Chapter 46

Chapter 46

This was definitely not a misunderstanding.

At this moment, Bai Chen's mind was exploding with fireworks, and he recognized this point with absolute clarity.

Xie Yilin’s words still hadn’t broken through that thin layer, but sometimes words don’t need to be so direct—he didn’t say anything, but his actions, his behavior, already conveyed the same message.

The Alpha before him was...

Was he pursuing him? In a very subtle yet not entirely concealed way?

Clearly, this had surpassed the boundaries of their agreement.

But up until now, the boundaries of the agreement had long ceased to be clear.

Even Bai Chen himself couldn’t simply regard Xie Yilin as just the party A of the agreement, the lofty Crown Prince, or a favorite idol.

So, what should he do?

...The next day, Bai Chen sat on the ship heading back to the capital planet, his mind still preoccupied with this question.

It was a guest appearance role set half a year ago, which he had to attend. Fortunately, the production team had Dong Yuzhe and Qi Nan to fill in, so Bai Chen’s leave wouldn’t affect the filming.

Xie Yilin was also returning to the capital planet with him, saying he had some business at the military department.

The ship sailed smoothly, and Bai Chen propped his left cheek with his hand, gazing out the window.

Outside the cabin window, the dark expanse of the universe stretched endlessly, and in the vast view, a massive, bustling planet came into sight.

It is the capital planet, and also the largest in the Empire.

Alpha sat beside him, his expression calm. Yesterday, Bai Chen had toured the mech, and Xie Yilin hadn’t said much, as if he were an exceptionally patient hunter, quietly waiting.

He didn’t say it outright, nor did he seem to need Bai Chen to respond directly.

So, everything was as usual.

Bai Chen: ... But that made things even stranger.

When everything was normal, he realized that the current relationship between him and Xie Yilin was indeed quite ambiguous.

They had embraced, almost kissed, and even met each other’s parents. In a typical romance drama, they would have already moved on to having children.

But who could have guessed? He was just following the agreement and taking a small work perk. How did it end up like this?

Wasn’t His Royal Highness supposed to be cold and aloof, especially ruthless?

Bai Chen felt a bit conflicted.

If he refused, would the agreement fall through? Would he never get to hug again?

No, no, no, that wasn’t the point.

The point was... what did he really think? What was Xie Yilin’s place in his heart now?

The Omega, who loved hugs, wished he could hold a pillow right now; it might help him think. But just as he moved, Xie Yilin’s gray eyes looked over, his brow slightly furrowed.

In the next moment, he raised his hand and brushed away a strand of hair from Bai Chen’s forehead.

Alpha murmured, "Are you hungry?"

Bai Chen: ...Damn, his tone is too gentle!

Omega's face instantly turned red, but he forced it down, "No, I was just checking how much longer it will take."

Xie Yilin replied, "Half an hour."

Bai Chen couldn't sit still for another minute.

He pretended nothing was wrong, "I'll go to the bathroom."

Omega got up and entered the side door. The moment he closed the door, he rushed to the sink, turned on the tap, and splashed water on his face.

...Or rather, he washed his face.

He washed his face thoroughly.

As seriously as a kitten washing its face before bed. He wet his hands first, then applied some foam, rubbing it over his ten fingers... Bai Chen hadn't washed his hands and face this carefully since kindergarten.

After washing up, he felt his heart calm down. So, he walked back calmly, sat down, and pretended nothing had happened.

Xie Yilin's gaze paused slightly at the collar of his shirt.

Omega looked good today, wearing a light blue V-neck undershirt and a khaki casual jacket. Because he had washed his hands and face so carefully, a few droplets of water had splashed onto his collar, and a single drop lingered on his clavicle, slowly sliding down along the graceful curve, down and down...

The man deliberately looked away, lightly caressing with his fingertips.

Bai Chen felt he had almost prepared himself mentally, seeing that there were still ten minutes left. So he said, "Your Highness, Song Lei will be picking me up later."

They can be separated; there’s no need to guard him so strictly.

Xie Yilin nodded slightly, making a sound of agreement.

Bai Chen relaxed, his smile brightening just a bit.

