Chapter 36#

World 1: The Tragic Supporting Male Lead Changes the Script Online#

Why did Qin Qing give him a birthday present? Before stepping into the Listening to Rain Pavilion, Cang Ming had been pondering this question.

However, after crossing that narrow threshold, he completely lost the ability to think.

He could only stand there motionless, dizzy and looking at the beautiful scenery in front of him in disbelief.

Listening to Rain Pavilion was a small attic. The walls on all sides were snow-white. Inside, there was a low table for drinking tea, a futon for meditation, and a guzheng for listening. A square skylight was opened in the middle of the roof to let in a beam of light. A pond was dug in the ground below the skylight, planted with purple water lilies and raising bright red koi.

On rainy days, dim light poured down from the skylight, spreading mist, and raindrops pattered on the water surface, creating ripples. The koi chased the raindrops and jumped onto the lotus leaves, their flower-like tail fins shaking the purple water lilies.

Such scenery was the most pleasant and beautiful, so this Listening to Rain Pavilion was always most popular with guests on rainy days.

Cang Ming had been here once or twice, but he could never perceive the beauty of the rain scene. However, at this moment, without rain, without mist, without dim weather to match such a clever spatial design, he suddenly realized that this place was so lingering.

Qin Qing, wearing a pure white silk robe, stood in that small square pond, with his back to the door, looking up at the skylight.

It was midsummer, and the blazing sun was like melted gold, pouring down from the small window like a waterfall.

Qin Qing’s hair and skin were dyed with a layer of brilliant gold by this intruding sunlight. His thin ears were crimson, and the silk pajamas were also penetrated by the light, half-revealing his skin as soft and smooth as snow.

The gradually rising temperature made this snowy skin slowly surface with a layer of light pink. Bright purple water lilies swayed by his straight and slender legs, and rose-colored koi swam in the crystal clear water, occasionally pecking at his round and cute pink-white toes.

White, red, pink, purple… the most charming colors all gathered here.

The raw water vapor entangled with the rich floral fragrance, brewing in the cramped space.

Both vision and smell were invaded by this boundless beauty, taking away all of Cang Ming’s mind in an instant.

The unhideable heartbeat and heavy breathing made Qin Qing, who was looking up at the skylight, turn around.

Having looked straight at the sun for a long time, his eyes were full of heavy shadows, and Cang Ming was standing in the shadows, so only a tall and blurred outline was visible.

“Come here.” Qin Qing smiled brightly and beckoned.

He had no idea how charming this gentle smile would be when the sun was shining and he was covered in golden glory.

Cang Ming walked over uncontrollably, his steps heavy and urgent, just like his breathing. Walking to the edge of the pool, he stopped motionless, looking almost dizzily at this small flower swaying and stretching in the sun.

“Guess what my birthday present for you is.” Qin Qing walked in the shallow pool, his voice carrying a hint of nasality, a bit muffled and a bit trembling, like a fishhook wrapped in bait.

Cang Ming swallowed this fishhook willingly, his Adam’s apple rolling up and down.

He vaguely guessed the answer, but dared not believe his own judgment.

“It’s me.” Qin Qing walked slowly to the edge of the pool, reached out, grabbed the tall man’s collar, and while smiling lightly and getting closer, whispered gently: “Your birthday present is me.”

Too dazzling sunlight all converged on him, so that the space outside the skylight was all dim shadow. Qin Qing couldn’t see clearly who he was grabbing, but smelled a familiar scent.

The coldness of cedar, the heaviness of ancient wood, and a little richness of rose and freshness of citrus. Yes, it was the person he had been waiting for.

He lowered his eyelashes, opened his thin lips, slightly stuck out the tip of his tongue, and kissed this person.

After a moment of stunned silence, Cang Ming leaned over and responded to this kiss fiercely, fanatically, and desperately.

Why did Qin Qing seduce him behind Xu Yizhi’s back? This question, which violated his moral values and his sense of justice, was completely out of his consideration. He just wanted to plunder, just wanted to possess, just wanted to do what he had done countless times in his dreams…

The sunlight overhead inexplicably became extremely hot.

This kiss was too fierce and too long. Qin Qing’s nose was a bit stuffy, so he wanted to back away a little to get some air.

