Sickly Bigshot CH 32 Falling Into The Water
Translated by The BL Muse (ko-fi)
Shi Zhou was too eager to stop Qin Yancheng from using the computer. The way he leaned forward and grabbed his collar threw him off balance, and he ended up tumbling straight into Qin Yancheng's arms, who instinctively caught him by the waist.
Shi Zhou's lips were soft and warm, pressing against Qin Yancheng's without warning. For a moment, Qin Yancheng was stunned.
The atmosphere was eerily silent.
Though it only lasted a few seconds, to Shi Zhou, it felt like an eternity.
The moment his lips touched Qin Yancheng's, his brain seemed to explode with a loud "boom!" All his rationality returned in that steady embrace, tinged with the faint scent of minty shower gel.
Shi Zhou jolted, suddenly realizing the sheer stupidity of what he'd just done. His entire body stiffened, unsure whether to stop this dangerous act immediately or wait for Qin Yancheng to push him away.
The camera, positioned not far from them, silently captured the shocking scene. Fans watching were stunned, almost unable to believe their eyes.
The barrage of comments paused for a brief, eerie moment before erupting like a volcano:
[!!!!]
[Is this content I can watch for free?!]
[Forced kiss! Next up, fade to black!]
[Ohhh, Shi Zhou knows what he's doing! So bold!]
[President Qin, forget the computer! Go for it—how can you hold back? If you don’t, are you even a man?!]
[This isn’t a ride to kindergarten! Someone, weld the doors shut!]
One second, two seconds...
Qin Yancheng didn’t move at all, not pushing Shi Zhou away immediately.
Perhaps he thought Shi Zhou was just putting on a show of affection for the cameras as part of their fake relationship act. But after a long pause, he finally pulled Shi Zhou out of his arms and steadied him.
—Yet Qin Yancheng's face showed no expression. Instead of the anger Shi Zhou had expected, he just pursed his lips slightly, looking more... dazed?
Qin Yancheng, of all people, was actually caught off guard?
After a long moment, Qin Yancheng finally snapped out of it, frowning as he said in a low voice, "What are you doing?"
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier, Qin Yancheng's expression darkening. Fortunately, the camera angle didn’t clearly capture his face.
Shi Zhou knew Qin Yancheng wasn’t truly a calm and indifferent person. His temper was unpredictable, and it was easy to accidentally set him off.
If not for the thousands of fans eagerly waiting for more sweet moments—or even something steamier—Shi Zhou suspected Qin Yancheng might have outright exploded had the cameras been off.
But the deed was done. Standing in front of the camera, facing countless fans and haters waiting to expose him, while also keeping an eye on that ticking time bomb of a laptop, Shi Zhou had no choice but to feign composure.
With forced nonchalance, he laughed naturally, "Why are you still working? Qin Yancheng, aren’t you coming to bed with me?"
Qin Yancheng narrowed his eyes slightly, his lips pressing together again unconsciously.
His cold, silent demeanor was genuinely terrifying. The little courage Shi Zhou had mustered vanished instantly. He just wanted to slap himself for acting before thinking—what the hell had he been thinking, kissing him like that?!
The silence between them didn’t go unnoticed by fans. Though Qin Yancheng's expression wasn’t fully visible on camera, something felt off:
[What’s going on? Is President Qin angry?]
[No way, he’s just stunned. Probably hasn't ever seen such a forward wifey, haha!]
[Tsk, the fake couple act is falling apart? Can’t keep up the pretense?]
[Waiting for the crash and burn. I always said ChengZhou was fake!]
[You’re hilarious. Even real couples argue sometimes. If you and your husband had a little spat, would you just divorce?]
Shi Zhou knew he was walking a tightrope now but consoled himself. Fine, let them think our relationship isn’t perfect, that we argue. It’s still better than my secret smut-writing career being exposed and suffering social death.
But to Shi Zhou’s surprise, instead of outright exposing him or even losing his temper—Qin Yancheng gradually reined in the oppressive aura around him and even gave a faint smile. "Mnn, let’s sleep."