The Alpha took note of his reaction, lowering his gaze without a word.

Bai Chen, not noticing, immediately opened his smartbrain and sent a message to Song Lei: "Are you there yet? I’ll be there in a few minutes."

The reply from the agent was a bit slow, but not too long.

"Got it, got it, I’m outside the port. The car is here… What’s the plan? Head straight to the set? Is His Highness coming with you or not?"

Bai Chen thought for a moment and replied, "Go ahead. His Highness has some business to attend to and won’t be joining us."

Song Lei was a bit surprised but didn’t say anything.

Ten minutes later, the ship docked at a private port. Xie Yilin indeed parted ways with him, getting into the car on Adjutant Xiao’s side.

One to the left, one to the right, the two cars headed off in different directions.

Xiao Ling sat in the front, catching a glimpse of Xie Yilin’s expression in the back.

The Alpha remained as he always was, showing little obvious emotion. But Xiao Ling, having followed him for years, could discern a hint of strategic composure from that handsome, cold face.

...How to put it? When His Highness was still a captain, Xiao Ling accompanied him on missions, and he often had this look.

Calm and collected, commanding with ease... In the end, that mission was particularly successful.

Even breaking historical records.

Xiao Ling still remembered what His Highness said at the time?

What... about combining tension and relaxation? Giving the prey some breathing room? And then delivering the final blow?

He couldn't recall.

Adjutant Xiao pondered for a moment and began to report on the work of the past few days.

"The plan is going smoothly, and His Majesty has given his approval... The military department awaits your arrival to unify the deployment."

"Grand Duke Cohen's stance is unclear. But I estimate there's an eighty percent chance he will lend a hand to those people. After all, years of marriage alliances have made them one family."

"But our side isn't easy to deal with either. Tsk, those old fossils still think it's the old days."

After reporting each item, he paused, his voice slightly lower, "Your Highness."

"I asked about where Mr. Bai is heading today; it's on Huanyu Road. Once he's done, how about..."

"We go and pay him a visit?"

In the back seat of the car, Xie Yilin raised his eyes slightly.

After a long moment, he tapped his fingertips on the armrest and said coolly, "Fine."

***

On Bai Chen's side, as soon as he met Song Lei, the latter started chattering.

"Ah, Chen, not to say, but I'm really a bit worried about you."

Song Lei, who hadn’t been seen for a few days, had inexplicably put on some weight, his face looking rounder. "You’re already an Omega married into the royal family, why do you still go to that small production team to do wire stunts?"

"If anything happens, how can I explain it to His Highness? The entire crew wouldn’t be enough to cover the compensation!"

Bai Chen: ...

He never expected that in just a few days, Song Lei would have become so inflated.

He still remembered how Song Lei had begged and pleaded to get him this guest role.

"The contract is signed," Bai Chen could only say, "And now that I’m married to His Highness, I should maintain my image even more."

"…That’s true."

Song Lei thought about it and found it very reasonable, "I’ll talk to them and promote it properly. Your value isn’t what it used to be; they were asking me politely yesterday if we wanted more appearance fees."

"They suggested it themselves," he emphasized, fearing Bai Chen wouldn’t believe him, "I didn’t say anything."

"Mm-hmm…" Bai Chen responded half-heartedly.

He had no intention of raising his price, especially since he wasn’t short of money at the moment. Still, he asked, "You didn’t raise your price, right?"

"No, no," Song Lei said with great assurance, "Do you think I’m that kind of person?"

"I’m your agent now! We need to think bigger and act with higher standards!"

"We’re a legitimate agency, not some amateur group."

Bai Chen: ...

Alright, he doesn’t have many thoughts right now.

The filming location is at the set on Huanyu Road, an area with numerous production companies that have built large studios. Bai Chen followed Song Lei inside, immediately drawing a lot of attention.

Song Lei was well-prepared and had arranged for four bodyguards.

As the burly men in black cleared the way, they finally made it to the studio where the crew was located.

Seeing him arrive, the director came up directly: "Oh! Mr. Bai! Why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I could have arranged for someone to pick you up."

"No need, no need."

Bai Chen just smiled, "Director, you’re busy. I’m just here to play a supporting role; there’s no need for all that trouble."

