Chapter 12
The next morning’s filming location was at Yu Chi’s house, a dilapidated, poorly lit one-story house. The scene of the forced kiss on the bed was scheduled for later; today, they would first film the scene where he fails to force the kiss, is discovered by his “big brother” Chu Nantian, and they are reunited after a long separation.
This was mainly to accommodate Lu Bo’s schedule. It was common to randomly select a segment from the script and have the actors film it directly.
For example, filming the ending first, then the first meeting; filming the post-marriage life first, then the confession. It was an extreme test of an actor’s skills.
A bit like the relationship between Zong Mo and his sponsor.
This scene took place in the spring. Yu Chi was still in that same old autumn school uniform, looking pitiful and decadent.
The loose uniform jacket hung on him like a rag. Zong Mo wasn’t exactly skinny, but the uniform was oversized, and he was leaning against the wall with a slight hunch, which actually gave him a somewhat frail and delicate youthful beauty.
There was a crowd of staff in the corner of the room and outside the door, but he had to pretend not to see them. He lowered his head to light a cigarette as if no one was around, his fingers trembling slightly. When he looked up, his eyes were empty.
He saw Lu Bo outside the window.
Lu Bo was supposed to enter the room and say his lines after being discovered, but he stood there for a particularly long time without moving, causing Zong Mo to uncomfortably look away.
Only then did Lu Bo push open the ajar door and walk over.
He ad-libbed first, snatching the half-smoked cigarette from the young man’s hand and extinguishing it on the dilapidated wall.
Zong Mo: ?
He revealed a completely natural look of surprise, as if he were truly a teenager.
Lu Bo finally delivered the line he had been holding back for a while, calling out in his magnetic voice, “Little Chi.”
According to the script, this was when they should call “cut,” and then insert a flashback to their childhood. A lot of white space. The next time they meet is when he comes to borrow money.
The first time Chu Nantian came to find Yu Chi, he called him Little Chi. Yu Chi, of course, didn’t call him anything, just stood there in a standoff.
It wasn’t until the next time, when he came to borrow money, that Yu Chi managed to force out a “big brother.” Chu Nantian gave him the money, and before he could even call him Little Chi again, he had fled.
Ashamed, indignant, and pained, yet with a faint glimmer of hope.
Only after running far away did he dare to look back at that high-end apartment building.
Director Yang seemed to particularly favor actors’ improvisation.
Zong Mo tried to grasp Yu Chi’s feelings, which even the script’s narration didn’t fully explain. He didn’t know how to speak for a long time, but he didn’t want to act with Lu Bo for too long. He said, rather impatiently, “Who are you?”
But his eyes darted away, clearly full of history.
Lu Bo only said two words, “It’s me.”
Zong Mo’s eyes flickered. They can call cut now, right?
Don’t you like ambiguous white space? Huh?!
“Little Chi, I’m back.”
“I don’t know you,” the young man said stubbornly, his delicate brows furrowing impatiently. “And why did you put out my cigarette? Light it again for me.”
“You clearly don’t know how to smoke. Why are you smoking?”
“None of your damn business!”
Zong Mo began to act as his true self.
He wasn’t afraid of offending the film emperor. As long as he served his sponsor well, his acting career wouldn’t be affected.
Lu Bo didn’t get angry. He even took out a new cigarette and a lighter from his pocket, lit it, but put it in his own mouth.
Zong Mo: ?
Lu Bo took another new cigarette and held it to Zong Mo’s lips. Zong Mo dazedly took it, only to see him not lighting it for him, and even putting the lighter back in his pocket.
Zong Mo panicked and took the cigarette out of his mouth with two fingers.
He understood. He couldn’t understand any better. The main gong‘s tricks came one after another. This was to make him lean over and share the flame.
Using two cigarettes to connect four lips.
“Cut!”
Zong Mo nearly collapsed to the ground, breaking out in a nervous sweat.
Director Yang excitedly called out, “Little Lu, Zong Mo, come and take a look.”
There were several cameras filming. The final cut would be edited with long shots, close-ups, and special shots to maximize the dramatic effect. Although what they were watching now was just one long take, you could still get a sense of it.
A reunion, full of history. Lu Bo perfectly interpreted the maturity and tolerance of the young man. With just a few gestures, he forced the prickly young man to reveal his true self.
