I’m Keeping the Overbearing CEO After He Went Bankrupt [Rebirth] 61

Chapter 61: Qingbao’s Special Training

“Mr. Huo…!”

Chu Qing stared with wide eyes at Huo Li, who had suddenly stopped on the deserted side of the road. Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he reached out to block him. “What are you doing?”

“What do you think?” Huo Li said angrily. “You’re cheating on me behind my back!”

Chu Qing also said angrily, “I haven’t even said that you’re cheating on me behind my back!”

Huo Li was in disbelief. “Who am I cheating on you with?!”

“Mr. Pan!” Chu Qing said with conviction.

Huo Li: “…”

He paused and remarked, “Then my taste is quite heavy.”

“That’s right,” Chu Qing said, and took a step back, his voice small. “Yuck.”

Huo Li: “…”

He bared his teeth. “Little one, don’t change the subject. Tell me, what did you say to that bastard?”

“I really didn’t say anything.”

“Then why won’t you tell me?” he insisted on an answer.

He sighed and said helplessly, “He… was advising me.”

“Advising you on what?” he said with a slight frown.

“It was just a reminder,” he said.

“What kind of reminder?” he was very on guard.

“It was just a work-related reminder! And we were exchanging ideas on music. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

He paused and sat back down in silence.

“Mmm.”

Chu Qing: “…”
Chu Qing: “???”

Is he angry?

He turned his head and pulled on his sleeve with a smile. “Mr. Huo…?”

“Don’t call me. Go find your Teacher Monk. He’s a genius composer like you. You have resonance and common topics. I can’t even get a word in when you talk about music,” he said, looking ahead, aggrieved. “I’m a rough man. I don’t understand these things. I can’t talk to you about them.”

“…”

Pfft.

He unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over, and hugged him. “Mr. Huo, don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”

His voice was soft and sweet, and his body was warm.

“Don’t. Acting cute won’t work,” he said, his heart proud, but his face did not show it.

“Really?” he said, and nuzzled his shoulder.

“…”

He took a deep breath and reached out to pull him fiercely into his arms.

“Little one, you’ve learned to be bad.”

“Mr. Huo, it’s okay if you don’t talk to me about music…” he said with a smile, and lowered his head, his hands gently wrapping around his neck. “We can talk about many, many other things.”

He pressed the back of his head and lowered his head to kiss him.

Their four lips pressed together.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

He was startled and turned his head at the sound, only to see a traffic policeman tapping on their car window with a serious expression.

Chu Qing: “…”
Huo Li: “…”

He rolled down the window and heard the old traffic policeman shout, “Young people, making out on the side of the road in broad daylight! It’s indecent!”

“Don’t park your car here! If you park here again, I’ll give you a ticket!”

The two were so scared they were stunned, still in a hugging position.

Chu Qing: “………”
Huo Li: “………”

The worst part was the sudden silence in the air.
The worst part was the old traffic policeman’s sudden concern.

As if he had been electrocuted, he fumbled to get up from his embrace and returned to his seat, his face so red it could bleed. He lowered his head, not daring to look at anyone, as if he wished he could dig a hole and crawl into it.

Huo Li: “…”

He bared his teeth. “Okay, we’re leaving now. Thank you for the reminder, sir.”

No one spoke on the way. The air was filled with a strange awkwardness.

To ease the awkwardness, he turned on the car radio, using music to liven up the atmosphere.

And then, as soon as he turned on the radio, the song playing was “Vixen.”

“Vixen, vixen, so annoying~”
“Vixen, vixen, vixen~~”

Chu Qing: “…”
Huo Li: “…”

He turned his head with a “thud,” leaned against the car window, and closed his eyes. “I’ll take a nap first.”

…

After they got home, he took a shower, and as usual, he read a book with him before going to sleep.

He didn’t say anything to him about the audition.

It wasn’t until the next morning, when he received a notice from Director Roseland, that he found out.

Roseland had asked him about his intentions, asking if he could handle two jobs.

In the room, he looked at him with a blank expression.