With that, he silently closed the laptop and stood up.
Shi Zhou was stunned. Qin Yancheng wasn’t following the script at all. Left with no choice, he could only follow along, stiffly climbing into bed, nearly tripping over his own feet.
He watched as Qin Yancheng removed the thick robe he’d been wearing, leaving only a thin layer underneath. The top two buttons were undone, revealing his collarbone and a hint of his chest. Normally, Shi Zhou would have found this incredibly alluring, but now, all he felt was unease.
Qin Yancheng was going to sleep so close to him, wearing so little?
And worst of all—they had to share the same blanket?!
Qin Yancheng sat on the edge of the bed, looking down at Shi Zhou lying there. Under his gaze, Shi Zhou tensed up, lying stiffly as if at attention.
Guilty over what he’d just done, he mustered the courage to whisper sheepishly, "You... coming to bed?"
Qin Yancheng nodded calmly, lifting the blanket. He didn’t comment on Shi Zhou’s rigid posture, simply turning off the light and lying down naturally.
From the audience’s perspective, the subtle tension and guilt weren’t visible. All they saw was seamless domesticity:
[Aww! Zhouzhou says no more work, and President Qin obeys. Is this what being whipped looks like?!]
[Love it! Now show us some rated-R content—weld those doors shut!]
[Didn’t get enough of the kiss. At least let us see some cuddling!]
Shi Zhou didn’t dare move, acutely aware of Qin Yancheng lying beside him. He knew the show’s cameras had night vision—even with the lights off, their every move was crystal clear.
"Qin Yancheng..." Shi Zhou whispered, barely audible, "They can still see us..."
Qin Yancheng, clearly still upset about the kiss, responded coldly with a low "Mnn—"
Then, to Shi Zhou’s shock, he turned and pulled him into his arms!
Shi Zhou: !!!
That wasn’t what he’d meant at all!
He hadn’t been asking Qin Yancheng to keep up the fake couple act in bed too!
He’d just been worried Qin Yancheng didn’t know about the night vision and might accidentally reveal something.
Now, with his face pressed against Qin Yancheng’s chest, enveloped in his intoxicating scent, Shi Zhou’s mind went completely blank.
Qin Yancheng murmured, "Half an hour left."
Time crawled by, each second agonizing. Shi Zhou, the usually shameless pervert, found himself blushing and flustered in this awkward situation, his heart pounding wildly. But after a while, exhaustion took over, and he grew drowsy.
Just as he was about to drool on Qin Yancheng’s pajamas, Qin Yancheng suddenly let go.
—The cameras had finally turned off.
Shi Zhou rubbed his eyes, sitting up groggily. Qin Yancheng’s voice, now off-camera, carried clear irritation. "No next time."
This wasn’t the first time Shi Zhou had kissed him. Qin Yancheng couldn’t fathom what went through his head. Last time, it was on the cheek. This time, he’d gone further—straight to the lips?
Shi Zhou’s sleepiness vanished instantly. Clearing his throat, he bluffed, his guilt making him even more defiant. "W-well, you can kiss me back! That was my first kiss, you know..."
Qin Yancheng took a deep breath. Seeing he was genuinely angry, Shi Zhou didn’t dare push further. Knowing he was in the wrong, he scooted as far to the edge of the bed as possible, putting distance between them.
Just as he thought Qin Yancheng wouldn’t respond, he heard him ask coldly, "You think only yours was a first kiss?"
Shi Zhou froze, nearly rolling right off the bed!
Oh no. Not only had he impulsively kissed Qin Yancheng, but he’d also accidentally taken what might have been this straight man’s first kiss!
Horrified, Shi Zhou immediately backtracked, apologizing earnestly. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I was wrong!"
Qin Yancheng remained silent. Shi Zhou had never been good at comforting people. Between his drowsiness and his frantic thoughts, he actually ended up falling asleep.
—Absolutely no remorse, sleeping soundly and even rolling over in his sleep to snuggle up to Qin Yancheng.
