Chapter 102

Chapter 102

Bai Xingshu could tell Shen Geng was still upset.

And it was a lasting grudge.

Especially after they had spoken.

Bai Xingshu glanced back at the brooch he'd had his eye on.

...Way out of my price range.

So the only option was...

"I was wrong!!" Yelled at the top of his lungs!

Shen Geng, caught off guard by the outburst: "..."

Shen Geng quickly looked around and, unsurprisingly, saw a crowd of eyes turning toward them.

"Hey!" Shen Geng gave him a look that said 'what the hell?', really wanting to cover this guy’s mouth.

But seeing Bai Xingshu’s pitiful expression, Shen Geng let out a resigned sigh.

"What exactly were you wrong about? Apologizing for no reason?" Shen Geng couldn’t even figure out what Bai Xingshu did wrong.

All he wanted was to marry into a rich Alpha family—what was so wrong about that?

"No idea." Bai Xingshu grinned without a shred of remorse.

Though not surprised by the answer, Shen Geng still fought the urge to roll his eyes. Fortunately, Bai Xingshu’s next words came quickly.

"But I know you’re not the type to get angry for no reason."

"So it must be because of me that you’re upset."

Shen Geng: "..."

Those few sentences instantly eased most of Shen Geng’s annoyance.

Still, Shen Geng tried to keep a straight face, playing at still being angry. "Then what if I was mad at Cheng Yunxi?"

The question made Bai Xingshu tilt his head back, oozing confidence. "You hardly know the guy—why would you be mad at him? If you’re upset, it’s definitely because of me."

"Give me some credit!"

At this point, Shen Geng couldn’t keep a straight face anymore and laughed. "Right, you’re not stupid, but you’re not exactly smart either."

Bai Xingshu glanced at him, realizing he had already managed to cheer Shen Geng up, and immediately bounced back.

Puffing out his chest, Bai Xingshu declared, "Now I’m the one who’s mad because of what you said."

"You owe me." He stated this matter-of-factly.

Now the shoe's on the other foot!

Shen Geng bit back a smile. "How? Tell me first, then I’ll decide whether I’m humoring you."

With a theatrical cough, Bai Xingshu paused for effect, then produced a pair of handcuffs from his pocket.

To be exact.

It was a pair of broken handcuffs.

One cuff was left with just a jagged half-circle.

Bai Xingshu asked Shen Geng with a straight face, "How do I explain this to Brother Wu?"

Shen Geng: "???"

How on earth could this thing break?

It doesn’t even look damaged!

"Where’s the other half of the ring?" Shen Geng voiced his confusion.

Bai Xingshu said calmly, "I don’t know."

"If I knew, it wouldn’t be an accident."

Shen Geng: "..."

Fair point.

But in situations like this, there was really only one solution...

In the end, Bai Xingshu sheepishly brought the broken handcuffs to Wu Jigao.

Wu Jigao looked at Bai Xingshu’s expression like he was facing doom.

Before this, Bai Xingshu had raided criminals, captured fugitives, taken people apart, torn cars apart, and even fractured bones. Even when the other side threatened to file complaints against the police station, Bai Xingshu had never looked so pathetic.

What kind of disaster was this?!

The last time Bai Xingshu put on this act was during the spy case, when he literally blew up a factory.

But then...

Wu Jigao watched as Bai Xingshu pulled out a pair of broken handcuffs and put on his poor-me act.

After realizing Bai Xingshu’s intention, Wu Jigao stared blankly.

"You’ve got to be kidding me!"

Without a word, he gave Bai Xingshu a new pair.

Bai Xingshu looked genuinely surprised. "No need for compensation?"

"Like we’d make you pay for equipment." In the field, if something broke, they blamed the gear—it wasn’t like they’d make a cop pay for handcuffs. Besides...

"You never worried about paying when you kicked in doors, smashed through walls, or ripped out windows before."

Bai Xingshu said matter-of-factly, "That was criminal property, not ours."

Wu Jigao was speechless.

