IBKAWB Chapter 26

**Chapter 26: The Rebellious Phase**

Re-translated by: Namizaki

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Lu Yuzhou panicked and blurted out, “I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

 

“Huh?” Chi Zhongqiao replied, turning his gaze from the television to Lu Yuzhou.

 

Lu Yuzhou felt the burning intensity of Chi Zhongqiao’s gaze on his back. He didn’t dare answer or even glance back, nearly tripping over his own feet as he turned and stumbled away.

 

Chi Zhongqiao’s eyes followed Lu Yuzhou’s awkward retreat, still bewildered. “What was that about…?”

 

Completely baffled, Chi Zhongqiao switched off the television and sat on the sofa for a while, trying to figure out what he had said wrong. When he still couldn’t figure it out, he shuffled back to his bedroom in his fuzzy slippers.

 

After a moment’s thought, Chi Zhongqiao searched on his phone: [ What are the signs of a child’s rebellious phase? ]

 

**********

Yu Liang tiptoed back to her room, kicked off her heels, and flopped onto the bed.

 

Her roommate, fresh from the shower, sat beside her, drying her hair. “What time are you planning to sleep tonight?” she asked.

 

“Sister Qing’s show is updating tonight,” Yu Liang replied. “I want to watch it. What about you?”

 

Her roommate turned on the hairdryer, blowing her hair as she said, “No problem. It’s a holiday tomorrow anyway, so I can stay up late and read novels.”

 

Yu Liang threw herself at her roommate. “Baobei, I love you!”

 

Her roommate laughed and dodged her.

 

By the time they got back and finished washing up, it was already past midnight.

 

Yu Liang lay in bed, contentedly clicking on the updated variety show. She hadn’t watched <Meeting You> before, but she was tuning in this time because of Yan Qingbo.

 

“I heard the cast of <Empress of the World> will be on the show too,” her roommate said suddenly, her face covered in a facial mask.

 

Yu Liang nodded. “Yeah, have you seen that drama? The second male lead is pretty popular. What’s his name again? Chi Zhongqiao?”

 

“No, I haven’t watched it, but my colleagues mentioned it. I saw some clips online though, and it looks really good.”

 

Yu Liang hummed in acknowledgment, her interest lukewarm. She’d seen the program preview and knew what the main cast of <Empress of the World> looked like, but aside from Yan Qingbo, she had no interest in the other celebrities. She would only be paying attention to Yan Qingbo during the show.

 

In truth, she harbored a faint resentment toward the <Empress of the World> production team. Someone of Yan Qingbo’s stature should have been given her own special episode, not be forced to appear on a show with a bunch of newcomers.

 

Yu Liang scoffed inwardly: Isn’t this just a blatant attempt to get a veteran actress of her caliber to promote Ginger Candy TV’s hit show? And to boost the newcomers’ popularity while they’re at it.

 

As she thought this, the program’s opening music blared from her tablet.

 

Yu Liang quickly propped up the tablet, swiped past the opening credits, and heard the host, Huo Ting, announce loudly, “Let’s welcome Teacher Yan!”

 

The sliding doors at the back of the stage opened, and elegantly dressed backup dancers glided out, followed by Yan Qingbo, who emerged wearing a playful short dress.

 

Yan Qingbo, microphone in hand, slowly walked to the center of the stage, framed by the surrounding dancers.

 

Yu Liang covered her face with her hands. “Ahhh—my goddess’s singing is so beautiful!”

 

Yu Liang watched the first half of the show, her cheeks flushed with excitement. By the second half, however, her enthusiasm began to wane. When the cast of <Empress of the World> appeared to perform the theme song, she tossed her phone aside and went to get a glass of water.

 

Her roommate, who had been reading a novel, suddenly heard an incredibly catchy voice. She couldn’t resist putting down her phone and glancing at the tablet. One look, and she was utterly stunned by the sheer beauty of one of the performers.

 

He looks even better in modern clothes than in historical dramas! she thought. So handsome! And that voice… it’s going to make my ears pregnant!

 

The roommate abandoned her own phone and focused entirely on the show.

 

After getting water and using the restroom, Yu Liang returned to find her roommate sprawled on the bed, laughing hysterically at the tablet.