Qin Yancheng, experiencing sharing a bed for the first time, had trouble sleeping. Just as he was drifting off, he felt a weight on him—Shi Zhou had thrown a leg over him, wrapped an arm around his neck, and even shamelessly nuzzled his shoulder.
Qin Yancheng didn’t wake him or push him away. He just frowned silently, enduring it, telling himself: It’s fine. We’re both men...
The next morning, Shi Zhou was woken by his alarm. Qin Yancheng was already up, the bed empty. With the cameras still off, Shi Zhou relaxed.
Qin Yancheng sat by the window, gazing at the sea bathed in dawn light, a half-finished cup of warm black tea in hand. The scene looked like a painting.
"Morning, Qin sir," Shi Zhou yawned.
Qin Yancheng didn’t turn, only offering a curt "Mnn" and "Morning."
Shi Zhou could tell Qin Yancheng was still upset, probably hung up on the first kiss thing.
Remembering he’d fallen asleep before making amends the night before, he groaned inwardly. This is bad. I really messed up. If I couldn’t fix it then, how am I supposed to now?
The awkwardness between them lingered, even as they changed in the dressing room.
Xin Jing, noticing the tension, couldn’t help but blurt out, "Did you two fight? Weird, last night seemed great—"
So great it had shocked the internet, landing them on trending yet again.
The clip of Shi Zhou lunging to kiss Qin Yancheng had even stunned Xin Jing. He’d thought, this guy’s got guts. After this, Qin Yancheng’s gonna murder him.
But bizarrely, Qin Yancheng’s reaction had been utterly unexpected—his first response was pure bewilderment.
Others might not have noticed, but Xin Jing, having known Qin Yancheng for over twenty years, saw right through it. Qin Yancheng had been completely caught off guard, even a little flustered.
Tsk. The iron tree really is blooming. But it seems the iron tree hasn’t even realized it yet—or maybe subconsciously refuses to admit it.
Qin Yancheng said coldly, "You talk too much."
Xin Jing, realizing he’d touched a nerve, quickly shut up under Qin Yancheng’s glare.
Today’s challenge was an outdoor, sea-based activity that was not something one got the chance to do normally.
Shi Zhou spotted the speedboat and the massive parachute tethered to it, instantly excited. A strong gust filled the parachute, making it billow like a giant kite in the sky.
But Qin Yancheng seemed to be deliberately keeping his distance. Shi Zhou was baffled—this wasn’t like him. Was he still angry?
Not wanting to bother him, Shi Zhou turned to chat with Tan Zhi instead. "Brother Tan, are we gonna fly kites from the speedboat?"
Tan Zhi, a variety show veteran, took one look at the setup and paled. "No. We’re the kites. I think I just developed a fear of heights."
The thought of being strapped to a parachute and dragged through the air—possibly even dumped into the sea—was enough to make anyone nervous.
Shi Zhou, though, found it thrilling.
He loved roller coasters, but those were all the same. This was something entirely new.
Xin Jing cleared his throat, announcing the start of filming. "Good morning, everyone! As you can see, today’s challenge involves teamwork between the person in the air and their partner on the boat. The one in the air must answer questions read by their teammate below. The team with the most correct answers wins!"
The first team drawn was Tan Zhi and Li You. Li You was genuinely terrified of heights, and as a woman, the task of "flying" fell to Tan Zhi.
They boarded the speedboat, and Shi Zhou watched as Tan Zhi was lifted into the sky. Li You took the question board and read into the walkie-talkie. "Tan Zhi? Can you hear me?"
Static crackled before Tan Zhi’s voice came through. "Aahhh! What? Oh god, it’s so high! Li You... just read the question! I can do this!"
Shi Zhou burst out laughing, feeling a little bad for Tan Zhi. Sending someone afraid of heights up there was cruel.
Li You read the question twice before Tan Zhi finally heard it and started struggling to answer.
Shi Zhou noticed Qin Yancheng was still acting distant, clearly avoiding him.