Wu Jigao was utterly speechless.

"So THIS is why you never use your gear, even when we load you up with equipment?!!" Wu Jigao exploded, he added.

Call their parents! We absolutely must call their parents!!

Every time Wu Jigao watches Bai Xingshu charge into the front lines, his heart nearly gives way.

"He never comes empty-handed." He always manages to grab some metal debris on the spot.

Recalling the improvised weapons Bai Xingshu usually ends up holding, Wu Jigao scoffed, "Hmph."

In the end, the event went off without a hitch.

After the previous cinema riot and public criticism, Cheng Yunxi's fans had been on their best behavior during this period. The entire event concluded without any injuries—except for Bai Xingshu, who was chased around by Wu Jigao for a kick in the rear.

After the event, Bai Xingshu said goodbye to Wu Jigao and made his way backstage.

Though not the entire crew was present, the main actors and the director were all there.

While the film mainly focused on Cheng Yunxi, the promotional event was for the movie as a whole, so all key participants were present.

This was why lesser-known supporting actors didn't really mind working alongside Cheng Yunxi—he never stiffed them in terms of respect and support.

When Bai Xingshu arrived, he was greeted with a warm welcome.

Especially since he had brought gifts for everyone.

Watching Bai Xingshu completely seriously hand out merchandise from their movie, everyone present broke into laughter.

Only Bai Xingshu remained completely serious: "Hello, hello. This is my first time working as an action director for a film—and possibly the only time. Please show your support and go watch 'Starry Eternal Love.' Thank you, thank you."

Bai Xingshu's goofing around instantly dissolved the lingering awkwardness from months of not seeing each other.

After some joking around and catching up, everyone gradually dispersed—some to take off their makeup, others to rush to their next schedules.

As the crowd thinned, Cheng Yunxi found his way to sitting beside Bai Xingshu.

Cheng Yunxi shot a meaningful look at the backstage lounge door before asking, "Why didn't your roommate come with you?"

"Huh? Why would he?" Bai Xingshu looked puzzled. "Crowd control is important work too."

Only then did Bai Xingshu notice Cheng Yunxi's suggestive expression and couldn't help laughing.

"He's not interested in me. What are you thinking?" Bai Xingshu chuckled, finally understanding why Shen Geng had mentioned earlier that Cheng Yunxi hadn't been exactly welcoming toward him either.

Why would anyone think there's something between him and Shen Geng?

Oh—because of that brooch?

Well, that's... somewhat logical.

Bai Xingshu suppressed a chuckle. First, Cheng Yunxi suspected something with Lin Lie, now with Shen Geng. So in Cheng Yunxi's eyes, he was apparently quite the ladies' man.

"I'm honored you think I'm so desirable," Bai Xingshu said, recalling Shen Geng's earlier frustration.

He hadn't thought much of it during the Lin Lie incident—after all, Lin Lie had started it, so retaliation was expected.

But Shen Geng...

"Though I don't particularly like the idea of my friends getting the cold shoulder just because they're close to me."

Bai Xingshu's words were carefully measured and kind.

Yet his meaning came through crystal clear.

Cheng Yunxi stared at Bai Xingshu for several seconds before finally looking away, his expression looking defeated. "You can't logic your way out of feelings."

He thought Lin Lie wasn't good enough.

He thought Shen Geng wasn't good enough.

Even if someone picture-perfect in every way appeared by Bai Xingshu's side, he would still find fault with them.

Coming up with every excuse—making all sorts of reasons—at its core, there was only one factor.

He was jealous.

Cheng Yunxi had originally thought that after so much time had passed, his feelings should have cooled by now.

Love, after all, was just brain chemistry.

But today, when he unexpectedly saw Bai Xingshu again, he couldn't stop the rush of happiness.

He wanted to move closer.

He wanted to reach out to him.

He wanted to talk to him.

Bai Xingshu listened to Cheng Yunxi's words and was quiet for a long moment before finally asking hesitantly, "Are you..."

"Is this...are you confessing to me?"