Dating the Heartthrob Superstar-Chapter 28: Protagonist and Supporting Characters

Chapter 28: Protagonist and Supporting Role

Lin Qin couldn’t help but glance at Meng Chao, but he didn’t dare look directly, as if doing so would be admitting something, so he resorted to stealing glances.

Compared to Lin Qin’s awkwardness, Meng Chao not only appeared completely calm but also wore an air of humble attentiveness. His eyes were earnest, making it seem like he truly embodied that persona.

This made Lin Qin feel even more uneasy, his face as flushed as a monkey’s behind. Thankfully, it was night, and the pavilion’s warm yellow lights obscured him. Surely, the two teachers and Meng Chao wouldn’t notice—Lin Qin reassured himself with a hint of self-deception.

Meanwhile, the couple Dai Hong and Zhu Ling sincerely imparted advice on the dynamics of a marital relationship to Meng Chao and Lin Qin.

When Zhu Ling glanced at Dai Hong, though her eyes bore wrinkles from age, her gaze was filled with undiminished focus and affection—matured, refined, and even more profound thanks to the passage of time.

The same could be said of Dai Hong.

Zhu Ling reflected softly, "Old Dai and I have been married for nearly thirty years. We’ve endured hardships, shared joys and sorrows, and stumbled our way forward. Now that life has gotten better and the world around us has grown vibrant and exciting, temptations have undoubtedly increased. Still, the two of us remain as we were during our dating days—all because of trust, tolerance, and responsibility."

Dai Hong picked up where she left off, "Exactly. Trust allows us to give each other room to breathe without worry. Tolerance helps us overlook each other’s flaws, smooth out edges, and truly blend as one. Most important is responsibility; it lets us build a home together and gives us clarity over what should and shouldn’t be done. So no matter the hardships we’ve faced, we stayed together, and through wealth and prosperity, we’ll continue on this path."

Initially, Lin Qin felt a bit tense, but eventually, he listened attentively.

His parents had divorced when he was in middle school. During that time, his home alternated between heated arguments and an overwhelming emptiness.

Amid some of their explosive quarrels, Lin Qin began to faintly grasp why they separated—his mother believed his father was cheating, keeping other women outside of their marriage as his business expanded. On the other hand, his father thought his mother was intolerant and unsupportive of his ambitions.

Love had long been extinguished by the fighting, naturally leading them to part ways.

If his parents had understood these three principles back then, would they have avoided divorce? Could they have provided him the help and understanding he needed during those difficult high school years?

His thoughts drifted to those dark days before he quickly pulled himself back, telling himself repeatedly, "It’s over. It’s all in the past."

Only then did his ragged breathing gradually steady.

Suddenly, a pair of warm hands clasped his own. The torrent of negative emotions threatening to overwhelm him was instantly quelled by the comforting heat spreading from that touch.

Lin Qin looked up to see Meng Chao gazing at him with concern.

In a low voice, Meng Chao asked, "What’s wrong?"

Lin Qin gently shook his head and curled his lips into a soft smile, "I just thought of something unpleasant. It’s nothing now."

Even as he spoke, his grip tightened instinctively, greedily wishing he could preserve the warmth of Meng Chao’s hands in his palm forever. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Meng Chao didn’t pull away. Instead, he adjusted their posture, intertwining his fingers with Lin Qin’s so their palms pressed firmly together, transmitting warmth from his to Lin Qin’s cool hands.

Beneath the table, their hands remained tightly clasped, and the tension of their ever-nearing hearts grew stronger.

Their exchange was so quiet that, to Dai Hong and Zhu Ling, they simply appeared close. Meng Chao leaned in toward Lin Qin’s ear, drawing so near that his lips were almost brushing Lin Qin’s earlobe.

The atmosphere was harmonious. Zhu Ling and Dai Hong even felt these two young men had genuine chemistry, which prompted them to generously share their insights on marriage and relationship dynamics.

Though recognizing that every couple has their own unique way of interacting, there are certain shared truths they hoped could later benefit Lin Qin and Meng Chao.

In fact, Lin Qin and Meng Chao would indeed apply these learnings in the future, resolving some conflicts within their relationship.

But that’s a story for another day. After discussing marital wisdom, Meng Chao initiated another topic, prompting Lin Qin to begin voicing the questions he had prepared.

Earlier, when Meng Chao mentioned Lin Qin’s intention to ask them questions, the couple had been rather puzzled. When it came to acting, though they were hailed as veteran performers, they were well aware that their skills couldn’t compare to Meng Chao’s.

Meng Chao was regarded as a legend in the entertainment industry—a sentiment shared among its older members. Anyone who had acted alongside Meng Chao could keenly understand the feeling of trying, but failing, to match his prowess.

So when Lin Qin, with access to someone of such god-tier skill, chose instead to consult them, the couple couldn’t quite wrap their heads around it.

However, after hearing Lin Qin’s questions, they realized why.

From a character’s perspective—one that Meng Chao couldn’t possibly understand.

Ever since his debut, Meng Chao had always been the leading man, and he continued to hold this position. He couldn’t provide guidance on how to effectively portray a villain or embody a bit-part role with only a few minutes onscreen.

And these were precisely the experiences that Dai Hong and Zhu Ling had encountered repeatedly throughout their acting careers.

Zhu Ling had portrayed a villain in a hit drama so convincingly that she was cursed and pelted with vegetable scraps when she went out in public. Dai Hong played a minor character with only three minutes of screen time in a film—yet those three minutes became the most iconic scene of the movie and earned a place in film school curriculums for years of study.

Lin Qin wanted to understand and immerse himself in the art of portraying non-lead characters. Consulting Dai Hong and Zhu Ling was indeed the best choice.

Lin Qin had prepared extensively, crafting his questions with care so as not to come across as abrupt while ensuring his sincerity and respect were evident. His attitude was humble and focused, even pausing at crucial points to jot down notes meticulously.

At first, though the couple shared their knowledge partially out of respect for Meng Chao, they still withheld some details. But Lin Qin’s earnest demeanor soon won them over, and they began sharing everything without reservation.

Meng Chao, sitting nearby, listened attentively as well. Knowing this was a rare opportunity, he recognized its value—especially since he was considering taking on a non-lead role. These insights would be immensely useful to him.

They talked late into the night, and by the time the conversation wound down, it was nearly midnight.

Zhu Ling leaned over to peek at Lin Qin’s notebook, which was densely filled yet orderly, the handwriting elegant and refined. She felt genuinely gratified.

Still, she couldn’t help but ask, "Xiao Lin, given your resources, you always land leading roles. Why are you curious about performing supporting characters?"

Lin Qin looked at Zhu Ling, his eyes glowing in the night, "Whether lead or supporting roles, they’re all lives worth experiencing and understanding."

"A protagonist has their brilliance, but a supporting role has their own struggles and bittersweet moments—they all deserve respect."