He sat on the edge of the bed, a little embarrassed. “Mmm… um…”

“You’re amazing. You’re so capable,” he said with a grin. “You’re cheating on me behind my back, and you even secretly went to an audition? No wonder you and Monk went to the audition studio last night.”

He stood on his tiptoes again and hugged him.

“Mr. Huo…”

“That won’t work.”

“Mr. Huo…” he used the same trick again and nuzzled his neck.

Huo Li: “…”

He gritted his teeth. “You little rascal. You do this every time. Do you think I’m stupid?”

He leaned against him. “Mr. Huo, let me go…”

“…”

He thought, I’m probably stupid.

“Why do you insist on taking this job? Aren’t you tired?” he said helplessly, pinching his ear. “If you don’t feel bad for yourself, I do.”

“I’m not tired. I can do it. I want to do well in all the opportunities that are placed in front of me…” he lowered his head. “And… I’m not good at acting.”

“So?” he said with a frown.

“So I want to try again…” he turned his head away. “I want to be… a little more amazing, a little better.”

This role didn’t have much screen time, just those few scenes. He didn’t believe he couldn’t get it if he worked hard. And after he had talked to Monk yesterday, he had suddenly made up his mind to take it.

“Silly, aren’t you amazing enough?” he said helplessly.

“But… but an ordinary person, a normal person would take it, because this opportunity is very rare,” he said, lowering his head and fidgeting with his fingers. “I don’t want to be sick for the rest of my life, so shouldn’t I be… more proactive? Everyone else is like this, so I also want to do everything as well as I can… I… I also want to be a capable and responsible person like you guys.”

“Qingbao…” he said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and pinched his cheek. “You’re also very good now. Just do what you can.”

“I can do it. I can,” he said, hugging him and acting cute. “Then I’ll go find the director?”

He glared at him.

He turned around with a grin and ran out.

“You little rascal,” he gritted his teeth.

He suddenly felt that he, a magnificent overbearing CEO, was completely eaten up by this child.

On the other end, he went to find Director Roseland. After he was given the script, he had to audition and shoot after lunch.

Although it was very rushed, the role of Losessi had always had few lines, and this scene had no lines at all, so it didn’t require much time to prepare.

After lunch, he started to get his makeup done.

He came to the dressing room to help and saw that he had already transformed into a medieval nobleman.

He was wearing a loose, long-sleeved white shirt, the silk fabric hanging on his not-so-broad frame, like a fragile work of art.

He was also wearing a wig, with a head of soft, long black hair. At this moment, when he turned his head to look at him, he was stunned.

He didn’t know if it was the effect of the makeup or if he had already gotten into character, but his watery eyes carried a hint of melancholy, which made his heart stir.

“What’s wrong?” he blinked.

“Nothing. You’re very beautiful,” he said, and went over with a smile. “Let’s go. I’ll take you there.”

The manor and the grand theater where they were filming were only a street apart, but he still drove him there. He wasn’t afraid of people saying he was a big shot. After all, he was not only an actor but also a behind-the-scenes composer, and everyone could understand that he was busy with work.

The grand theater was large but very old and in disrepair, which gave it an ancient atmosphere.

The crew had renovated one of the grand theater’s halls to be more retro and beautiful. The entire hall was only lit by candlelight, so the walls were covered with candles, and it was dim.

This scene was Losessi’s first appearance, with the main character, Versailles, and it was also the opening scene of the drama.

The policeman, disguised as a young man moving goods—Andre—came to the theater and, through his perspective, saw a fallen paradise.

The hall was full of people in peacock feather costumes, dancing, each one more beautiful than the last, and from time to to time, they would give amorous glances to the wealthy guests. And the guests were sitting in groups on the side, drinking. A play was being performed on the stage.

Andre, who had come to this kind of pleasure ground for the first time, was stunned.

The gentlemen dancing with the dancers, the people flirting and playing in their seats, the people performing on stage…

And…

The top courtesan, Versailles, who was surrounded by everyone.

