Dating the Heartthrob Superstar-Chapter 26: Misunderstanding Lin Qin

Chapter 26: Misunderstanding Lin Qin

The couple was named Dai Hong and Zhu Ling. Both were over fifty years old, married for more than twenty years, and lived in harmony. Usually, they kept a very low profile and rarely appeared in front of the camera outside of work. This marked their first time participating in a reality show.

The director was able to invite the couple thanks to Meng Chao.

Previously, Meng Chao had a movie that won an award at the Venice Film Festival, in which Dai Hong played a supporting role. Hence, the invitation was personally extended by Meng Chao. Out of respect for Meng Bo, Dai Hong brought his wife along, treating it as a vacation.

When Meng Chao received news that the couple was coming, he asked Lin Qin to go along with him to pick them up.

Lin Qin didn’t know beforehand that the guests were Dai Hong and Zhu Ling. When Meng Chao mentioned it, he even washed his hands specifically and changed his shoes before heading out to greet them.

Lin Qin might not know who the most popular influencers in the circle were, but when it came to the veterans in the industry, he was well aware of them. They represented the true essence of acting. Lin Qin had once meticulously studied the works of these veterans frame by frame, learning their craft from the details.

So, when he heard that the guests this time were Dai Hong and Zhu Ling, Lin Qin was a little excited.

Lin Qin’s emotions were written all over his face, and Meng Chao noticed it at a glance. Knowing full well, he teased, "Do you like Mr. Dai and Teacher Zhu?"

"Mm, mm." Lin Qin nodded. "I feel like I can learn a lot from them." Since he had entered this industry, he naturally wanted to do his best. And since he loved acting, he wouldn’t miss any opportunity to learn.

Meng Chao saw the fiery light in Lin Qin’s eyes and knew he was genuinely humble and eager to learn. This quality was rare, especially for an actor who had already won an international A-list Best Actor award.

In that moment, Meng Chao’s small bit of worry dissipated.

Although Lin Qin wasn’t good with words and didn’t dare socialize, he had a sincere heart. Meng Chao thought, as long as people got to know Lin Qin, no one could dislike him.

As the two chatted, they arrived at the intersection. From afar, they saw a car approaching and, soon enough, it stopped in front of them.

Soon, a man and a woman stepped out of the car. Although they were over fifty, they were well-maintained and looked no older than their early forties.

"Mr. Dai, Teacher Zhu." Meng Chao was the first to greet them, and Lin Qin followed suit.

Before seeing them, Lin Qin had been a little excited, but the moment he saw them, nervousness kicked in. His face flushed red, and after greeting them, he didn’t dare approach further. Instead, he quietly began unloading Dai Hong and Zhu Ling’s luggage from the car.

"This..." Zhu Ling, noticing Lin Qin, was a bit puzzled. Why did the young man walk away quietly after one simple greeting?

Dai Hong was slightly displeased, thinking the youngster was too arrogant. So what if he had won a Best Actor award? Did he not even know basic manners?

Meng Chao realized the couple had misunderstood and explained, "My kid’s a bit shy. He’s probably too nervous to face you right now. When he heard you were coming, he was overjoyed." There was an unintentional tenderness in his tone.

"Is that so?" Zhu Ling didn’t mind. If the young man didn’t like them, they could just keep some distance during their short stay. After all, it was only for a day or two.

Lin Qin wasn’t aware that his demeanor had been misunderstood due to his personality. Even if he knew, he was used to it by now. Over the years, he had faced no shortage of such misunderstandings. Lin Qin didn’t know how to explain himself and rarely felt the need to, so he had few friends. His only close confidant was Chu Hong, his agent who had been by his side.

Meng Chao didn’t elaborate further; overexplaining would only give a worse impression. However, he was confident that during their time together, the couple would change their opinion of Lin Qin.

His kid was so wonderful—anyone with eyes could see that.

The entire way, Meng Chao chatted with Dai Hong and Zhu Ling, while Lin Qin quietly listened. The more he listened, the more he admired Meng Chao. He felt that Meng Chao knew everything—no matter what topic the couple brought up, Meng Chao could respond and discuss in depth.

Furthermore, Meng Chao handled every interaction gracefully, never overly submissive or coming across as superior. His gentle and elegant demeanor made conversations with him feel effortless and pleasant.

At the very least, Dai Hong and Zhu Ling’s expressions were delightfully relaxed.

Of course, while talking with the couple, Meng Chao didn’t neglect Lin Qin. Occasionally, he would glance at Lin Qin and flash him a small smile.

Because of Meng Chao’s thoughtful gestures, Lin Qin found himself surprisingly unbothered by the presence of these strangers. His focus shifted entirely to Meng Chao, listening to him speak. And when their eyes occasionally met, Lin Qin felt a sweet warmth in his chest. The oppressive feeling strangers usually brought dissolved in Meng Chao’s smile.

Naturally, Dai Hong and Zhu Ling noticed these little interactions between the two. They exchanged glances, each seeing the surprise in the other’s eyes. Meng Chao’s demeanor didn’t seem like acting—it felt genuine. So... had he truly fallen for him?

Though doubtful, the couple kept their curiosity to themselves.

When the four returned to the villa, Dai Hong and Zhu Ling were immediately captivated by the design of the living room. The cozy warmth of the décor struck them at once. Even after being married for over two decades, they both instantly fell in love with the design. It felt like home.

"Your interior design is excellent!" Dai Hong exclaimed, "I’ll have to ask the production team later who the designer was to help us out as well."

"Yes, definitely!" Zhu Ling chimed in. The design wasn’t old-fashioned; it was cozy and welcoming—perfect for their son, who they thought would love such a style.

Their son was already in his twenties and planning to marry next year. The wedding home was bought but not yet decorated. Seeing this living room, they thought it would be great to have this designer draft a plan for their son’s future home.

Meng Chao chuckled at their comments. "No need to ask the production team. The designer is right here."

Zhu Ling and Dai Hong turned to look at Lin Qin in surprise. "Could it be Lin Qin designed it?"

Caught off guard, Lin Qin nodded, and that familiar heaviness of nervousness returned.

Dai Hong remarked, "That’s truly impressive."

The couple politely offered their compliments before changing the subject. After all, it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask a Best Actor to design a home for them. Still, their opinion of Lin Qin shifted slightly. To design such a warm home, Lin Qin didn’t seem like someone overly arrogant. Perhaps there was gentleness in his heart.

Later in the evening, Zhu Ling and Dai Hong went out for a walk, while Lin Qin quietly nestled himself in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Meng Chao walked in.

"Need my help?" Meng Chao bent down slightly, smiling as he asked.

Lin Qin shook his head. "I can handle it myself."

Meng Chao didn’t leave but instead watched Lin Qin busily yet methodically work. Suddenly, he said, "Think of any questions you’d like to ask the two teachers later."