HIM Chapter 7: Gift
As soon as He Xizhou looked up, he saw Bo Qin.
Xu Zhi was still at his side, discussing the Monday meeting time. He Xizhou was unbuttoning his shirt cuffs, but his hand paused when he saw Bo Qin coming down the stairs in a waistcoat and white shirt.
Bo Qin had cut his semi-long hair short to the nape of his neck. He looked less delicate than before and more handsome. The waistcoat outlined his slim waist, broad shoulders, and narrow hips, and the suit pants accentuated his straight, slender legs.
To be honest, every time He Xizhou saw Bo Qin, he felt a kind of awe—not just because of his looks. It might be the years of being in front of cameras and adored by fans that gave him an innate ability to draw attention.
He Xizhou nodded slightly at Bo Qin as a greeting.
He handed his coat to Aunt Liu and patiently answered a series of questions from his mother. Xu Zhi, holding the gift He Xizhou brought home, was about to hand it to Aunt Liu when He Xizhou stopped him and said, "Take it to the study."
Xu Zhi agreed without changing expression. When he saw Bo Qin, he greeted him politely and respectfully, but inside, his mind was exploding:
"WTF WTF, why the hell is Bo Qin in my boss’s house?!"
Because of a flight delay, He Xizhou hadn’t eaten. Knowing this, He’s mom insisted on making him some late-night food herself. He Xizhou rubbed his temples, remembering her cooking, and gently declined, "No need. Let Aunt Liu make a simple bowl of noodles. It’s late, no need to go through the trouble."
His mom said, "How is that trouble? Xiao Qin hasn’t eaten either—I'm not just making it for you."
She turned to Bo Qin with a gentle voice and said, "Xiao Qin, you haven’t eaten either, right? Let Auntie make you a bowl of noodles, okay?"
Bo Qin instinctively wanted to decline but changed his mind when he saw the look in her eyes.
"...Okay," he said.
"Good boy," she smiled. "Xizhou, take Bo Qin to change clothes. Come down after, and eat. Xiao Qin’s staying over tonight."
Bo Qin’s eyelid twitched. He looked at her and tried to politely refuse, "Auntie, I have work tomorrow. I don’t want to inconvenience you. I’ll leave later."
His mom said, "Isn’t your studio near Xizhou’s office? Perfect—he can take you in the morning." She held his hand. "Don’t worry about your parents, I’ll call them."
Bo Qin gave a soft smile, still trying to protest, but then she said, "No refusing. I’m cooking myself tonight. My noodles are delicious—Xizhou always eats a big bowl."
He Xizhou, who’s been forced to finish every last bite of those noodles: "…"
Bo Qin was taken to a guest room on the second floor. While unbuttoning his shirt, he wondered how he had ended up agreeing to stay the night.
He took off his shirt and looked at the white hoodie and gray sweatpants on the bed—clothes from He Xizhou’s high school days, picked out by his mom.
He Xizhou had a noticeably larger build. But Bo Qin found that the clothes fit him just right. Still a bit annoyed, he swapped his slacks for the sweatpants and realized the waistband was loose. With no drawstring, he was left holding them up.
Bo Qin: "..."
He laid back on the bed and pulled out his phone. After a moment’s hesitation, he opened WeChat to message He Xizhou:
"Mr. He, do you have other pants…"
He paused, deleted it, and typed again:
"Mr. He, do you have anything slightly smaller…"
Damn it. He threw the phone onto the bed. No way to word that that didn’t sound weird.
And it wasn’t like he could go ask He’s mom either.
After a while, he gave up and just messaged:
"Mr. He, the pants Auntie gave me are a bit loose. Do you have jeans?"
He Xizhou replied quickly:
"Which room are you in?"
Bo Qin sent the location.
He Xizhou, wearing only a towel around his waist, was drying his hair. Water droplets trailed down his defined chest and into his abs and the fabric at his waist.
Xu Zhi was waiting in the small lounge outside his room with the pants He Xizhou requested. Just as he was about to leave, he heard He Xizhou say,
"Do you know what Bo Qin likes?"
Xu Zhi: "Uh… I can look into it?"
Why is this so hard?! Xu Zhi thought.
He Xizhou nodded. His gaze landed on the small coffee table in the lounge, filled with various gift boxes.
Because of his father’s influence, He Xizhou always brought back souvenirs for his family after traveling. They weren’t expensive but were thoughtful and suited each recipient. This time, he’d forgotten about Bo Qin, and Xu Zhi hadn’t been reminded either.
The first time they met, He Xizhou had brought Feng Tao. Feng Tao was now in City A.
Thinking of all this, He Xizhou said to Xu Zhi,
"Bo Qin is my legal partner now. Take extra care of his matters."
Xu Zhi’s heart exploded like fireworks, but he calmly adjusted his glasses and replied,
"Yes, boss. I’ll pay more attention from now on."
He Xizhou nodded approvingly.
Bo Qin was in the middle of an intense game when the door was knocked.
The knocking was too gentle and polite, totally drowned out by the game. But the person knocking was patient—three knocks, pause, then three more.
