This scene was Late Return’s moment of intimacy with the Ninth Prince in the pavilion. Late Return was deeply in love with the Ninth Prince. Whatever the prince said, he would blush and shyly agree.
Just as the two were in the throes of their tender moment, Liu Qi’s character, the male lead Third Prince, entered, interrupting their intimacy. Late Return hurried away, brushing past the Third Prince.
Zhu Huai had deliberately watched many similar roles to study for this character and had practiced this scene in front of the mirror many times. Even so, he was still nervous. Acting in front of Jiang Sheli was like brandishing a sword in front of a master.
During the rehearsal, Zhu Huai couldn’t get into the mood no matter what. His expression was stiff, and his lines were few to begin with, but he still flubbed one.
“Sorry.” After messing up the lines again, Zhu Huai rubbed his face, not daring to look into Jiang Sheli’s eyes.
Jiang Sheli’s deep eyes were somewhat cold. “Are you very afraid of me?”
Before Zhu Huai could speak, Liu Qi cut in from the side. “Relax a little, Little Huai. You’re not from a professional background and you’ve never acted before. It’s normal to perform poorly. It’s a good chance for Brother Jiang to give you some pointers.”
Jiang Sheli glanced at him.
Liu Qi’s neck went cold. He awkwardly shut his mouth.
Zhu Huai ignored Liu Qi’s words, which were disguised as concern but were actually mockery, and said sheepishly, “This is my first time running lines with you. I am a bit nervous. Please forgive me.”
Jiang Sheli suddenly said, “Stand up.”
Zhu Huai instinctively rose, confused.
Jiang Sheli stepped forward, and the distance between them shrank rapidly. Zhu Huai was nearly half a head shorter; the tip of his nose almost bumped into Jiang Sheli’s lips.
Startled, he hurriedly stepped back, but before he could move, Jiang Sheli suddenly wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him in with a slight force. The last bit of space between them vanished. Their bodies pressed tightly together, Jiang Sheli’s warmth seeping through the fabric.
Every breath Zhu Huai took was filled with Jiang Sheli’s unique scent—some cologne he couldn’t identify, mixed with the early spring chill, carrying a crisp freshness.
His cheeks and ears flushed uncontrollably. Just as he tried to pull away, Jiang Sheli’s mellow voice came from above. “Don’t move. Get used to it.”
“You’re this tense now. When we start shooting, it’ll be even more intimate. What are you going to do then?”
Zhu Huai obediently stopped moving, and even made a small attempt to defend himself. “…I’ll be fine.”
“Mm.” Jiang Sheli was noncommittal. “Say your lines.”
Zhu Huai recited a passage in that intimate position. Perhaps because the barrier between them was gone, it went surprisingly smoothly this time, his emotions well integrated.
“Passable. Could be better.”
Receiving this half-compliment from the movie emperor, Zhu Huai’s tense body relaxed, and his eyes curved with a hint of sparkle.
Just then, Jiang Sheli’s agent, Li Yun, walked over. Seeing the intimate pair in the pavilion, Li Yun’s eyes widened, and a curse slipped out: “Holy sht?! You two got together this fast?”
Zhu Huai’s face, which had just returned to normal temperature, heated up again.
Jiang Sheli frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Li Yun waved his hands. “I didn’t mean anything by it, don’t misunderstand! Director Shen will be here soon. Get ready. The temperature hasn’t warmed up and now it’s raining—freezing to death.”
Jiang Sheli’s makeup artist came to touch him up. The hand locked around Zhu Huai’s waist withdrew, and with the warmth gone, the wind turned that spot cold.
Zhu Huai turned to walk out of the pavilion. Liu Qi called out, “We’re about to shoot. Where are you going?”
“Touching up.”
Liu Qi asked again. “Where’s your makeup artist?”
Zhu Huai stopped and glanced at him sideways.
The company had long since torn its face off with him. After assigning Little Nan to him, his agent had washed their hands of him. He’d originally had a makeup artist, but their hands weren’t clean, so he’d fired them. The company had yet to send a replacement after a month. For recent events, Little Nan had filled in temporarily, but Little Nan couldn’t do on-camera makeup. He could only use the makeup artist who did the extras in the crew.
Liu Qi, being from the same company, certainly knew his current situation.
Zhu Huai looked at him with a half-smile. “I don’t have one.”
Liu Qi burned under his gaze.
He cursed inwardly: Do you have no idea how washed up you are? Still thinking you’re the number one idol? Who are you putting on airs for?
He wanted to mock him a couple more times, but Jiang Sheli spoke. “Use mine.”
Not just Liu Qi—even Zhu Huai was stunned. “…Ah?”
Jiang Sheli had good skin, so his touch-up had been finished in the few words exchanged. He said to the makeup artist, “Fix him up too.”