But he just moved slightly, and the back of his head was firmly pressed by a big hand, and his thin lips had to be pressed tightly against another pair of thin lips.

The increasingly thin air made Qin Qing struggle to retreat, and the person holding him tightly also stepped into the water, stirring up a crisp sound of water.

Minutes later, Qin Qing, who gradually adapted to the strong light, finally saw clearly the person who was kissing him fiercely.

He was suddenly startled, and then pushed the other party away forcefully.

“President Cang, why is it you?” He stepped back a few steps, stumbling and falling.

Cang Ming immediately put his arms around his waist, pulled him into his arms, and said with unstable breath and hoarse voice: “I came to open my birthday present.”

“What birthday present?” Qin Qing wanted to be angry, but his face, flushed and hot from the kiss, could only show hazy and bewildered spring passion.

“You left me a note asking me to come and open the present.” Cang Ming spoke hoarsely while kissing him urgently again.

More questions were blocked by this hot and lingering kiss.

Qin Qing’s hand went around to Cang Ming’s back, clenched his fist and hammered a few times, but became weaker and weaker because of that soul-deep sucking.

At the same time, 996 had secretly taken the note from Cang Ming’s room back to Qin Qing and Xu Yizhi’s room.

Xu Yizhi, carrying a bag of medicine, walked to the window, picked up the note, and before finishing reading it, was hit by a strong sense of dizziness and intoxication. He sat down slowly, holding his forehead and groaning secretly, took several deep breaths repeatedly before standing up, and strode towards the Listening to Rain Pavilion.

996, hiding outside the door, quickly followed, giggling non-stop.

The tightly closed door was pushed open from the outside with a bang.

Cang Ming held Qin Qing’s face and kissed deeply for tens of seconds, then turned to look at the person who came. Two pairs of equally deep, equally cold, equally sharp eyes collided in the air.

Qin Qing pushed Cang Ming away, fell sitting on the wooden board at the edge of the pool, panting awkwardly. His clothes were wide open, his lip bead swollen, and his cheeks floating with thick spring intent, looking completely kissed through.

Xu Yizhi stared at him firmly, walking step by step into this cramped attic with only a beam of sunlight.

Cang Ming extended his strong arm, pulled up the limp Qin Qing, and hugged him back into his arms.

Qin Qing pushed him hard, but couldn’t shake him a bit.

“What are you doing?” Xu Yizhi asked with hooked thin lips.

He was smiling, but lava-like anger that could not be extinguished flowed in his dark deep eyes.

“We are kissing, didn’t you already see it?” Cang Ming’s hoarse voice carried a trace of satisfaction after desire was tasted lightly. He imprisoned Qin Qing firmly in his arms; this was something he had always wanted to do but had no chance to do.

“No, I left you a note asking you to come to the Listening to Rain Pavilion to open the present. But I don’t know why it was President Cang who came. The light was too strong, I couldn’t see clearly, I mistook the person.” Qin Qing explained anxiously, struggling weakly.

He knew how pale and feeble such an explanation would be after such a passionate kiss.

He looked up at the skylight and sighed dejectedly.

And his explanation destroyed the satisfaction and pleasure in Cang Ming’s eyes in an instant. Huge disappointment and loneliness made his chest tight, as if a piece of fresh beating flesh had been dug out alive.

996, who sneaked into the Listening to Rain Pavilion following Xu Yizhi, hid in the corner and said triumphantly: “Don’t explain, explanation is cover-up! I changed the note, but who will believe you? In the eyes of Cang Ming and Xu Yizhi, you are a slut stepping on two boats! Hee hee hee, they will slap you left and right and swell your face!”

996 poked its head out from behind a low table and stuck out its tongue.

Qin Qing was slightly stunned, then smiled bitterly.

He looked at Xu Yizhi and said lightly: “If you are willing to believe me, I am very grateful. If you are not willing to believe, I won’t defend myself.”

He had encountered this kind of thing too many times. Once more didn’t seem to matter.

He pushed Cang Ming, with much lighter force than before, and Cang Ming actually let him go slowly.

“I’m sorry.” Cang Ming said the apology with a hoarse voice hiding a trace of pain.

