out the Rubik’s Cube.

He easily got anxious when he was away from home, which was why he had brought it.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Qing hid under the covers and started turning it, his movements quite nimble.

A moment later.

Click…

A faint sound came from the side. Chu Qing looked up and froze.

The window in their room was unlocked. At that moment, he saw a tall man, one hand on the window frame, carefully opening the window with the other.

Chu Qing: “…”

Then, the man swung one leg in, trying his best not to make a sound as he climbed through the window.

Chu Qing stared blankly at Huo Li, seeing someone climb through his window for the first time.

Huo Li, for all his years, was also doing something so sneaky for the first time.

It was like a secret, illicit rendezvous in the middle of the night.

Huo Li tiptoed to Chu Qing’s bedside and asked in a low, frowning voice, “Why didn’t you reply?”

Chu Qing just lay on the bed, looking at Huo Li without speaking.

Huo Li glanced at An Yize, who was sleeping in the other corner, and continued to ask, “Why didn’t you answer my call? What’s wrong with you? Are you not feeling well somewhere?”

Chu Qing still lay there, gently shaking his head.

“Qingbao.”

Huo Li squatted down and gently rubbed Chu Qing’s forehead. “What’s wrong?”

After a long pause, Chu Qing said in a small voice, “I want to go home…”

Huo Li asked gently, “Why?”

Chu Qing just shook his head, his dark eyes like two pools of stagnant water, without a single ripple.

Chu Qing felt very tired. Having to deal with so many people with different intentions, preparing his work for the competition, coming to this place—it all made him feel extremely tired.

He didn’t want to interact with others; he just wanted to be alone in his own home.

“I want to withdraw from the competition,” Chu Qing said, his head lowered. “I’m sorry…”

Huo Li frowned slightly, his hand gently stroking the top of Chu Qing’s head. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

“I’m sorry,” Chu Qing repeated. “I’m sorry.”

Huo Li said, “Qingbao, did you take the medicine I prepared for you earlier?”

Chu Qing thought for a long while before nodding.

“It’s okay,” Huo Li said, taking Chu Qing’s hand. “Get up. Come out for a walk with me. Don’t coop yourself up in here.”

Chu Qing shook his head slightly.

“Be good, Qingbao.”

Chu Qing pulled his hand into the blanket and lay there without any expression, as if he had lost contact with the outside world, his refusal clear.

Huo Li had no choice. He simply reached out and scooped Chu Qing up, blanket and all.

Chu Qing was stunned.

The commotion seemed to have woken up An Yize. An Yize let out a dry cough and quickly shut his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

W-T-F, is this really happening?

My roommate is this wild?? An Yize thought.

Fortunately, things didn’t spiral out of control as An Yize’s imagination had predicted. Huo Li picked up Chu Qing, and noticing that An Yize was awake, he decided to just go for it, no longer being sneaky. He pulled the blanket off Chu Qing like peeling a potato, then lifted him into a princess carry, and climbed back out the window.

An Yize: “…”

W-T-F, should I call the police?