Hidden beneath the gentle tolerance and sensitive evasion were a lofty pride and a panicked humility.
It instantly elevated the quality of the plot.
Not only did it have atmosphere, but the sexual tension was also… stretched to the max.
If the main gong wasn’t lewd, could he be called the main gong!
If the main shou wasn’t lewd, could he be made lewd by the main gong!?
Zong Mo took a closer look. Lu Bo’s actions were indeed very ambiguous, but the lewdness mainly came from his face. His eyes were clean, the look of someone looking at a younger brother.
His acting skills were truly on point, and he was professional.
Zong Mo shifted his gaze from the camera and found that Lu Bo was looking at him. His expression had completely changed, and the corners of his mouth held a faint, ambiguous smile.
Zong Mo began to miss his CEO Ruan.
He hadn’t met Gongs #3, 4, or 5 yet. Comparing only Gong #1 and Gong #2, Zong Mo still felt that Ruan Chi was lewder.
Just based on their faces, because he didn’t know the main gong‘s body very well.
His CEO Ruan’s lewdness was mainly in those peach blossom eyes. The surrounding area was slightly flushed, with long, curled lashes. The whites and blacks of his eyes weren’t very distinct, and his gaze was as if drunk, yet not.
Seductive, yet at the same time, looking at trash.
Anyway, it couldn’t be called gentle.
If he added a cold laugh, it would look even more like he was looking at trash.
If he lowered those eyes, half-hidden by his lashes, like when he was smoking, it was even lewder.
Zong Mo clicked his tongue.
The reason the eye-acting scene in the dilapidated little house was filmed in the morning was to highlight the gloominess of the interior and the brightness of the world outside.
The second scene in the afternoon, where Yu Chi goes to borrow money from Chu Nantian, took place in the evening, just as the sun was about to set.
Zong Mo looked at the gentle, well-dressed, and dignified young man, and called out in a strained voice, “…Big brother.”
He genuinely acted out Yu Chi’s dilemma. The reasons for their two dilemmas were completely opposite, but the resulting effect was the same.
When he called out “big brother,” he really sounded like the main shou.
When they last parted, Chu Nantian had left Yu Chi the address of his temporary residence in the country. He just never expected that the young man who was so stubborn and refused to acknowledge him last time would actually come to him on his own initiative.
To ask him for money.
Chu Nantian asked, “How much do you need?”
Yu Chi said, “Five thousand.”
This amount was just a drop in the bucket for the current Chu Nantian. He waved his hand, transferred ten thousand, and even asked, “Is that enough? If it’s not enough, just tell me.”
Zong Mo: …
He wasn’t Yu Chi, but he could feel a bit of what Yu Chi was feeling.
He had been poor before, but he didn’t have a scumbag dad like Yu Chi, and his personality wasn’t as stubborn. He was more easy-going. Even when he was sponsored, he didn’t feel like his pride was hurt.
But at this moment, he just felt… so angry!
Ruan Chi made him sleep with him. It was tiring, but he also enjoyed it. He had to get up in the morning to cook, which was also acceptable. But if he woke up to a red envelope—
“Is that enough? If it’s not enough, just ask me for more.”
He would be furious. How was that any different from being paid for sex!?
Well, although his daily expenses were all directly charged to Ruan Chi’s card.
But this was different from being paid.
Zong Mo quickly empathized with Yu Chi.
The corners of his eyes reddened slightly. He clutched his old phone tightly, lowering his eyelids to hide his emotions.
Chu Nantian’s throat tightened, worried he had said something wrong. He struggled to speak, wanting to call out.
“Little…”
Yu Chi interrupted him, saying faintly, “Thank you.”
He didn’t even ask him why he was borrowing money.
Perhaps he thought he was like most teenagers his age, wanting to buy limited-edition sneakers, the latest phone, or a motorcycle to show off to his girlfriend.
He didn’t ask anything.
Yu Chi turned and left, leaving behind a thin, solitary back.
Chu Nantian stared at his faded school uniform, lost in thought, feeling he should have told him to buy some new clothes…
After finishing filming, Zong Mo returned to his hotel room, feeling a rare unhappiness due to poverty.
He was poor before transmigrating, but at least he was self-reliant and didn’t depend on others. After transmigrating, he was no longer poor and even became the beloved main shou. He was clearly the protagonist, but in the early stages, he was sponsored and lived off someone else. In the later stages, he latched onto powerful figures, riding their coattails all the way to the top.