Xu Yizhi strode to the edge of the pool, reached out and pulled Qin Qing ashore. Before Qin Qing could stand firm, he cupped this person’s cheek and kissed him eagerly and fiercely.

Cang Ming stood in the brilliant column of light, silently gazing at the two kissing in the shadows. The scorching temperature belonged to him, but he only felt his fingertips cold.

Qin Qing responded to this kiss, with guilt and apology, very gently, very gently, like a flower stretching its pink stamens, using its most tender part to make nectar.

Cang Ming stroked his thin lips, secretly tasting this sweetness that did not belong to him with extremely restrained feelings.

He sat down slowly at the edge of the pool, looking down at his feet. The water lilies bloomed enchantingly, and the koi swam happily. Some people were in pairs, only he could hide at the intersection of light and shadow, suffering half hot and half cold.

Bloodshot dark eyes closed slowly helplessly…

“Still kissing, still kissing, how many minutes has it been?” 996 looked at the intellectual brain impatiently, “Hey, I say, shouldn’t you fight? Beat Qin Qing! Beat him hard! Teach him a lesson for playing with your feelings!”

996’s clamor stopped at Cang Ming’s seemingly unintentional glance. The crimson eyes emitted cold light, piercing like a blade.

996 hurriedly covered its mouth and fell silent.

Xu Yizhi and Qin Qing finally separated.

“I believe you.” Xu Yizhi stroked Qin Qing’s slightly red cheek and whispered with a smile: “I like this gift very much.”

Qin Qing observed his expression in disbelief: “You really believe me? I have no way to explain how that note ran into President Cang’s room.”

Xu Yizhi shook his head, just about to comfort a few words, when Cang Ming actually spoke heavily: “Just assume it was done by the kitten.”

Qin Qing was stunned. It took a while to remember the reason he used when he frequently embarrassed himself at the last meeting. He always said it was done by the kitten and never changed his tune, so this time, Cang Ming still adopted that seemingly absurd excuse.

“Sorry, for my abruptness and presumption.” Cang Ming raised his head, his dark eyes showing absolutely no leaked emotion.

He turned into a machine again.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Besides this, what else could Qin Qing say? It was 996’s malicious disturbance that caused this misunderstanding. Cang Ming didn’t do anything wrong; he thought this gift belonged to him, so he opened it.

“You go, I want to be alone for a while.” Cang Ming took out a cigarette, frowned and held it in his mouth. His cold and stern face was full of annoyance and anxiety.

“Let’s go, take medicine and sleep for a while, go to the hot spring at night.” Xu Yizhi took Qin Qing’s hand and left this room gradually filled with strong tobacco smell.

“Is this it? No beating or scolding, and apologizing instead? Are you men? Is it fun to wear a green hat?” 996 jumped with anger.

Cang Ming walked out of the pool with a cigarette in his mouth and paced slowly for a few steps. A thin and long cigarette was finished by him at an extremely fast speed. There was an ashtray on the low table, so he strode over.

996 was scared to death of him and quickly dodged.

Unexpectedly, he suddenly flew into a rage, kicked over the low table, causing the heavy ashtray to fly up and hit 996 heavily on the back of the head. 996 fluttered a few times, fell into the water, and then screamed miserably.

Water splashed in the pool, koi scurried, and a fat cat paddled its limbs indiscriminately but could never climb ashore.

Cang Ming picked up the ashtray, put out the cigarette butt, then lit a new cigarette and smoked silently. The faint light that originally lit up in his deep eyes extinguished bit by bit at this moment.

In the evening, Qin Qing and Xu Yizhi walked hand in hand on the quiet path leading to the hot spring pool. Both sides of the road were planted with banana trees, huge leaves drooping and swaying gently in the evening breeze.

Not far ahead, a tall figure stood in the dark smoking silently, the bright red cigarette butt flickering, somewhat lonely.

Qin Qing stopped moving, his pale cheeks slightly red due to embarrassment.

“President Cang, are you also here to soak in the hot spring?” He immediately smiled and asked as if nothing had happened.

Cang Ming turned his head, glanced at the two, and remained silent.

