Chapter 4 – Five Million Dollars

“Little white rabbit” was the nickname that Qiu Qian had given Bai Lang the first time they had met.

In this way he had called Bai Lang for ten years. Bai Lang knew there was no chance of him making Qiu Qian change it so he didn’t bother to waste any energy on it.

Actually listening to it now, there was some sense of nostalgia.

Bai Lang stood up and nodded at Qiu Qian. “Yes. Thank you Mr Qiu for finding the time to see me.”

Actually the Qiu Qian of ten years later didn’t change much. Especially his face which wouldn’t lose to many young stars. And his wild charisma which when Qiu Qian was young, made him seem older than his age, would also when he was older make it difficult to tell his age.

A cigarette dangled casually from Qiu Qian’s mouth and he ambled over carelessly to another couch and threw himself onto it. “Sit, say whatever it is you want to say.”

Bai Lang sat properly. He didn’t beat around the bush. “I want to borrow money from Mr Qiu.”

“Oh?” Qiu Qian raised his eyebrow. He didn’t disguise his surprise. “How much?”

“Five million.” Bai Lang said calmly. “In cash.”

“Five million in cash....” Qiu Qian smoked his cigar. Very slowly he blew a puff at Bai Lang. “That’s a lot of money ah. Do you mind letting me know the reason?”

“Of course. My brother Bai Li owes five million to an underground money lender. There is no choice but to repay it.” Bai Lang lowered his eyes and considered whether or not he should pretend to be the previous him: naive with unrealistic stubbornness and perseverance. But after thinking about it for a few moments he thought, what was the point?

“If it’s not managed well, then if the news is leaked, then I’m afraid that it will affect my endorsement deals.” After finishing speaking, Bai Lang couldn’t resist the urge to turn his head and cough twice because of the second hand smoke.

Qiu Qian’s eyes flashed with obvious calculation. He seemed to be questioning of Bai Lang and his suddenly different behaviour.

“But you don’t look nervous ah, so it seems like you don’t really care if it’s repaid or not?”

Qiu Qian spoke lightly like a feather, but in reality he really immediately grasped a crucial point.

Because if Bai Lang didn’t help borrow to repay the money, then the misfortune Bai Li would bring to Bai Lang was the damages from those endorsement deals. However if Bai Lang helped him, then the person who would take on the burden of those debts would be Bai Lang himself. No matter if he borrowed or didn’t borrow, in actuality there was no difference to Bai Lang. The only real difference was whether or not his parents and his brother could live peacefully.

“You’re right.” Bai Lang could not help but smile bitterly. “Whether or not it’s repaid makes no difference to me. In the end it will be me that owes money. So I want to ask Mr Qiu for help. After lending this time, to make sure that there isn’t a second time. This will be better for the company too.”

“Am I so effective? How come I didn’t know.” Qiu Qian snuffed out his cigar and raised his chin. “Why don’t you explain it to me?”

“... to be your kept lover. The five million is the price. Bai Li will never dare to touch someone who is Mr Qiu’s person.”

Bai Lang’s voice was steady, however he still couldn’t help but lower his gaze.

Qiu Qian froze for a few seconds, and then suddenly laughed uproariously.

“Keep you!? Hahaha- I didn’t hear wrong right!? Hahahaha!!”

Bai Long couldn’t control a flush from rising onto his face. He still remembered the first time he rejected Qiu Qian. The way he had spoken had been extremely iron-willed, even though at that time he had been frightened to death. So right now in the face of Qiu Qian’s loud laughter, Bai Lang could only mock himself in his heart.

“Two years ago what did you say? I still remember, hahahah-!! You said something like your morals would never allow you to cross that line, and didn’t you want to report me to the police? Hahahaha!!”

Qiu Qian laughed loudly for some time. After finishing he even used his hand to wipe away his tears. “Now you want me to keep you, hahaha.... You’re good, I forgive you for waking me up in the middle of the night. Hearing all of this makes it worth it.”

Bai Lang’s mouth jerked into a mocking smile. Back then when he was called “a little white rabbit”, it really wasn’t for no reason.

“Then, what does Mr Qiu think?”

Qiu Qian’s mirth faded and became a light and vague smile.

“Shouldn’t you ask me first whether or not when I answered the phone last night, if there was anyone sleeping beside me?”

After he spoke Bai Lang paused for a few moments. Afterwards there was a faint sense of disappointment.

Because from Qiu Qian’s words, Bai Lang immediately understood that the other man had taken him as yet another young star who would abandon his morals for the sake of money. After all he had come here to sell himself voluntarily, and something like that obviously wasn’t worth much. This meant that between the him and the Qiu Qian in his previous life there had been a faint sense of respect and a blurred type of camaraderie. However now that he had asked Qiu Qian this question, this type of camaraderie no longer existed.

However Bai Lang did not regret his actions.