 

Yu Liang: “…What’s wrong with you?”

 

Her roommate, still laughing, rolled around on the bed. “Oh my god, he’s so cute! Reaching out to touch the light-up signs! And he even blushed!”

 

Yu Liang: “?? What happened?”

 

Her roommate: “He’s so adorable! I think I’m falling in love with him!”

 

Yu Liang leaned closer. “Who is it?”

 

“Beauty Qiao is just too adorable!” Her roommate turned the tablet toward Yu Liang, dragging the progress bar back to the moment Yu Liang had left the room.

 

Yu Liang wasn’t particularly interested in <Empress of the World>, but since her roommate was so enthusiastic, she decided to take a quick look.

 

“Hahahaha, oh my god, he’s kind of cute!” her roommate exclaimed.

 

Clinging to his light-up sign and trying to sneak a few touches when no one was looking…

 

Yu Liang maintained a straight face and cleared her throat softly. “He is a bit cute.”

 

But in her heart, there was only Teacher Yan. Even the freshest young idol couldn’t shake Teacher Yan’s status as her ultimate bias!

 

Her roommate had already found Chi Zhongqiao’s Weibo account and scrolled down. Suddenly, she burst into laughter. “He actually took the light-up sign home with him!”

 

Yu Liang leaned closer. “Really?” Following her roommate’s finger, she saw a Weibo post from just two days ago. It explained that after filming the show, Chi Zhongqiao had met a fan and, captivated by their light-up sign, couldn’t resist asking to keep it.

 

The top-voted comment was from the original owner of the light-up sign, who had posted a photo of Chi Zhongqiao’s jacket, drawing waves of envy.

 

“Hahahaha, did he really trade his jacket for a light-up sign?” Yu Liang’s roommate laughed.

 

Yu Liang burst out laughing. “What a rip-off! The sign probably cost a few hundred yuan, while the down jacket was worth several thousand!”

 

After laughing for a while, they settled back to watch the show.

 

The program quickly moved into the first segment of the second half.

 

Yu Liang’s cheeks ached from laughing. “How did he and Teacher Yan manage to keep a straight face through such cringeworthy and absurd lines? Their expressions and body language were so steady!”

 

Her roommate was rolling on the floor with laughter. “Beauty Qiao is amazing!”

 

Yu Liang glanced at the scrolling comments. One VIP comment stood out in bold color: [ Mute the sound, and this is textbook-perfect, deeply emotional acting! ]

 

Yu Liang paused, then realized—the reason this improvised, heavily modified scene was so hilarious was precisely because the two actors’ expressions and delivery were so utterly serious, creating a stark contrast.

 

This meant Chi Zhongqiao possessed the acting skill to hold his own against a veteran like Teacher Yan, a seasoned performer of her caliber.

 

That’s pretty impressive.

 

Her roommate exclaimed, “Aiya, I can’t take it! He’s too cute! I’m seriously, seriously going to become a fan!”

 

“Fickle women,” Yu Liang said, “they change their favorite young heartthrobs every ten days or so.”

 

Her roommate chuckled. “I can’t compare to someone like you, Teacher Yan’s die-hard fan. I just follow him for fun, not taking it seriously.” With that, she followed Chi Zhongqiao’s Weibo account, planning to check his page after the show ended.

 

Yu Liang clutched her chest dramatically. “There’s only one Sister Qing in my heart! She’s my white moonlight and cinnabar mole!”

 

“Holy shit! Hahahaha, you’re toxic!” her roommate burst out laughing.

 

Yu Liang’s hand trembled. “What’s wrong?”

 

Her roommate rewound the video slightly, pointing at the screen. “Hahahaha, he’s so cool and adorable at the same time! Holy shit!”

 

Yu Liang stared in confusion. On the stage, a table had been set up, and Chi Zhongqiao stood before it, unfurling a pristine white sheet of Xuan paper.

 

“Is this a talent performance? Is he going to do calligraphy?” Yu Liang asked, surprised.

 

“Yep, it’s calligraphy,” her roommate confirmed.

 

What was so funny about calligraphy?