He was wearing a pure black silk bathrobe, with a belt loosely tied around his waist. The half-open front could not cover his strong chest and abdominal muscles. His whole person was tense, dangerous aura spreading wantonly, like a beast hiding in the dark.

Xu Yizhi also wore the same black robe, only his aura was more restrained.

“We are soaking in the couple’s soup, opposite you. The soundproofing is not very good. If it’s inconvenient for you, don’t go.” He laughed low, his nasal sound somewhat heavy.

“You caught a cold?” Qin Qing asked with concern.

“Yeah, kissed all afternoon, infected by you.”

Xu Yizhi stroked his thin lips, his voice full of satisfaction, and then put his arm around Qin Qing’s waist and walked away slowly.

Cang Ming stood in place, watching their backs with dark eyes.

In the misty hot spring pool, Qin Qing put his arms around Xu Yizhi’s neck and kissed passionately.

In the opposite hot spring pool, Cang Ming leaned against the pool wall, closed his eyes, and silently tasted this stolen sticky entanglement.

When Qin Qing took off his soaked bathrobe and prepared to go further, Cang Ming suddenly opened his black eyes, his sharp gaze piercing straight at the opposite wall. Circles of water ripples rose without wind centered on him, spreading suddenly.

Xu Yizhi seemed to feel something and slowly ended the kiss.

Qin Qing covered his nose and shouted worriedly in a low voice: “You have a nosebleed!”

“How could that be.” Xu Yizhi looked puzzled.

In this world, who could make blood flow out of his body? In a flash of thought, he suddenly looked at the opposite side, and then smiled coldly.

Blood dripped into the water, dyeing a patch red. Qin Qing quickly put on the wet bathrobe and helped Xu Yizhi leave the hot spring pool.

The blood kept flowing and couldn’t be stopped by any means. Qin Qing had to check out that night and rush Xu Yizhi to the hospital. Not long after the two left, Cang Ming also returned to the city center.

Doctors and nurses were busy for several hours before stopping the bleeding for Xu Yizhi. He half-lay on the hospital bed, his face somewhat pale.

The doctor took Qin Qing to a secluded place and said worriedly: “Bleeding so much from the nose inexplicably is not a good sign. We did a comprehensive physical examination for Mr. Xu. The medical report will come out in two weeks, remember to come and get it.”

Qin Qing subconsciously touched his shoulder blade and asked with extreme restraint: “What disease could it be? Is it serious?”

“Hard to say. Let’s wait for the examination report to come out.” The doctor shook his head and left with a solemn face.

Two weeks later, Xu Yizhi, wearing a blue and white striped hospital gown, was admitted to the hospital.

Cang Ming, in a straight suit, stood by the hospital bed, looking down at him with a cold expression.

“Leukemia, you did it, right?” Xu Yizhi hooked his lips and smiled. His handsome face showed no haggardness, no fear, only mockery.

Cang Ming walked to the window and silently watched Qin Qing run out of the gate of the inpatient department to buy fruit across the street. The floor was very high, and his figure was small, but his slightly red eyes from crying just now and his painful and bewildered expression were still clearly captured by Cang Ming.

“You think when I die, you can be with Qin Qing?” Xu Yizhi said with a faint smile.

Invisible ripples oscillated in the air, just like the windless water waves that night.

When the ripples hit Cang Ming, he said coldly: “If the two of us fight, this world will collapse. You know, his broken soul can’t even withstand one restart.”

The invisible ripples dissipated instantly, and the quietly condensed vast power was retracted extremely quickly. Xu Yizhi got out of bed, walked into the washroom, and spat a mouthful of blood into the sink.

He turned on the faucet to wash his face, rinsed his mouth, and then took a towel to dry the water marks. From beginning to end, he was very calm; the pain of damaged internal organs couldn’t make him frown even a little bit.

For Qin Qing, he could endure everything, let alone just one self-harm.

“Strike first to gain the upper hand, I should have thought of this truth earlier.” After returning to the ward, he said with a smile.

“When you die, I will take good care of Qin Qing.” Cang Ming held a slender cigarette in his mouth, his hoarse voice revealing some expectation.

The nurse happened to walk in at this time and warned: “No smoking in the ward!”

“He’s not smoking, he’s just holding it for a while.” Xu Yizhi actually took the initiative to explain for Cang Ming.