The reason he asked Qiu Qian this question was also to thank him for what he had done for him at the very end. He wanted to thank him for holding up that umbrella.

After his rebirth, Bai Lang didn’t really have anything to give Qiu Qian. Only this.

To use his body as a recompense, thinking about it it was somewhat dog blooded. {T/N: Dog blooded = melodramatic. Common Chinese phrase so I left it as is.} However thinking about his body, he didn’t know how many years he had left in this lifetime. If Qiu Qian wanted it, then he could just take it. And if he didn’t then at least Bai Lang had done his best to repay him in his heart.

As for Bai Li, if Qiu Qian rejected his offer, then he supposed that the company would not act as before and keep lending money to him. {T/N: As in if QQ loses interest in him then no need to keep helping him.} The him that had no house and no assets, and only two short months of fame, if he didn’t have any backers then there was no way of borrowing five million from the bank. If this was how it turned out, then really there was no way of him getting money to help Bai Li and so this path was completely cut off for him. It can also be considered a way of finishing things cleanly.

So Bai Lang didn’t force anything. He expressed that he understood. “If there was, then it’s my mistake.”

After he finished then he got up to leave. “I still want to thank Mr Qiu for your time today.” Bai Lang nodded at Qiu Qian. “I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Qiu Qian’s eyes sharpened. He stared fixedly at Bai Lang like a poisonous snake. “What about the money? You don’t want it?”

Bai Lang paused. “To find someone with Mr Qiu’s qualities will be difficult, however at least I can find–” He didn’t finish speaking before Qiu Qian suddenly reached and snatched him around the wrist and jerked him back forcefully that Bai Lang’s entire person fell into him.

Bai Lang was shocked. However after the last few days of topsy-turvy events, he didn’t put up much resistance to the fact that his entire person was now pressing down on Qiu Qian’s body. Bai Lang was almost 180cm tall, however he was still shorter than Qiu Qian by half a head and that wasn’t even mentioning their difference in muscle tone. Bai Lang obediently let Qiu Qian raise his chin up and was gazed at calculatingly.

Qiu Qian narrowed his eyes. “You’ve changed a lot.”

“When a rabbit gets angry, it can also bite people.” Bai Lang calmly replied under Qiu Qian’s piercing gaze.

Qiu Qian stared at Bai Lang for several seconds. He seemed to think of something but in the next moment he suddenly used force and holding Bai Lang’s chin, forcefully kissed him. It was a impolite kiss, extremely searing.

The tyrannical tongue seemed to want to lay claim to its kingdom, thrusting deep into Bai Lang’s mouth.

Bai Lang couldn’t help but freeze slightly. Even though in his previous life he had gone out with Kang Jian, however the two of them rarely had any violent interactions. And the strong scent of tobacco in Qiu Qian’s mouth made Bai Lang feel slightly dizzy. However under Qiu Qian’s strong offense, Bai Lang was able to recover and remind himself to relax and allow Qiu Qian’s actions.

So once Qiu Qian finally released Bai Lang, he dangerously narrowed his eyes. “It seems you’re more experienced than before?”

Bai Lang slightly pressed his numb lips together. “.... don’t force yourself.” It was impossible for him to return to the naive youth of his previous life.

Qiu Qian’s expression became suddenly dark. However it quickly faded because he once again grasped Bai Lang’s chin and kissed him again. However before this Qiu Qian gave him his answer.

“Then serve me well. Five million dollars, settled.”

***

The next day, a silver limited edition SUV came to a stop outside the apartment that was Bai Lang’s old home in T City.

This was an old apartment with six floors. Eight years ago the two elderly Bai parents who had been at that time farmers in an even more remote area had caught onto the development wind. Their farm had been taken back by the government and they had received a sum of money. At that time they had listened to the newly graduated from university Bai Li and came to T City to purchase two apartments in this old building, one upstairs and one downstairs.

The two old people considered it carefully. Now that they didn’t have their farm they could only rely on their sons. If they purchased like this then they would live downstairs and their oldest son Bai Li would live upstairs after getting married. That way they could take care of each other and help raise their grandchildren. As for their youngest son Bai Lang well it was up to him to make his own way in the world. The two old people didn’t have the resources to help him do anything.

So in fact Bai Lang had only lived here for a few years before going to university in A City. So he wasn’t extremely familiar with this place.

***

Bai Lang wore large sunglasses and descended from the car.

Today he was wearing a light gray long-sleeved shirt and pant suits. It was very different from his on-screen white T-shirt and blue jeans fashionable look, it was much more mature. The things that Bai Lang had experienced in his previous life were not fake. Right now his thoughts and actions were very different to the way people in his generation behaved.

Bai Lang held the car door, bent over and said to his driver of today, “Thank you Mr Qiu. I can go up by myself.” T City and A City were separated by around five hours drive, approximately it was at the limit of somewhere one could drive to and from in one day.