—Qin Yancheng wasn’t the petty type. Why was this cold war dragging on?
Even when Shi Zhou laughed so hard he stumbled back into Qin Yancheng earlier, Qin Yancheng had just silently stepped aside.
Finally fed up, Shi Zhou couldn’t keep his temper in check anymore, even on camera. "Hey! Later, I’ll go up, and you read the questions for me. Got it?"
Qin Yancheng didn’t react to Shi Zhou’s attitude, just nodded slightly. "Be careful."
Shi Zhou would handle the parachute—partly because he wanted to, partly because he worried about Qin Yancheng’s heart.
Though the doctor had said the acute angina episode was a fluke and his heart was fine, Shi Zhou couldn’t help but worry.
Professionals strapped harnesses around Shi Zhou’s waist and thighs, ensuring he’d stay seated even in the air.
Once secured, Shi Zhou waited, buzzing with excitement. Grinning at the camera, he flashed a peace sign.
A strong gust of wind hit as the speedboat accelerated, the parachute billowing behind him.
The harness tightened, yanking him upward—Shi Zhou was airborne!
He laughed wildly, exhilarated as the world shrank below him. The sea sparkled, waves crashing against the distant shore...
But Shi Zhou could barely see any of it, the wind forcing him to squint.
"Holy..." Tan Zhi, still wobbly after his own flight, muttered, "It’s... kinda breezy up there."
[Hahahahaha I need to see Shi Zhou’s expression!]
[Just checked the private cam—that fixed angle turns everything into a meme. Shi Zhou’s face is being blown away!]
[Brother Tan is adorable too, open-mouth shock.jpg]
[I’m dying, the parachute cam is brutal! My Shi Zhou’s delicate face is stretched into a pancake!]
Amid the laughter, Qin Yancheng’s voice came through Shi Zhou’s earpiece, steady and reassuring. "Shi Zhou, can you hear me?"
Shi Zhou pressed the walkie-talkie and shouted, "Yeah! Speak up, the wind’s too loud!"
"Okay. First question—"
Qin Yancheng had barely started when Shi Zhou noticed the wind dying down.
Before he even had time to hear the question clearly, the wind suddenly shifted direction—now blowing in from his right!
Shi Zhou was stunned, not yet realizing what consequences this would bring—when suddenly, the force pulling him upward from behind vanished!
Without the wind to keep it inflated, the parachute deflated in an instant.
Shi Zhou’s eyes widened. He faintly heard Qin Yancheng shout his name urgently.
A short gasp caught in Shi Zhou’s throat—then, in a split second, the sensation of freefall gripped his organs, as if his soul were being ripped out—
Saltwater flooded his nose and mouth the next moment, the icy ocean swallowing him whole.
Logically, he knew how to swim.
But the terror of drowning, etched deep in his subconscious from his death, paralyzed him. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t move his limbs.
On the boat, the others didn’t realize the severity of the situation.
"Damn, that’s unlucky!" someone remarked.
This game had been done countless times in other shows, and people falling into the water wasn’t uncommon. A shift in wind direction could easily cause a crash, so it wasn’t even considered an "accident"—just bad luck.
Qin Yancheng’s expression darkened the moment the parachute deflated. When Shi Zhou hit the water, his composure cracked—he stood abruptly, tossing aside the walkie-talkie and question board, eyes locked on where Shi Zhou had fallen.
Xin Jing, amused by the formerly bickering "couple" now showing such concern, teased, "Look at you, all worried. I asked Shi Zhou—he can swim. You’re such a tsundere—"
But before he could finish, Tan Zhi interrupted urgently "Director Xin! Shi Zhou hasn’t surfaced!"
Everyone froze. Xin Jing whipped around to look—the sea was eerily calm, only the red-and-white parachute floating on the surface. There was no sign of Shi Zhou.
Realizing something was wrong, Xin Jing opened his mouth to speak—
But Qin Yancheng had already thrown off his jacket, stepped onto the railing, and leaped off the speedboat into the water.