HIM Chapter 17: Protective Instinct
After finishing his night shoot, Director Wang invited Bo Qin to have some late-night snacks with him. Bo Qin politely declined, mentioning that he had another variety show to record tomorrow.
Director Wang said, "You're so busy. Can your body handle it?"
Bo Qin, adjusting his mask, replied in a muffled tone, "I'm fine, I can manage."
Director Wang waved him off. "Alright, go ahead. But take care of yourself."
On the way to the airport, Bo Qin received a call from Luo Ming. He heard Luo Ming's voice on the other end saying, "Chen-jie mentioned that your mood hasn't been quite right lately."
Bo Qin gazed out of the window, his tone flat and lacking energy. "A bit. I've been feeling pretty down, can't get myself motivated."
Bo Qin continued, "I haven't written a song in nearly a month. The Valentine's single was forced out, and I’m not happy with it. I’ve pushed the album theme for this year, and I still have no idea what to do."
He stared out the window, his voice barely a whisper. "Even acting doesn't feel the same."
Luo Ming, listening to the background music Bo Qin was playing, could hear Bo Qin's hoarse shouts mixing with his calm voice in the song, sending shivers down Luo Ming’s spine. He sighed, realizing that Bo Qin was really not in a good state. All he could do was offer a dry consolation. "It's just a creative block."
"Is your creative block really this long?"
Luo Ming laughed. "Listen to me, Bo Qin, what you need right now is rest. Your schedule is all wrong, you’re not sleeping enough. How can you keep going like this?"
Bo Qin heard the sound of a lighter on the other end of the line. Luo Ming said, "We've known each other for so many years. Please, just this once, listen to me. After recording tomorrow's variety show, slow down. The album can wait, and if we really need to, we can release it next year."
When the plane landed in City A, it was already midnight. His house in Blue Water Bay was no longer secretive. Xiao Zhu had booked him a hotel, but just as he was about to get into the car, Bo Qin received a call from He Xizhou.
Bo Qin was surprised, wondering what business He Xizhou could have with him. He cleared his throat and answered the call.
"Have you arrived in City A?" He Xizhou’s voice was calm and low.
"I’ve just arrived."
He Xizhou asked, "Are you staying at a hotel? Why don’t you come straight to Fengjiang? I’ll send someone to pick you up."
Bo Qin paused as his foot stopped moving. He thought for a moment and then answered, "It’s fine. I’ll just head over by myself."
Fengjiang, strictly speaking, was still part of the Bo family’s property, located on a mountainside. It was extremely luxurious, with a sky pool that was once hyped up to sky-high prices.
By the time Bo Qin arrived, it was pitch dark, and Xiao Zhu gently woke him up. He saw Bo Qin blinking sleepily and whispered, "We’re here. I was going to let you sleep a bit longer."
Bo Qin, understanding Xiao Zhu’s concerns, simply nodded. He closed his eyes and lay back down for a few seconds before hoarsely asking what time it was.
As Xiao Zhu gave him the time and handed him a mask, he added, "Go back and sleep a bit more. If you can’t sleep, take some medicine. I’ll pick you up in the afternoon."
The villa was a detached house with a new Chinese-style design, white walls and green tiles, full of thoughtful design and a strong Jiangnan small town vibe. Bo Qin was surprised the first time he came because, knowing He Xizhou’s personality, he thought he would prefer something more elegant and grand in French style.
When he got out of the car from the garage, the cool air made him shiver, and his sleepiness instantly disappeared. Bo Qin, habitually wearing a hat and mask, followed Xiao Zhu and Xiao Xu who were carrying his luggage. He walked toward the elevator, glancing at the WeChat message from He Xizhou, which mentioned that his fingerprint and iris had not been recorded yet, so he would need to use a password for now.
As Bo Qin entered the password, Xiao Zhu chuckled. "High-end."
"Yeah, it feels like this when you're with someone rich," Bo Qin said.
Bo Qin felt utterly exhausted and lacked any energy. His face felt a bit stuffy, and as he leaned against the elevator wall, he caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection, realizing he hadn’t removed his makeup.
He pulled his mask up a bit. His character for the day was a teenager, and the makeup was clean and fresh, with a youthful energy that surprised him. The makeup Tony had done for him today was unexpectedly great.
The villa was extremely quiet, something Bo Qin had noticed the last time he came. He Xizhou seemed to really like peace and quiet, as aside from the necessary staff, there was hardly anyone in the villa—it felt almost like a haunted house.
As he entered the living room by inputting the password, Bo Qin turned on his phone’s flashlight. To his surprise, as soon as he opened the door, the lights blazed on. Bo Qin froze for a moment, and He Xizhou’s voice came from the stairs. "You’re back?"
Bo Qin looked up just in time to see He Xizhou walking down the stairs in a black bathrobe. He had just taken a shower, and his short hair was still damp, showing off his flawlessly handsome face. When he saw Bo Qin and his team, he nodded as a greeting.
Bo Qin asked, "What are you doing here?"
He Xizhou raised an eyebrow, somewhat intrigued. "This is the wedding suite. Why can’t I be here?"
Bo Qin’s assistants, Xiao Zhu and Xiao Xu, either stared at the ceiling or the floor, pretending they hadn’t heard anything.
"I didn’t mean it that way," Bo Qin realized his words had sounded impolite, so he quickly removed his mask and hat, scratching his head awkwardly. He wanted to apologize but couldn’t find the right words. He Xizhou leaned against the stairs, silently watching him.
Bo Qin hadn’t removed his makeup yet. His face showed signs of wear and fatigue, but his expression still had that distinctive charm—the kind that only appeared behind the camera. He Xizhou noticed the melancholic look in Bo Qin’s eyes, which was even more evident when he was exhausted. When Bo Qin glanced up, his expression was so pitiful it could stir a deep protective instinct in anyone.