Cang Ming indeed didn’t plan to smoke. He crushed the popping bead in the cigarette butt and inhaled the sweet and cold aroma into his lungs with lowered eyes.

“How pitiful, fragrance, taste, kisses, hugs, admiration, you can’t get anything, you can only steal from me.” Xu Yizhi also walked to the window, looking at the figure buying fruit across the street.

Two equally tall, handsome, and imposing men occupied the small window.

“What I stole is mine.” Cang Ming said calmly.

Except for Qin Qing, no one could make his mood fluctuate even a little bit.

“Why don’t we make a bet.” Xu Yizhi smiled meaningfully.

“Bet on what?” Cang Ming asked absent-mindedly.

That small figure finished buying fruit and was walking back. The fruit was a bit heavy, dragging his steps. There was too much traffic on the road, honking crazily. All the omens happening to Qin Qing that might lead to danger made Cang Ming’s nerves tense.

Xu Yizhi pursed his thin lips tightly, looking unblinkingly at the lingering figure on the street. When Qin Qing finally crossed the road safely and walked into the hospital, his slightly suffocated breath was slowly released.

“Bet on how deep Qin Qing’s feelings for me are. If I die, and his heart dies with me, you will never get him. You wasted so much effort in vain, only to make him fall into endless pain. Can you bear it?”

Xu Yizhi knew Cang Ming couldn’t bear it, because he was the same.

Cang Ming took off the slender cigarette that had lost its fragrance and frowned rather irritably.

“If Qin Qing chooses me, you let go, how about it?” Xu Yizhi looked straight at Cang Ming.

Cang Ming crushed the slender cigarette, threw it into the trash can beside him, and asked in a deep voice: “How do you want to bet?”

More than ten minutes later, Qin Qing walked into the ward carrying a bag of fruit.

Seeing Cang Ming, he was stunned, and then greeted: “President Cang, I bought some apples, do you want to eat?”

“Thanks, no need.” Cang Ming shook his head coldly, as if he had forgotten the kiss in the hot sun.

Qin Qing felt much more at ease, moved a stool, sat by the hospital bed, and said gently: “I’ll peel an apple for you, eat it first to fill your stomach. My mother made chicken soup for you, it will be delivered in a while.”

Xu Yizhi looked at him with a smile.

Qin Qing took out an apple and peeled it, and said again: “President Cang, I want to resign.”

“Why? I have handled all the public opinion on the Internet, you don’t need to care.” Cang Ming tried to retain him: “You continue to work, the exam can be postponed.”

“Not because of cyber violence and certificates.” Qin Qing shook his head, “I want to concentrate on taking care of Yizhi. His body needs to be nursed well. Only after quitting my job will I have time to learn cooking and nursing.”

Cang Ming was stunned, and a look of jealousy almost appeared on his cold face. For Xu Yizhi, Qin Qing could sacrifice to this extent. Cooking and nursing? Which young man would leave everything behind during the rising period of his career to learn such useless things?

Xu Yizhi could no longer hold back, took the knife from Qin Qing’s hand, pressed his head, and gave him a passionate kiss. His chest vibrated, which was his uncontrollable low laughter.

The door of the ward was pushed open a crack, and a round figure ran in like lightning, shouting excitedly: “Qin Qing, Qin Qing, we have a way out! The main god has issued a new task for you. As long as you complete this task, we can get a return scroll!”

Qin Qing still kissed Xu Yizhi softly and lingeringly. When Xu Yizhi was satisfied and took the initiative to back away, he looked calmly at 996.

Even if the only chance of survival was right in front of him, his lover’s kiss was more important to him.

Xu Yizhi couldn’t help laughing low again. His face was ruddy, his eyes were clear, and his spirit was happy, not looking like a person with a terminal illness at all.

Cang Ming leaned against the window frame, looking at Qin Qing unblinkingly with dark deep eyes.

“What task.” Qin Qing picked up the knife and continued to peel the apple.

“Abandon Xu Yizhi, conquer Cang Ming, and get 100% of Cang Ming’s love!” 996 raised its chubby little paw, letting Qin Qing see the important task marked in red font on the intellectual brain himself.