 

Yu Liang continued watching, her mind buzzing with questions.

 

Chi Zhongqiao struck a poised stance, dipped his brush in ink, and with a flourish, wrote three bold characters: 紅 豆 奶 (Red Bean Milk).

 

Yu Liang stared in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?!”

 

You’re supposed to be performing calligraphy! Even if you didn’t write something auspicious like “Double Happiness,” why red bean milk?!

 

As an amateur calligraphy enthusiast, Yu Liang was devastated. “This is such a waste of good characters!”

 

“Hahahaha! He said he drank red bean milk tea earlier, so he wrote ‘red bean milk’! Oh my god, that’s so adorable!” Yu Liang’s roommate burst into laughter, rolling onto her bed after the show ended. Yu Liang turned off the light, climbed into bed, and quietly unlocked her phone.

 

Suddenly, her roommate leaned close to her ear, giggling, “Didn’t you say you only followed Teacher Yan and calligraphy-related accounts on your main account?”

 

Yu Liang flinched, quickly flipping her phone face down. “…I… this… he’s calligraphy-related.”

 

Her roommate drawled, “Ooh~”

 

Yu Liang, flustered and annoyed, shoved her roommate and burrowed under the covers, refusing to acknowledge her. “Get lost.”

 

Meanwhile, her roommate began scrolling through Chi Zhongqiao’s Weibo and supertopic, finding him increasingly endearing. I might actually start watching this drama because of Beauty Qiao, she thought. He’s just so good-looking.

 

This thought turned into action when her roommate stumbled upon a fan art of Chi Zhongqiao. She grabbed her headphones, clicked on the first episode of <Empress of the World>, and had barely skipped the opening credits when Yu Liang let out a sudden, ear-splitting shriek.

 

Her roommate’s phone crashed into her face, nearly breaking her nose. Clutching her nose, she demanded, “What’s wrong?!”

 

“He did a livestream!” Yu Liang exclaimed. “His calligraphy is so beautiful!”

 

“Didn’t you say you weren’t a fan?” her roommate retorted.

 

Yu Liang stammered, “…I just…”

 

“Admit it,” her roommate teased. “You think he’s cute and you want to be a fan.”

 

Yu Liang threw her phone aside and lunged at her roommate, pinching her.

 

*********

 

The next day, at 11:30 AM:

 

“Zhongqiao!”

 

Zhuang Fu’s voice preceded him into the room.

 

Chi Zhongqiao was secretly indulging in a high-calorie cupcake behind Zhuang Fu’s back, with Zhong Yin acting as a lookout. At the sound of Zhuang Fu’s voice, both of them flinched simultaneously.

 

Zhong Yin glanced frantically at Chi Zhongqiao: Brother Qiao, what do we do?

 

Chi Zhongqiao picked up his cupcake and shoved it into Zhong Yin’s hand.

 

Zhong Yin: ???

 

He watched Zhuang Fu enter, completely oblivious to the situation, and thought: You’re such a clever little devil.

 

Zhuang Fu strode in with a gust of wind, beaming. “Zhongqiao!”

 

“Good morning, Brother Zhuang,” Chi Zhongqiao replied. “You seem so cheerful. Is there good news?”

 

“Yes! Bit Sweet wants you to be their spokesperson!”

 

Bit Sweet?

 

Zhong Yin, still holding the cupcake, exclaimed, “Holy shit! Bit Sweet? The beverage industry giant?”

 

“They want you to endorse their new red bean milk… Zhongqiao, haven’t you seen the trending recommendations on Xiao Yun Window?”

 

Xiao Yun Window was one of China’s largest video platforms.

 

“Ah? No, I haven’t,” Chi Zhongqiao admitted. He usually just scrolled through Weibo.

 

Zhuang Fu sighed. “Take a look now. This time, it’s not a paid promotion.”

 

“Brother Qiao, don’t bother downloading it,” Zhong Yin said. “I have the app here.”

 

Chi Zhongqiao leaned over to look—

 

The top trending recommendation under Xiao Yun Window’s search bar:

 

[ Chi Zhongqiao’s Live Calligraphy Compilation. ]

 

Chi Zhongqiao: “…This is trending?”

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