"Oh, come on," the director immediately praised him, changing his address, "Look at Teacher Bai, so dedicated... Hey, who is it? Hurry up, isn’t it your scene with Teacher Bai today?"

A young man, full of youthful energy, rushed over. He was about the same age as Bai Chen but quickly bowed, "Hello, Teacher Bai."

Bai Chen felt a bit uncomfortable, "Hello, may I ask who you are?"

He had read through the script roughly on the way.

It’s a big production, a space exploration film, the first adaptation of a series of original works. It describes three main characters forming an exploration team due to their shared interests, traveling freely through the universe in a spaceship.

In the novel, the male lead and the male secondary character both sign up for the Paradise Adventure Company’s space explorer selection. They are evenly matched in the final round, admiring each other's abilities, and decide to form a two-person exploration team.

Shortly after departure, the spaceship receives a distress signal from an unknown star region, leading them to investigate. In a primitive alien tribe, they discover the female lead, who was nearly killed.

The female lead is also a space adventurer, following in her family’s footsteps to find her father, which led her down this path.

... Overall, it is the trio's origin story and the first work that sets the tone for the entire series.

Bai Chen makes a cameo as the young prince of an alien tribe, coming to the trio's aid at a critical moment.

Notably, in designing this grand adventure of the alien tribe, the author admits that the characters were described based on the elves from ancient myths and legends.

The young man before them was dressed similarly, in a dark green bodysuit with a bow and arrow on his back, and had undergone special effects makeup.

With pointed ears and long hair flowing down his back, he looked very handsome overall.

"My name is Feng Hanjing, Teacher Bai, you can just call me Xiao Feng."

The young man led the way, guiding Bai Chen and Song Lei to the makeup room. Song Lei opened the door, and Bai Chen entered, finding it to be a private dressing room.

... Indeed, his treatment had improved.

Bai Chen sat in front of the mirror, closed his eyes, and let the makeup artist apply various products to his face.

His skin was naturally fair, so not much foundation was needed. The makeup artist carefully attached a pair of fake ears to him.

They were sharp and perky, particularly adorable.

When finished, Bai Chen glanced in the mirror and thought he didn't look like an elf but more like a kitten.

The "kitten" shook its head, and on a whim, pulled out his smart device, turned on the camera, made a heart shape, tilted its head, and took a selfie.

The movie hadn't been released yet, and the cameo was still under wraps, so of course, he wouldn't post it on social media.

Bai Chen opened the chat window with Xie Yilin, hesitating for a long time over the "send" button.

Send it, and it seems like you’re being proactive; don’t send it, and the urge to share is strong.

Song Lei suddenly walked over quickly and slapped him on the shoulder: “The costume’s here!”

Bai Chen: ???

He hurriedly looked at the screen — it was sent!

...All because of the excellent internet speed on set. Such high-definition pictures were sent out in an instant.

He hastily put away his smart device and glared at Song Lei in annoyance.

Song Lei: ...What’s wrong?

What happened? Did he interrupt Bai Chen and His Highness’s romantic moment?

But he didn’t see Bai Chen on any video call or talking...

The agent was completely puzzled but dared not move recklessly. Bai Chen took the clothes and went into the dressing room.

Since the character is the Little Prince, the costume has some variations.

The undershirt is still tight-fitting, but the color and material are different. He wears a light, gossamer-like coat on top, symbolizing his noble status.

On his feet are a pair of small leather boots, with his white-gold hair cascading down his back, and a forehead ornament adorning his smooth forehead.

He looks ethereal and dreamy.

Bai Chen walked out, holding a prop bow, struck a pose confidently, and asked with a grin, “How does it look?”

“…Great, great.”

The director this time genuinely praised, "The image is very fitting!"

Just a cameo appearance; as long as it's not too disappointing, then it's a success!

Moreover, without any unexpected events, as long as the news of Bai Chen's participation is released, the box office is bound to explode.

Now, the director was extremely relieved that Bai Chen was not the type to demand more money on the spot, and his perception of him improved even more.

Bai Chen had limited time, so the filming began immediately.