Zhu Huai was about to refuse, but Jiang Sheli added, “Coming and going wastes time.”
“…” Zhu Huai shut his mouth and sat back down in the pavilion, letting Jiang Sheli’s makeup artist work on his face.
“Your skin is great, young man.” The makeup artist only needed to do a simple adjustment for Zhu Huai’s look. She praised, “Besides Brother Jiang, you’re the second person I’ve met with skin this good. I love artists like you guys—saves so much trouble.”
Zhu Huai gave a smile. “Thank you.”
The youth’s eyes held light, his slender figure in the red costume beautiful beyond words.
The makeup artist clutched her heart as she left.
–
Shen Peiping had just passed fifty, with a square, upright face. He was stern and unsmiling, even more so at work. If you didn’t meet his standards, even Jiang Sheli couldn’t escape criticism.
But every drama he directed was a masterpiece, with steady ratings and a solid reputation. Even though his foul temper struck fear into people, those wanting to join his crew still came in droves.
“Relax and just perform the way you did during rehearsal.” Jiang Sheli noticed his nervousness and gently patted his shoulder.
Zhu Huai pulled at his stiff mouth. “Okay.”
“I’ll guide you.”
Zhu Huai’s heart warmed, as if he’d swallowed a calming pill. His tense shoulders relaxed.
“《The Disloyal Minister》, Scene 11, Shot 1, Take 1. Action——”
“My prince.”
Zhu Huai walked over and sat into Jiang Sheli’s embrace, his gaze filled with unconcealed tenderness. He looped his arms around the prince’s neck, exposing his slender wrists.
“What? Shy?” Jiang Sheli held his waist, speaking in a teasing manner, yet his expression was completely clear-headed and calm.
When Jiang Sheli acted, his aura was fully unleashed—the drama all lived in his eyes. It felt as if Zhu Huai were facing the true cold, calculating Ninth Prince, and he tensed up. “If my prince wishes, this servant…”
“Cut!”
Shen Peiping called halt and directed with a dark expression. “Zhu Huai, don’t be so stiff when you sit into Jiang Sheli’s lap. Be shyer. The Ninth Prince is your heaven, your earth. Don’t look like you’re being forced!”
Zhu Huai quickly admitted fault. “My bad, sorry!”
“Again!”
“《The Disloyal Minister》, Scene 11, Shot 1, Take 2. Action——”
“My prince.”
Zhu Huai had just walked over when his waist was suddenly pulled by Jiang Sheli—just like during rehearsal, with a firm tug. Caught off guard, Zhu Huai naturally fell into Jiang Sheli’s lap. The next moment, a big hand cradled the back of his head, and Jiang Sheli’s handsome face appeared close before him, as if he might kiss him in the next second.
“What? Shy?”
Zhu Huai’s face flushed instantly, heart pounding wildly. “If my prince wishes, this servant would do anything…”
Jiang Sheli raised an eyebrow, his lips drifting near Zhu Huai’s ear, his warm breath staining the entire ear red. “Then this prince wants to…”
The rest was left unsaid; one could only see the Ninth Prince’s lips parting and closing. The person in his arms trembled slightly, even the backs of his hands flushing pink.
“Cut!”
Shen Peiping frowned at the monitor while Zhu Huai stood at the side, anxious.
“You performed well just now.” Jiang Sheli straightened his costume, which had been rumpled by sitting, and said flatly.
Zhu Huai was genuinely embarrassed. He’d been completely led by Jiang Sheli. “Thank you, Brother Jiang.”
With that one sentence from Jiang Sheli, Zhu Huai felt much more at ease. Sure enough, Shen Peiping said, “This scene passes. Next scene, Liu Qi, get ready.”
Liu Qi’s Third Prince was already waiting. He had just strode into the garden and seen the shameless pair in the pavilion when he roared, “What are you two doing!”
This shot was Liu Qi’s solo shot. After he said the line, the camera turned to the pavilion. Zhu Huai, in the Ninth Prince’s lap, startled. Jiang Sheli’s cold voice came through. “Withdraw.”
Zhu Huai stood up, lowered his head, and hurried out of the pavilion. As he brushed past the Third Prince, he glanced up. The two’s eyes met. Without pausing, Zhu Huai exited the frame.
There was nothing wrong with this scene, but Shen Peiping still wasn’t satisfied. He felt Late Return’s clothes should be more disheveled when he left, and had Zhu Huai open his collar further.
Zhu Huai did as told, exposing a large expanse of pale skin. In the cold, rainy early spring, goosebumps rose all over him, and his teeth chattered.
Fortunately, the shot wasn’t long. He just had to tough it out.
Unexpectedly, though, this simple shot was retaken three times.
The first time, as Zhu Huai passed the Third Prince, Liu Qi sneezed. He explained that the wind had gotten him.