It also made one want to tease him relentlessly.
Not wanting to make things more awkward, He Xizhou said, "Go wash up. The auntie made some late-night snacks. Wash up and come down to eat."
Bo Qin went to the third floor, where Xiao Zhu helped him remove his makeup while Xiao Xu prepared for the next day's schedule. Bo Qin took out his phone and replied to Chen-jie, telling her he had arrived.
After removing his makeup, Bo Qin got up to take a shower but was stopped by Xiao Zhu, who seriously pressed him down, saying, "Brother, take some medicine tonight. Make sure you sleep well. After your shower, put on a face mask. Drink less water, or you’ll be too puffy for makeup tomorrow."
Bo Qin laughed and waved him off. "I know, you sound just like Chen-jie, always nagging."
After his shower, Bo Qin was so tired that he didn’t even want to dry his hair and just crawled into bed. Before falling asleep, he managed to message He Xizhou, telling him he was going to sleep and wouldn’t have late-night snacks.
In the middle of the night, Bo Qin suddenly woke up with a start. Disoriented, he fumbled for his phone. It was 5:30 in the morning.
Technically, he had only slept for three hours.
Bo Qin exhaled and closed his eyes again, trying to sleep. After half an hour, he gave up and got up to open the balcony door, stepping barefoot outside.
The villa had an elegant design, with large swathes of green and gray that gave it a minimalist vibe. When he opened the door, he was greeted by a small artificial lake. Wooden steps led across the lake, surrounded by strange stones and green willows, and in the distance was an arch bridge leading to a small, peaceful garden.
The early morning light was faint, and the mist over the lake created a ghostly atmosphere. The cool air, mixed with dampness, helped soothe Bo Qin’s anxiety.
The morning wind was a little strong, and Bo Qin shivered in his white T-shirt and black shorts. He quickly ran inside to find a jacket.
As he looked for a jacket, Bo Qin remembered he hadn’t put on a face mask.
He clicked his tongue, about to let it slide, but then thought of the recording tomorrow and Xiao Zhu’s nagging, so reluctantly found a face mask to put on.
He wandered the third floor, practiced dance for two hours in the practice room, and after that, he was starving. He grabbed his phone and went downstairs to find something to eat.
The first floor was empty, so Bo Qin went to the kitchen. The double-door fridge was impressive, filled with food, but there were no instant meals. As he was about to head to a nearby supermarket, he bumped into He Xizhou, who had just finished a morning run.
He Xizhou, wearing a white T-shirt and black sports pants with white sneakers, looked fresh and vibrant, his hair slightly damp and sweat trickling down his forehead. Seeing Bo Qin, he wiped his forehead with a towel and asked, "Where are you going?"
Bo Qin was caught off guard by He Xizhou’s appearance. "I’m a bit hungry. I’m going to the supermarket nearby to buy something."
He Xizhou changed his shoes and said, "Is there anything you want to eat that’s not in the fridge?"
Bo Qin felt embarrassed. "The fridge is well-stocked, but there’s nothing like what the auntie made, and I don’t know how to cook."
He Xizhou smiled and turned to him. "Then why are you going to the supermarket?"
Bo Qin replied, "Maybe just some instant noodles."
He Xizhou walked upstairs and said, "Wait a bit. I’ll make something for you. Instant noodles aren’t healthy."
Bo Qin: … Did I hear that right?
As it turned out, Bo Qin hadn’t misheard. He Xizhou was quick, and within 15 minutes, he had finished preparing. He opened the fridge and asked Bo Qin what he wanted to eat.
Bo Qin looked at He Xizhou’s calm, cold demeanor and said, "You really know how to cook?"
"I can cook the basics, but anything fancy like French cuisine is beyond me."
Bo Qin looked at the fridge, then at He Xizhou, and said, "Well, I’m easy to please. I’m not picky."
He Xizhou took out some bacon. "Then we’ll make sandwiches."
Bo Qin watched He Xizhou skillfully cook and asked, "Do you need any help?"
He Xizhou lowered his head to wash his hands and replied, "Go get whatever you want from the fridge."
Bo Qin went to the fridge and, after looking around, took out a bunch of meats—steak, luncheon meat, tuna, and Italian sausage—and placed it all on the counter.
He Xizhou glanced at it and laughed. "Do you know what I’m making? Sandwiches. Are you sure all this will fit?"
Bo Qin replied, "Then don’t wrap it up. Just fry it all for me."
He Xizhou shook his head helplessly. "It’s a lot of calories."
Bo Qin responded, "So what? I’m starving."
He Xizhou oiled the pan and started frying the bacon. "Go get some vegetables. It can’t be all meat."
Bo Qin stood there without moving, and He Xizhou looked up at him. "So easy to please?"
Bo Qin met his gaze but didn’t reply.
He Xizhou raised an eyebrow. "Not picky?"
Bo Qin turned around to grab some vegetables.
He Xizhou’s movements were quick and precise, and after watching for a while, Bo Qin realized that it wasn’t as interesting as it seemed. However, he couldn’t leave since He Xizhou was making breakfast for him.
Bo Qin thought it was unbelievable that one day he’d actually eat breakfast made by He Xizhou.
The smell of fried steak filled the kitchen, and Bo Qin’s stomach growled. He weakly said, "Did you hear that? My stomach is protesting."
He Xizhou cut a small piece of fried luncheon meat and handed it to him. "Eat this to tide you over."
Bo Qin immediately reached out to take it, and as their fingers brushed, He Xizhou frowned. "Why are your hands so cold?"
He glanced at Bo Qin’s T-shirt and said, "Go put on a jacket."
Bo Qin: ...
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