Versailles’ beauty was breathtaking, morbid, and pale, like a ghost who had climbed up from hell to claim a life, but there was no such beautiful ghost.

He was half-lying on the sofa, lazy and alluring, clearly a man but as if he had no bones.

One of the gentlemen, as if to curry favor, wanted to go forward and light a cigarette for him.

He smiled, propped himself up on the sofa, took the cigarette the man handed him, and brought it to the lips of the person next to him—Losessi.

He was also a sought-after person. He was not as beautiful as Versailles, but he was also a stunner, sitting on the side, looking elegant and noble, otherworldly, and even more inviolable.

But he deliberately teased him.

He frowned slightly and opened his mouth to take the cigarette.

He smiled, lit it for him, and then took another one, but he deliberately leaned down to borrow a light from him.

Their faces were almost touching, and the cigarettes in their mouths touched, exchanging the burning fire.

Their actions made the people around them all stare blankly.

“Cut!”

Roseland interrupted their performance and pointed to him. “Chu, the emotion is not right. Your eyes need to be a little more affectionate and restrained. Losessi is in love with Versailles. Your emotions can’t be so shallow.”

“Oh, okay…” he nodded.

“Thank you for your hard work,” the actor playing Versailles—whose real name was Fan Saiya, but who had simply changed his name to Versailles for the drama—said.

He smiled. “Keep going.”

He nodded seriously.

The shooting continued.

The props team handed them fake cigarettes, and the two re-enacted the scene.

His gaze was always on Versailles, but Losessi was a aloof person, so his emotions could not be too exposed. Therefore, he could only indirectly show his deep affection.

This was undoubtedly difficult, and it took him several tries before Roseland was satisfied.

But Versailles, unlike his morbid and degenerate character in the drama, was a gentle person in real life. He was always very patient with him and was not unhappy at all.

After finally getting through this scene, there was something even more exciting.

He stood on the side with a blank expression, watching him and that Versailles act.

“Yo? Jealous?” Monk deliberately went to his side to tease him.

“It’s just acting,” he said, his expression still blank.

“Tsk…”

He turned his head and asked, “What did you say to him yesterday?”

“Huh? He didn’t tell you?” his eyes darted around, and he said with pleasure, “Then I won’t tell you.”

He sneered.

He crossed his arms and looked at him. He thought, It’s not that good either.

Tsk.

No one knew, and since they didn’t know, they wouldn’t think anything of it. But he just had to know.

He watched him spin a cocoon around himself, leaving himself no way out, and he couldn’t help but feel more and more uncomfortable.

“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you,” he said coolly, his arms crossed. “I hope you have some conscience.”

“Crazy,” he sneered.

While the two were talking, the set was still going on.

After he borrowed a light, he held the cigarette and gently brushed it against Losessi’s neck, leaving a red mark on his white neck.

He frowned slightly, his fingers moved, and he subconsciously looked up, revealing the beautiful curve from his collarbone, past his Adam’s apple, to his chin.

The burn was naturally fake, and the prop was not hot.

“Cut!”

Roseland shouted again.

“Chu! Come here. I’ll explain this scene to you.”

“Good,” he quickly ran over.

“You’ve done your homework, and you understand who Losessi is, right?”

He nodded.

If the two male leads, one a policeman named Andre, was a righteous angel, and the other, Versailles, was a evil devil, then the supporting character, Losessi, was… a fallen angel who had turned into a devil.

He was originally aloof, but he had fallen for Versailles.

To him, Versailles was a devil who had made him abandon his dignity.

“So in this scene, do you know what you’re supposed to show?”

He replied, “I have to show the audience his infatuation with Versailles, and hint that he has fallen because of him.”

“Right. So when the cigarette butt burns him, do you know what his emotions are?”

“Happy…” he said a little embarrassed. “He… enjoys it.”

He’s clearly an otherworldly shell, but at this moment, he’s like a perverted masochist.

