Clemens’s words seemed casual, yet they carried a subtle hint of provocation. It appeared he truly remembered Qin Cheng not investing in the crew. Rong Xu had worked with the director for several months, and from his tone, he could clearly discern a certain displeasure.

Listening to Clemens’s words, Qin Cheng calmly assessed the talented director, who was not much shorter than himself, then subtly glanced at his own young man. Their gazes met in mid-air, and Qin Cheng said, “I happened to have business in London and decided to visit the set along the way.”

Clemens chuckled, “Jennifer?”

Jennifer, suddenly named, “???”

Qin Cheng’s expression was calm.

Clemens then said, “Rong Xu?”

The young man, blocked behind the blonde director and unable to move forward, “…”

Qin Cheng looked at Clemens with deep eyes, not answering.

The young blonde, blue-eyed director chuckled lightly, then suddenly stepped forward, familiarly hooking his arm around Qin Cheng’s shoulder, saying, “So you came to visit my set. Qin, no need to be so polite. We just happen to be planning a celebration. Would you like to join…”

Qin Cheng didn’t answer. He turned to look at Rong Xu, who also looked at him in surprise, seemingly not understanding why Clemens would suddenly say that. So, with a calm response, Qin Cheng said faintly, “Celebrate with you all? I’m honored.”

---

An hour later.

Qin Cheng: “…”

Rong Xu: “…”

The revolving restaurant on the fifty-seventh floor was almost at the top of the city. Huge floor-to-ceiling windows offered a 360-degree view of London’s nightscape. The 3200 Miles crew, with thirty-two members participating in this global promotional event, were all currently indulging in a feast at this top-tier buffet restaurant. From time to time, someone would come up to Qin Cheng to toast him and express their gratitude.

“The snails here are truly delicious, Mr. Qin!”

“Mr. Qin, this glass of wine is for you!”

Qin Cheng frequently collaborated with Hollywood on films, and most of the crew members who followed him on global promotional activities also held some standing in the industry. Some had worked with Qin Cheng before, others were nodding acquaintances. But as they all began to happily enjoy the food, they collectively felt that Qin Cheng was truly generous!

At this Ephesus buffet hotel, the cost for one guest was nearly five digits in British pounds. They weren’t unable to afford it, but they certainly wouldn’t be generous enough to treat thirty-two people to dinner here… Oh right, including Qin Cheng, it was thirty-three people.

Before entering the hotel, Clemens had said, “I didn’t expect you to specifically come to visit my set, Qin. Perhaps you want to fulfill that past promise?”

Previously, Qin Cheng had not invested in 3200 Miles. When the collaboration broke down, Xu Jin had casually promised the crew’s producer, “It’s truly a shame this time; I didn’t expect such an outcome. Next time, I’ll treat Mr. Clemens Holt to dinner.”

Such words, in the ears of Huaxia people, were merely polite formalities. Xu Jin said it casually, and the producer didn’t take it seriously either, but later complained to Clemens. Unexpectedly, Clemens actually kept it in mind and deliberately brought it up to Qin Cheng with a straight face upon seeing him.

“Your agent said he would treat me to dinner, so it’s the same if you do it.”

“It’s not impossible to treat just me to dinner, but I have such a large crew behind me. If you only treat one person, you’ll lose face, won’t you?”

Thus, the current situation unfolded.

Qin Cheng had never thought that he could smoothly withdraw back then, not investing a single cent in this movie, yet now he was still out a sum of money. However, he remained calm, not objecting to Clemens’s almost shameless demand. Instead, he followed the crowd into the restaurant, took a few dishes, and sat at the table, elegantly cutting his steak, then silently swapping plates with Rong Xu.

At this moment, few people were sitting at Rong Xu’s table; they were all getting various delicacies.

Rong Xu lowered his gaze to the plate of tender, juicy steak in front of him. After a long moment, he sighed softly, “I told you not to tell me, and you secretly came alone. I don’t have time to coordinate with you now, and I’ve been caught by Clemens.”

“Coordinate?” The word always sounded a bit strange. Qin Cheng patiently peeled a shrimp. He slowly opened the shrimp’s head, asking, “Isn’t it good now?”

The so-called surprise needs to have a shock before it can bring joy.

Rong Xu looked up: “Before you came, Clemens never mentioned any celebrations. I’ve deeply experienced his stinginess. If you hadn’t come, I should be back at the hotel resting now, maybe having ordered some random food.” After a pause, the young man sighed, “Most importantly, I wouldn’t have to spend all this money.”

