Chapter 1696: Beiping Old Dream: Beauty Actor Overpowers the Big Shot 11

Pei Yiqing went upstairs to change into clean clothes; as soon as he entered the living room, he heard the song coming from the phonograph.

Upon taking a closer look, Jin Chen leaned lazily on the imperial concubine chair, reading a book, propping his arm, his long hair casually draped.

Gorgeous and bewitching, more enchanting than a fairy.

Pei Yiqing thought, recalling the scene just now of Jin Chen and his older brother kissing, and inexplicably his face turned red.

Pei Yinnian wasn't nearby; when Jin Chen looked at Pei Yiqing again he felt no embarrassment, being carefree and unrestrained. Jin Chen lifted his gaze, saw him, lifted the blanket and patted the spot beside him, realizing Pei Yiqing had something to ask.

Pei Yiqing obediently sat beside Jin Chen, not minding that this person was two years younger than him, and seeking reassurance asked: "Do you know Xu Nanchun? What kind of person is he?"

Sure enough, it was still about this matter.

Jin Chen propped his head and drawled, bluntly: "Narrow-minded, annoying ghost, harmful spirit."

Pei Yiqing's eyes widened the more he listened: "Why does Bofeng like him?"

Jin Chen hit the nail on the head: "Xu Nanchun is good‑looking and knows how to attract favor."

Pei Yiqing: "……"

He felt like crying again.

"I'm not inferior either…" Pei Yiqing muttered, head down, fingers twisting the blanket, "I and Bofeng are lovers of thought, soulmates."

Jin Chen furrowed his brows, raised a hand and poked his head, "What are you comparing?"

"Your soulmate is now dating his physical partner."

Pei Yiqing's breath hitched, he covered his heart and steadied himself: "How can you be more venomous than my brother's mouth?"

Seeing the effect was good, Jin Chen's thoughts turned, he took his hand and clapped: "I'll take you out for a stroll to clear your mind."

"Alright." Pei Yiqing weakly agreed.

——

He got Ling Gun Gun to secure two other lead roles, and as expected they were at the Cai Fa Theater.

Jin Chen couldn't just walk in, but Pei Yiqing used his status as the young master of the Pei Family to clear the way.

"Aren't you from Weiyang Weiyang Xiyuan? Why are you here listening to someone else's play?"

Pei Yiqing was led by Jin Chen to sit at the edge of the second‑floor corridor, not an ideal spot for watching the play; Jin Chen's long fingers touched his lips to signal Pei Yiqing to be silent.

Then he slightly moved the vase on the shelf beside the table, revealing Xiao Bofeng and Xu Nanchun next door.

Pei Yiqing's eyes widened, and he stared fixedly in that direction without moving.

Jin Chen gazed at Youyou as if watching a good show, pinching and shelling peanuts.

Facing Xu Nanchun, Xiao Bofeng was utterly different from the refined gentlemanly demeanor he showed in Hucheng; as he drank he clung and kissed, and Xu Nanchun, having not seen Xiao Bofeng for so long, missed him terribly—his whole outfit seemed about to slip off, his entire person exuding a soft, alluring charm that made one want to pluck him.

Eh, sore eyes.

Jin Chen blew the peanut crumbs from his hand, silently asked Pei Yiqing if he wanted some; seeing he hadn't reacted, he drew his hand back and kept eating.

These two not only had to confess their longing for each other, but occasionally dragged Pei Yiqing out for comparison—unlike Xiao Bofeng's concealment from Pei Yiqing, Xu Nanchun was fully aware of their relationship.

"You've been with him in Hucheng for so long, I almost thought I was forgotten."

Xu Nanchun said, and two tears fell, only making Xiao Bofeng ache: "I'm doing all this for the Xiao Family—what's good about a proud, arrogant young master? After all this time I haven't even kissed him."

"Who wouldn't like you, obedient and not sour or jealous."

Xiao Bofeng laughed casually and then rubbed Xu Nanchun's face.

Xu Nanchun's expression shifted slightly, feeling down he bit his lip, then forced a smile to please and kiss him.

Only he himself knew that it wasn't unwillingness, but fear.

No matter what, an actor's identity could not keep Xiao Bofeng; surely he just had to be obedient and listen.

At one end separated by the nanmu flower‑rack screen, Pei Yiqing was furious to death.

He felt a strong sense of rupture.

One was the courteous, refined confidant from that morning; the other was Xiao Bofeng, sitting opposite in a frivolous pose.

Jin Chen propped his cheek with one hand, fanning the flames: "If I were you, I definitely couldn't tolerate it."

Before his words had finished, before Pei Yiqing could react, the old and young class leaders of the Cai Fa Theater entered the adjacent curtained listening room one after another.

Xu Nanchun tidied his clothes, leaned poised on Xiao Bofeng's shoulder, and spoke to them in a cold tone.

Jin Chen held back the angry Pei Yiqing, patiently listening further.

Xiao Bofeng still wanted to give the Cai Fa Theater to Xu Nanchun, but unlike the original plot, Xu Nanchun didn't want to stay on at the Weiyang Weiyang Xiyuan Theater; instead he wanted to ruin it.

"A newcomer named Jin Chen, relying on Pei Yinnian's backing, keeps targeting me repeatedly."

Xu Nanchun, recalling this, still felt indignant, tugging Xiao Bofeng's sleeve and cooing: "Even the class leaders now favor him, not noticing who made the Weiyang Weiyang Xiyuan Theater famous."

"Tch, what are you afraid of." Xiao Bofeng dismissed it—who doesn't know Pei Yinnian never lets anyone get close? The rumor about promoting this actor is probably full of exaggeration.

"Let's have that Jin Chen, together with Weiyang Weiyang Xiyuan, go bankrupt tomorrow, and make him kneel to apologize to you."

Meanwhile, Pei Yiqing blinked and glanced cautiously at Jin Chen.

Jin Chen: "……"

Jin Chen picked up the vase on the nanmu flower rack and smashed it to the ground.

After it hit the floor with a crisp crack, he peered through the gaps in the rack, his sharp, vivid gaze boring into them, drawing a cold smile.

"Speak ill of others behind their backs, and you'll have a rotting tongue."

The surroundings fell momentarily silent.

Beautiful people naturally carry an intimidating pressure; especially Jin Chen, now standing, his lofty gaze seemed to scrutinize, like a poison‑coated cold blade.

Cold, splendid, and stern.

"How are you here?" Xu Nanchun exclaimed, suddenly realizing something, he instinctively turned to see Xiao Bofeng's reaction—and sure enough he saw astonishment and attracted longing.

He bit his lip hard, heart churning with distress, glaring angrily at Jin Chen: "You eavesdropped on our talk—are you crazy?"

Xu Nanchun had never met Pei Yiqing, so naturally he didn't recognize him at the moment.

Xiao Bo Feng, however, after a moment of absent-mindedness due to the temptation of beauty, was startled and jumped to his feet, staring at the person beside Jin Chen.

"Xiao Qing..."

Pei Yi Qing stood there, her gaze toward Xiao Bo Feng full of disappointment, or perhaps she drew inspiration from Jin Chen's recent act of smashing the vase; when Xiao Bo Feng strode over, she slapped him hard.

"You lied to me!" Pei Yi Qing couldn't hold back her tears.

"... You, you listen to my explanation."

Xiao Bo Feng suppressed the ruthlessness in his eyes, lifted his chin, and still wanted to get closer.

Pei Yi Qing, however, dodged behind Jin Chen, her voice trembling with sobs.

"I don't want to see you."

Xiao Bo Feng looked at Jin Chen again and, in a commanding tone, said: "Move aside."