Sigh, not cool!
[Video call invitation from CEO Ruan.]
Unhappy or not, he still had to answer the video call quickly.
“Very early today,” CEO Ruan expressed his satisfaction.
Zong Mo said, “I haven’t eaten yet.”
CEO Ruan instructed, “Order room service, or have An Lan bring it.”
Zong Mo: …
He was a little afraid to open his door now, afraid that the main gong would be on the other side.
He really wanted to change hotels. But if he changed hotels, even if it was just changing rooms.
His CEO Ruan might ask:
“Why did you change rooms?”
“What are you feeling guilty about?”
Zong Mo had bolted the door when he entered his room today and even hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign outside. That should be enough. It was fine not to eat.
Thinking this, he asked, “Have you eaten, CEO Ruan?”
Ruan Chi said, “No.”
Zong Mo suggested, “Do you want to order takeout?”
Ruan Chi: “I don’t eat takeout. It’s dirty.”
Zong Mo: …
Forget it.
But Ruan Chi didn’t actually go on a hunger strike. He suddenly left and came back with a cup of steaming milk.
Wearing a white sweater, drinking hot milk, it seemed very fitting.
It would be even better if he didn’t smack his lips. Zong Mo didn’t even know if Ruan Chi was doing it on purpose.
There was no smacking sound, but he could always see his tongue moving, and the milk mustache around his mouth.
Zong Mo: …
Until Ruan Chi asked him, “What did you film today?”
Zong Mo shivered and quickly calmed down.
What else could he have filmed? He filmed a scene opposite the main gong*, opposite your white moonlight.*
He didn’t answer immediately. Ruan Chi looked over, his gaze direct and full of inquiry.
He avoided his gaze and could only lie, saying, “Fighting again. This male lead fights every day.”
Ruan Chi chuckled, then continued, “When are you filming the kiss scene?”
Zong Mo breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Ruan Chi didn’t know Lu Bo was also here; he was only concerned about the kiss scene.
Good.
He said, “Not sure. Maybe in a few days.”
Ruan Chi: “Mm.” Then he propped his chin on his hand and kept looking at the top right corner of the screen.
Zong Mo: “…Not working tonight?”
“Mm, bored.”
The unspoken words were probably I really want to do it.
His white sweater was a V-neck. When he leaned forward, the collar dipped. His collarbones were prominent, rounded and elegant. Below that was a patch of black, where nothing could be seen.
He couldn’t see, but Zong Mo could imagine. He had seen it countless times; even if he washed his brain a hundred times, he couldn’t forget.
The empty milk cup was still there. Zong Mo glanced at it and said, “I want to take a shower.”
Ruan Chi: “Go ahead.”
Good, he didn’t make him take the phone to the bathroom.
Because his mind was in a mess, Zong Mo took a little longer in the shower, and in the end, even turned the hot water to cool.
“An hour and a half. Very good,” Ruan Chi said without emotion. “Are you doing this on purpose, Zong Mo? Do you think I’m monitoring you?”
So CEO Ruan is also self-aware?
He was self-aware, but refused to accept it.
Zong Mo told the truth: “Mm. Video calling for so long every day feels very strange…”
“I’m not staring at you the whole time.”
Zong Mo: …
Indeed, it seemed he was the one peeking at Ruan Chi more often. In order to see if Ruan Chi was monitoring him, it ended up looking like he was the one monitoring Ruan Chi.
“By the way, someone knocked on the door while you were showering,” Ruan Chi said.
Zong Mo’s heart skipped a beat. He looked back and saw that the chain on the door was still in place.
He didn’t breathe a sigh of relief. Ruan Chi continued, “And there was a man’s voice.”
Zong Mo: …He was so tired.
“It was probably Director Yang. He’s also staying nearby,” Zong Mo said. “Let me see if he sent me a WeChat message?”
“Mm,” Ruan Chi’s tone was faint, as if he didn’t care about his explanation. “Hang up the video.”
“Also, you can take a day off tomorrow.”
Zong Mo: ?
Ruan Chi spoke gently, as if he were truly taking care of his golden canary’s emotions.
“Rest well.”
Author’s Note:
A certain Mo: CEO Ruan is so nice qaq, but why do I have a bad feeling about this?