Qin Cheng placed the shrimp into Rong Xu’s plate. Before he could speak, a staff member came to toast him. After the person left, he smiled faintly, curling his lips, and asked, “It’s okay, it’s my money anyway.”

Upon hearing this, Rong Xu’s eyes widened: “Isn’t that my money too?!”

The man was slightly stunned. After a long moment, he repeated, “My money… is your money?”

Rong Xu’s lips curved, and the hand hidden under the table gently pinched a certain man’s, emphasizing the point: “But my money is still my money.”

Qin Cheng: “…”

A moment later, Qin Cheng began to eat. The man who had just been diligently peeling shrimp and cutting steak suddenly became so impatient, which surprised Rong Xu. He subconsciously asked, “I thought you’d peel another shrimp for me?”

The handsome, sharp-featured man looked up, seriously and solemnly saying, “Let’s finish quickly; we’ll go back to the hotel early.”

Rong Xu was startled: “Why?”

Qin Cheng said sternly, “I don’t think I can let you stay with Clemens Holt any longer. Stinginess is contagious.”

Rong Xu: “…”

After a moment, “That’s called frugality!!!”

---

Regardless of whether it was stinginess or frugality, Rong Xu and Qin Cheng were the first to leave the revolving restaurant. After confirming that Qin Cheng had paid the bill, Clemens did not try to stop them from leaving early. He continued to open a bottle of wine and chatted with Jennifer.

Clemens, of course, knew that Qin Cheng couldn’t possibly be there to see him. He must have come to visit Jennifer or Rong Xu, as those two were his true friends. However, he would never guess that upon returning to Rong Xu’s room, a certain man’s hand hadn’t even touched the light switch when he was suddenly pulled down by the young man’s tie.

In the dim light, at first, Qin Cheng could only see Rong Xu’s vague outline. Later, he gradually made out his young man’s clear, bright eyes. The city lights shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the room. Rong Xu pulled Qin Cheng’s tie, bringing him closer, and without a word, just stared.

Two people suddenly stood in the one-meter-wide entryway, making it a bit crowded. Qin Cheng calmly looked at his young man. Rong Xu’s warm breath brushed against his face, rustling the hair by his ears. A tingling sensation immediately surged through him.

No one knew how long passed, but Qin Cheng finally couldn’t help but whisper, “Xiao Xu…”

A low, pleasant laugh came from the young man’s throat. Rong Xu raised an eyebrow and asked, “Am I stingy or frugal? Mr. Qin, is your money… truly my money?”

As Rong Xu spoke, his already bright eyes sparkled. As he uttered the last word, he tilted his head slightly, closing in on the man step by step. The moment the last word rang out, soft lips brushed against Qin Cheng’s, and an electrifying sensation instantly spread throughout his body.

With hardly any hesitation, a passionate kiss fell, sealing the young man’s dangerously questioning lips.

Rong Xu seemed to have anticipated this moment. He closed his eyes, embracing the other’s lean, strong waist, and responded to the kiss.

Tongues met, sucking, licking, biting. The room echoed with ambiguous smacking sounds and hurried breaths. When the kiss ended, Rong Xu looked at the man before him with tear-filled eyes. Qin Cheng gazed at him with deep-set eyes, his hot breath fanning his face, making him tremble slightly. Then a low, magnetic laugh rang out: “My money is yours, and I am yours, Xiao Xu… do you want it?”

In the narrow entryway, the air temperature gradually rose.

After a long time, the young man simply chuckled softly and asked, “Can I just have the money and not you?”

Qin Cheng said seriously, “No.”

Rong Xu regretfully said, “Then I’ll reluctantly take you too.”

As soon as these words fell, a certain man eagerly leaned in to kiss him. But when his hand reached into the clothes, ready to touch his young man’s smooth skin, Rong Xu suddenly grabbed it and said righteously, “Shower! Mr. Qin, you need to be clean.”

Unclean Qin Cheng: “…”

The hotel room was large, but there was only one bathroom. Rong Xu was forcibly pulled into the bathroom by a certain man, and as they showered, things took a different turn. When the voices of the 3200 Miles crew members came from the hallway, the man had just entered a little, and both instantly stopped.

Outside the door, Jennifer laughed, “Hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow. If I’m not mistaken, Qin Cheng should also be attending the film festival.”

Clemens said carelessly, “So what? He has nothing to do with us.”