Qiu Qian who was sitting in the driver seat and smoking as usual, turned his head. “En? Do you need me to make an appearance?”

Bai Lang lightly smiled. “To some people, they might not recognize a person. But they will definitely recognize money.”

Qiu Qian looked at Bai Lang a few times. Since yesterday’s “exchange” was settled, the Bai Lang in front of his eyes became more and more difficult to understand.

“Okay. I’ll wait here then.” Qiu Qian took out something from his pocket and flicked it towards Bai Lang. “But since I’m your patron and the purchase has been settled, then we can’t forget about our responsibilities.”

Bai Lang reached out his hand and received it. When it was in his hand he saw that it was a silver watch. In the front it was filled with silver colored loose diamonds. Only on the four positions of the time indicators it was changed to four blue gemstones. It was lucky that the metal shape was very sleek and shapely, otherwise it could only be described using the terms “blingy” and “ostentatious”.

Bai Lang didn’t say anything. He only put matter-of-factly placed the watch onto his left arm and lightly covered it with his sleeve. “Thank you Mr Qiu.”

“Are you still calling me Mr Qiu?” Qiu Qian raised his chin.

“Brother Qiu,” Bai Lang changed it.

Qiu Qian made an “en” noise, and then smiled in a playful manner. “After you complete your business, then following that it’s time for our personal business.”

Bai Lang nodded his head slightly. He didn’t reply to these words and only closed the door and went up the stairs.

***

The Bai family had two apartments. They had purchased the fifth floor and the sixth floor.

It was a small apartment that didn’t have an elevator. So the higher levels were cheaper than the lower levels.

Bai Lang slowly walked up the stairs that were both familiar and unfamiliar. The memories that he didn’t want to remember floated through his head.

“You, you unfilial son!! How dare you come back!?”

“Do you want your brother and us to be cursed to death!? Do you want to force us to die!?”

“Do you know how the neighbours talk about us!? They say we have a perverted son!! Thinking all day about men’s bottoms!!”

“What are you doing! Do you know what this would do to your brother!! You almost ruined his business don’t you know!!”

“If you want to be disgusting then go be disgusting your yourself!! Don’t drag us down with you!! Get out!!”

“What did you say!? You still have something to say! Get out! I’ll beat you to death!! Beat you to death!!”

“What kind of curse have I been placed under ah!! Why did I give birth to a sick thing like you–!! Dear God ah–”

After that there had been beating and kicking.

At that time his mother had torn her voice hoarse crying and screaming, those cries still echoed in his ears.

His father had only given him the sight of his fleeing back.

As for his brother Bai Li, he only said with a bitter face, that he never thought his own younger brother was like this...

These events from his previous life made Bai Lang stand at the door of his house for a long time before he finally pressed the doorbell.

After university, there was no longer his room inside his house, and so of course he also didn’t have a key.

The door was opened very quickly. It was Bai Li whose eyes were bloodshot.

“Little brother!! Did you get the money!?”

***

A few minutes later, Bai Lang sat inside the living room. He was assaulted on all sides from questions from Father Bai, Mother Bai and Bai Li.

“Where’s the money? Ah Lang, you borrowed it didn’t you?” Mother Bai directly asked impatiently.

“Your brother is waiting for the money to save his life ah!! You don’t live here so you don’t know what we’ve been through these few days!! Everytime we pick up the phone there’s strange laughter from the other end, and everytime we go out there’s someone in black following ah!! They’re not even scared of the police!! They just keep following!! How can we live like this ah!!”

“That’s right, little brother. You, you definitely got the money right?!” Bai Li grabbed Bai Lang’s hand in a crazed manner. His grip was so strong he left a red mark. “I only have three days left!! Three days! If I can’t come up with the money, then both me, mom and dad will be over!!”

Father Bai and Mother Bai also were beyond logic. They said in a panicked manner, “Yes! Don’t you spend all day every day filming TV and movies?! You should have earned a lot of money right!! How come you’re not talking!! It’s such a small thing, why can’t you help your brother!?”

“Mom, five million is not a small sum....” Bai Lang finally raised his head and interrupted Mother Bai’s speech.

“Be honest Ah Lang, are you blaming me for been biased! Ah?! Is it because you blame us for giving the house to your brother is that what it is!? However he’s your brother ah!! There’s no need to separate things between brothers!! We’ve raised you for so long, eating, using, what did we not give you!? And you pick this timing to start to nitpick, aren’t you being extremely heartless!?” {T/N: By the way I’m not exaggerating the number of !! and !?, the author really put this much lol.}

Originally Bai Lang had wanted to reach into his pocket to take out the cheque, but after hearing Mother Bai speak, a thought that he had never had in his previous life suddenly struck him.

“Right now these two houses, if you sell them, isn’t it worth around five million?”