“What are you embarrassed about!” he cursed. “If you’re shy, what are you still acting for! You have to immerse yourself in his emotions. He’s that perverted with Versailles! And you just now? You were completely suppressed by his aura. You didn’t have a trace of aloofness or any hidden excitement, only panic and embarrassment.”

“I-I’m sorry…” he quickly bowed. “I’m sorry!”

He was usually enthusiastic and kind, but when he was working, he was a Shura.

But when it came to him, he couldn’t curse like he usually did. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. He could only force himself to change his tone and rub his nose. “Mmm, you go and try again.”

“Good…!”

Then, after almost ten tries, his neck was also really rubbed red by the prop, and he finally got a barely satisfactory one.

He rubbed his chin and looked at the recording with a slight frown.

He was very ashamed on the side. Understanding was one thing, but actually doing it… was another.

He understood the logic, and he completely understood his emotions, but he just couldn’t do it well.

Especially since he was already nervous in normal interactions with strangers, not to mention this kind of teasing and pressure.

In the end, he still said, “Let’s try again tomorrow. Chu can go back and think about it today.”

He was so ashamed he couldn’t lift his head and “mmm”-ed.

…

At night.

He took two lunch boxes. When he returned to his room, he saw him in a bad mood, his eyes red as he sat by the bed, reading the script.

“Qingbao.”

He sat down next to him with a smile. “Eat first. We’ll read after we eat.”

He nodded.

He reached out and rubbed the top of his hair. “I went to ask today. Do you know how many times Versailles and Andre’s flirting scene was tried?”

He shook his head blankly.

“Nine times,” he said.

He was stunned.

“Then do you know how many times the other studio, the one the assistant director is in charge of, the one at the police station, was tried?”

The scenes at the police station were all plot-driven, without any special emotions, and they were all supporting characters. Logically speaking, the progress should be very fast.

He shook his head again.

“Five times.”

“…??”

He said with a grin, “You really didn’t do well, but you’re not the only one. This script is very difficult, and the director’s standards are high. So you didn’t drag everyone’s progress down, because this is the original normal progress. Understand?”

He wiped his eyes and face and nodded blankly.

“Alright, don’t blame yourself. Eat first.”

He sniffled. “I, I’ll read first… I can’t do it…”

He had taken it on himself, and he had sworn that he could do it well. But now, his skills were clearly not up to par. Compared to defeat, it was actually more pressure.

He was just nervous. What if he couldn’t do it again tomorrow? Then he would be a burden to everyone. Versailles was the main character, and he already had a lot of scenes. He couldn’t be delayed by a supporting character like him.

When he thought of the crew, he got nervous, his mind full of not doing well and causing trouble.

“You eat first. I’ll practice with you after we eat. I’ll teach you.”

“Ah…?”

Mr. Huo knows how?

“You eat first,” he said with a wink. “You’ll know if I can or not after we eat.”

Seeing his helpless look, he smiled and pulled him into his arms, his voice gentle. “Qingbao, you have to learn.”

“…?”

“If you’re still defeated by such a small thing in the future, then how will you continue to fight?”

He was stunned.

“I…”

“Are you going to eat or not?”

“Eat…!”

He wolfed down his food, and he saw him take out a box of cigarettes from his pocket.

“Is Mr. Huo going to practice with me?”

“Mmm.”

There was only this way to practice. In his situation, he could only practice hard to get used to it.

He took an unlit one and handed it to him, not letting him really smoke it.

“Then let’s begin,” he asked. “Does Mr. Huo know Versailles’ script? Shall I tell you about it? He…”

“No need,” he said, and lit a cigarette with a lighter. He put his arm around his waist and raised an eyebrow at him with a smile.

Their faces were almost touching.

…

The room was suddenly quiet.

His index and middle fingers gently took the cigarette from his mouth and blew a puff of smoke at him slowly.

A circle of white smoke kissed his face instead of his master.

He was hit head-on by the strong smell of nicotine, which made him a little dizzy.

He coughed a few times and looked up to meet the calm eyes behind the white smoke.

He suddenly felt… his legs go weak.