Bo Qin finally noticed. Still staring at the screen, he opened the door, held out his hand, and said,
"Thanks, sorry to trouble you."
But nothing was handed to him.
Bo Qin: "?"
He looked up and saw He Xizhou in a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants.
His game character had been killed. Luo Ming messaged, asking why he died mid-battle. Bo Qin clicked off the screen with a click of the tongue and repeated,
"Thanks."
He Xizhou had clearly just showered. His half-wet hair and fresh body wash scent gave off an oddly invasive vibe.
This version of He Xizhou was nothing like the one in Bo Qin’s mind—who was always in a suit and utterly restrained. This casual side caught him off guard.
Then he thought of He Xizhou’s WeChat moments—no one could be just one version of themselves.
He Xizhou’s gaze dropped to Bo Qin’s waist. The sweatpants hung loosely off his hips. Bo Qin felt challenged and folded his arms.
"What, got a problem?"
He Xizhou might’ve smiled—or maybe not. He just said,
"The noodles are ready. Come eat."
Then he turned and left.
At the Bo house, Bo Qin had never eaten his fill—too many rules. So when He’s mom placed two steaming bowls of noodles on the coffee table, laid out cushions on the rug, and turned on the TV, he was stunned.
Seeing He Xizhou sit cross-legged on the floor and start eating like it was nothing, Bo Qin was beyond shocked.
Mama He ruffled He Xizhou’s hair like she would a dog’s. "Why didn’t you dry your hair?"
"Too much trouble," he said between bites.
She turned to Bo Qin with a smile.
"Xiao Qin, come eat noodles. Let’s watch your drama."
In a daze, Bo Qin sat cross-legged beside them.
She handed him chopsticks.
"Thanks," he said.
She chuckled.
"Still so polite!"
The noodles looked great—clear bone broth, a shiny poached egg, and the smell was mouthwatering. Bo Qin swallowed hard, took a restrained bite—
And froze.
He chewed slowly, his hand trembling slightly, unwilling to take a second bite.
He glanced at He Xizhou, who was also chewing with a blank expression. When their eyes met, He Xizhou raised a brow with a hint of schadenfreude.
You’re eating too—what are you gloating for?
Mama He switched to CCTV-1 and asked,
"Xiao Qin, is it good?"
Bo Qin choked.
"…Yes."
"Then come often. Auntie will cook for you."
…Please, no.
Bo Qin chewed like a machine, wondering how something could look so good but taste so… like that. Then he heard a very familiar voice on the TV:
"…So what if it was me who did it?!"
Bo Qin: !!!
He looked up—on screen, in a gold crown and white robes, was himself.
God, this is humiliating.
He’s mom was thrilled.
"Oh! We made it just in time!"
Bo Qin: "Auntie… why are you watching this?"
"I wanted to learn more about you. Plus, this drama is great! I’ve been following it all week. You were amazing."
He Xizhou looked up just as the character on screen snapped open a fan, parried a sword, and spun to disarm his opponent. The camera zoomed in on Bo Qin’s face—handsome, defiant, and arrogant.
"So cool!" said Mama He .
Bo Qin: I’m dying of embarrassment.
He Xizhou recognized the show—The Wind Settles (Ding Feng Bo).
A historical drama, 52 episodes. Bo Qin didn’t have a big role—he played the male lead’s youth. It was technically his first real role. This drama revived his career after a year of silence.
It was life-changing.
During filming, Bo Qin endured his grandfather’s death, the disbanding of his team, and a huge penalty from Tiancheng. He had no hope, only pressure and pain. Yet he gave everything to director Wang—his acting, his lines, his fight scenes.
He had nothing, but still bet everything for a chance.
That hard-earned resilience shaped him.
On-screen, his movements were clean and sharp—swordplay that still gave Bo Qin chills.
Even he was surprised—he actually did well.
Mama He was engrossed. In the next scene, Bo Qin’s character kills a man, blood spraying across his icy face.
She gasped.
That fight scene became iconic. Even now, years later, people still include Bo Qin in every martial arts compilation.
With his black hair, golden crown, flowing white robes, and golden folding fan, he became many people’s white moonlight.
She turned to him, wide-eyed.
"Did you use a stunt double for that?"
Bo Qin shook his head.
"Director Wang doesn’t like using doubles."
He did 80% of it himself.
That’s also how he injured his waist.
"It must’ve been tough."
He smiled faintly.
"Acting is never easy—it’s normal."
He changed the topic.
"I can still do fan and sword routines. I’ll show you sometime."
He Xizhou leaned on his hand, watching the screen. He now remembered.
This was the drama Kao invested in. That summer, his father retired and He Xizhou took over He Corporation. His cousin He Zhanyuan took charge of He Dong Entertainment.
He Zhanyuan regretted missing out on the show for a long time.
Back then, they’d tried to sign the breakout star but were politely declined.
That star… was Bo Qin.
He Xizhou picked up his phone and messaged Xu Zhi:
"Add a home theater to the second floor of Fengjiang Villa."
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