The second time, Liu Qi flubbed his line—”What are you two doing!” became “What doing!”
The third time was still Liu Qi, not in character.
Zhu Huai, in his thin costume, went back and forth in the cold rain several times. His hands and feet were frozen stiff, his lips turning purple.
Finally, Shen Peiping lost his temper. Even Jiang Sheli’s face went cold. Only then did they get it.
Little Nan hurried up and wrapped a down jacket around Zhu Huai, stuffing a hot water bottle into his arms. She gritted out viciously, quietly, “Only a ghost would believe he didn’t do that on purpose!”
Of course, Zhu Huai knew Liu Qi was doing it deliberately. But Liu Qi was the lead. Even Shen Peiping only blew up after three NGs. Zhu Huai didn’t think it was worth starting a conflict over something so small. It wasn’t him who was making a bad impression anyway.
“Is there a space heater in the green room? Let me warm up.” Zhu Huai’s nose was running. He pulled up the hood of the down jacket, wishing he could shrink entirely into the coat.
Back in the green room, the space heater gradually rose in temperature. Zhu Huai slowly let out a breath.
He had no scenes in the afternoon, but there was a background shot beside Jiang Sheli in the evening. He couldn’t be bothered to return to the hotel.
Little Nan poured him a cup of hot tea, her cheeks puffed with anger. “No matter what, you two were in the same team once. You’ve already fallen this far. Why is he still holding grudges?”
Zhu Huai didn’t answer.
Little Nan couldn’t help asking, “Did you really fight him over resources back then?”
Zhu Huai countered, “Isn’t it all over the internet? You don’t believe it?”
Little Nan said, “If I hadn’t met you, I really would have believed it.”
Zhu Huai gave a sincere smile and changed the subject. “Any fans visiting the set today?”
Little Nan said, “There are. The movie emperor’s, Liu Qi’s, Lou Lixiao’s. Several rows of them outside. They won’t leave even in the rain.”
Zhu Huai blinked. “What about mine?”
Little Nan looked at him with an expression that said it all. “…Brother, do you have no self-awareness about our situation at all? It’s already merciful that haters aren’t here to kick us while we’re down.”
Zhu Huai leaned back in the chair, utterly desolate.
The washed-up truly didn’t deserve fans.
Little Nan was about to comfort him when the green room door was knocked. She had to go open it first, and froze when she saw who it was. “Brother Li?”
The visitor was Jiang Sheli’s agent, Li Yun. He carried a small thermos flask. “Is Zhu Huai inside?”
“Ah, yes, yes.” Little Nan snapped out of it and quickly moved aside. Li Yun walked in, followed by a round-faced girl carrying a makeup box. As she entered, she gave Little Nan a cute smile first.
Little Nan smiled back, confused.
Zhu Huai was also surprised to see Li Yun. He hurriedly stood up and greeted him. “Brother Li, why are you here?”
Li Yun set the thermos flask on the table and explained, “Sheli asked me to bring this ginger soup. Drink it while it’s hot.”
Li Yun had been by Jiang Sheli’s side since his debut, as close as a brother to the movie emperor. For him to personally deliver ginger soup carried unspoken weight.
Zhu Huai was overwhelmed by the kindness, even using honorifics. “Oh, this is too much! Thank you for the trouble!”
Li Yun waved his hand and beckoned the round-faced girl forward. “This is our studio’s makeup artist. Have her stay by your side for now. Once you find someone of your own, she’ll leave.”
Zhu Huai was nervous. “…Ah?”
“Sheli said running back and forth for touch-ups was too troublesome and delayed the shoot. She happens to be interning anyway. Just think of it as giving her a chance to perform.”
The round-faced girl hurried forward with a sweet smile. “Hello, Brother Huai. I’m Little Yuan. Please take care of me!”
Zhu Huai finally snapped out of it and said hastily, “No need, really. Have her go back. Our company will send someone…”
“If you don’t want her, just talk to Sheli directly. I’m only responsible for bringing her over.” Li Yun cut him off, checked his watch, and said, “I’m busy. I’ll be off.”
Zhu Huai dizzily saw them out.
When he turned back, Little Yuan had already set up the makeup box and was looking at him obediently.
The words to send her away died in Zhu Huai’s throat.
He didn’t even have Jiang Sheli’s contact information. Bombarded by this series of favors, he was left dizzy—unable to say thank you, unable to ask why.
His phone buzzed repeatedly in his hand. He opened it. Two messages, from Little Nan.
Zhu Huai looked up at Little Nan, who was only two meters away. Her complex expression was a thousand unspoken words tangled into a constipated face.
?
He swiped open the phone. First message, four words.
Little Nan: Male femme fatale!
Zhu Huai: …
Second message, three emojis.
Little Nan: [laugh][heart][sunflower]
Zhu Huai: ?