The plot of this part is also very simple. The little prince and his tribesmen were on daily patrol in the jungle and discovered the whereabouts of the trio.

In the interstellar era, it is easy to simulate a jungle scene using technical means.Bai Chen walked in and closed his eyes.

The director yelled, "...Action!"

Bai Chen did not immediately open his eyes.

He is a fairy in the jungle, and the jungle is his home.At home, the little prince does not need to be too vigilant or guard his surroundings.

Thus, he simply closed his eyes, using his other senses, his body, and his soul to feel the atmosphere of the forest.

The leaves rustled, the birds chirped, a small beetle crawled over the vine, fell deep on the tip of a leaf, and landed on another leaf with a clatter.Everything was in order, an environment he was familiar with and loved.

Then, the wind brought some messages.

The stranger's breath was carried by the wind and received by the trees.The elves have a unique way of communicating with trees and nature.Therefore, the little prince could easily find the stranger's location.

... Father had warned him not to approach those outsiders easily. Besides, they had just rescued their companion and caused a commotion in the tribe.

The young prince hesitated for a moment.

His mission this time was routine patrol, and he was unsure whether he should pursue them.

At that moment, the scent in the air suddenly changed.

A hint of blood soaked through the breeze. The young prince’s face tightened, and he swiftly crossed the forest, running towards it—

“... Cut!”

In one continuous shot, the director clapped vigorously: “Great! Absolutely great! Fantastic!”

He couldn’t help but say regretfully: “Oh, Bai Chen, why didn’t we work together earlier…”

Bai Chen’s lips curved into a smile. “There will be other opportunities.”

“Ah, who knows about the future.” The director still looked quite disappointed. “Your situation with the Prince… well, never mind, let’s not talk about it.”

He was afraid he might slip and quickly changed the subject, moving on to the next scene.

The next scene jumped to the trio preparing to leave.

The heroine found no clues about her father in the area and felt very disheartened. But at that moment, the male lead and the second male lead came to comfort her and invited her to join their expedition team—both were quite fond of this beautiful and brave girl.

The heroine also thought they would make reliable teammates. After some serious consideration, she decided to join. Thus, the three of them went to bid farewell to the young prince.

The young prince came to see them off. He offered his sincere blessings to his friends, wishing them all the best.

Then, they shared an embrace.

In the local culture, hugging is a gesture reserved for mutual blessings.

The three lead actors were already in position. According to the script, Bai Chen was supposed to walk up to them, deliver a few lines, and then hug each one in turn.

...At that moment, a tall figure, not unfamiliar, appeared at the edge of the set.

Everyone was busy with their work, and no one noticed at first.

Bai Chen didn't see it either.

Facing the camera, he had already walked up to the male lead and opened his arms.

On Omega's face was a graceful smile, as if he had stepped out of a painting. The handsome young prince exuded a divine charm, standing out vividly against the lush green backdrop.

Like a small tangerine blossoming with all its allure, in that instant, he seemed to radiate, capturing everyone's gaze, unable to look away.

Xie Yilin's gray eyes remained fixed on Bai Chen.

Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, Bai Chen embraced the male lead.

It was a very ordinary hug.

They quickly parted, exchanging words of blessing... followed by the second male lead and the female lead. After hugging all three, the little prince waved goodbye to them.

"Cut!"

"Very good! Excellent! Absolutely fantastic!"

The director praised him three times and hurried over, "Teacher Bai, you're amazing! Of course, the lead actors are also very impressive... Teacher Bai, we'll be setting up the scene in a bit, would you like to rest for a moment?"

Bai Chen smiled and nodded, heading towards the dressing room.

As he walked, a thought popped into his mind.

Hugs from others were indeed different from those he shared with Xie Yilin.

But those hugs were inherently different and shouldn't be compared.

He entered the dressing room, which was empty. Bai Chen sat down on a chair and muttered to himself.

"I really want a hug."

...At the door, Xie Yilin, who was about to push it open, paused.

He suddenly remembered something.

Bai Chen had said that hugs were very important to him.

Why?

Author's note: Xie Yilin: So why?

Author: ...No, you don't want to know.

————————

Oh, they're getting closer, how exciting~

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