Jennifer and Clemens’s voices faded into the distance. Rong Xu leaned one hand on the bathroom’s tiled wall, while the other climbed onto the man’s arm, asking in a hoarse voice, “Are you here for… um… the film festival? Qin Cheng, don’t move…”

“To see you,” Qin Cheng answered without hesitation.

Rong Xu suppressed a moan in his throat: “Aren’t you filming in Canada… Don’t move!”

Qin Cheng: “…Mainly to see you.”

The London Film Festival had sent an invitation for him to attend the opening gala. Coincidentally, 3200 Miles was also having a preview screening at this film festival, so it was only natural for him to come and meet.

However, the order of importance still couldn’t be mistaken. Qin Cheng repeated: “Mainly to see you.”

Rong Xu ignored him. He could discern that level of sweet talk. However, recognizing it was one thing; he could perfectly well pretend to be confused. He pulled Qin Cheng’s bare arm, and in a hoarse voice, said, “Are you going to do it or not… Ah!”

Once fully in, everything naturally fell into place.

You were the one who said “don’t move,” and you were the one who asked “do it or not.” Qin Cheng was truly wronged. But precisely when the young man bit his lip and made sounds, all the grievances turned into fun. After more than half a month apart, they carried on until well past midnight.

Finally, under the bright moonlight, Qin Cheng caressed his lover’s soft hair, unable to let go. Perhaps due to the exhaustion from several days of film promotion, the young man’s eyes were tightly shut, already asleep.

Qin Cheng gently stroked the soft, obedient hair until Rong Xu suddenly reached out and pulled him into his embrace.

Qin Cheng’s eyes snapped open. He whispered, “Xiao Xu?”

The next moment, the young man lifted his head, lightly kissed him on the lips, then mumbled, “Mmm, don’t fuss…”

Qin Cheng: “!!!”

This was the first time Qin Cheng had been… held in his own young man’s arms like this. Although he was a few centimeters taller than Rong Xu, when both lay on the bed, the height difference was almost negligible. And at this moment, his young man had given him a kiss, and then… pressed him into his embrace.

His ears involuntarily felt a bit hot, but his face still maintained a calm expression. After pondering for a moment, Qin Cheng naturally wrapped his arm around the young man’s waist, letting the other hold him, and closed his eyes.

---

That being said, when Rong Xu woke up the next day, he found himself curled up in a certain man’s arms again. Not remembering anything from his half-asleep state last night, Rong Xu quickly got up and reunited with Clemens and Jennifer.

The London Film Festival officially opened that night.

Film festivals are different from film awards like the Oscars or Golden Phoenix Awards. Although both bestow awards, Oscar and Golden Phoenix nominations must be for films that have already been released. Many films participating in film festivals, however, have not yet been released.

For example, 3200 Miles made its first public appearance not at its premiere a month later, but at the London Film Festival.

During the week-long film festival, 3200 Miles would be shown every afternoon in a small theater. This way, within seven days, approximately five hundred people would have seen the film. Some of these viewers were professional film critics, but most were ordinary tourists. Everyone watched the film for free and was required to keep the specific content of the film confidential.

After the screening at the film festival concluded, the London Film Festival awards ceremony would take place. Like every film award, it would present awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, and also a variety of other awards such as “Most Popular Award” and “Most Popularity Award.”

The London Film Festival is one of the four major film festivals in the world. Clemens had given much thought to choosing this location to publicly screen 3200 Miles, and he was confident of winning an award.

If 3200 Miles won an award before its global release, it would also be an excellent promotional point. Once officially released, audiences would certainly develop a strong interest in it and go to cinemas to watch a London Film Festival award-winning work.

Therefore, this debut appearance absolutely could not go wrong.

That night, Rong Xu and the 3200 Miles crew walked the red carpet of the London Film Festival. In fact, Bloomed Robe also received several nominations, but Rong Xu did not walk alongside Old Liu and Qin Cheng this time. They stayed with their respective crews, watching the opening performance.

The 2045 London Film Festival successfully opened. Countless films were submitted to the organizing committee, awaiting screening in the film festival’s small theaters. During the film festival, at least twenty films were simultaneously screened at any given moment. This meant that some theaters had hardly any visitors, while the thresholds of others were practically worn out.

These films included already released ones like Bloomed Robe and Storm Messenger, as well as many that had not yet been released.

Turning left from the film festival venue and walking across half a street led to the Roca Theater. At this moment, a long queue had already engulfed the entire cinema. The crowd snaked from the second floor all the way to the street, even turning a corner and extending further down the street!

During the seven days of the London Film Festival, 3200 Miles would be screened every day at 2 PM at the Roca Theater!