Chapter 10 – Concern
The room erupted in laughter. The makeup artist clutched her stomach, exclaiming, “Oh wow—did we get that on camera? That was brilliant—it should definitely be included in the blooper reel.”
Huang Zhicheng shook his head with a smile. “Just make sure you can all bring that same energy when we’re actually rolling.”
Before Jiang Liusui could respond, He Yujing grinned at Huang Zhicheng. “That wouldn’t be great, would it? It’d make it feel like you’re filming a newlyweds’ diary.”
Jiang Liusui: “…?”
Jiang Liusui thought that sometimes, He Yujing was honestly asking to be smacked[mfn]挺欠打的 (tǐng qiàn dǎ de) – a humorous, exaggerated way to say someone is irritating or asking for trouble, not meant literally.[/mfn].
Huang Zhicheng, however, remained calm and composed, displaying remarkable patience. “If you can’t muster even half of that flirtatious energy later, don’t blame me for turning it into an NG diary.”
He Yujing was momentarily speechless, rendered silent by the retort. Jiang Liusui gently patted his shoulder. “That won’t do. I want to film a newlywed diary, not an NG diary.”
The gesture came so naturally, paired with his smiling tone, that for a brief moment, He Yujing actually felt as if Jiang Liusui was acting coquettishly with him.
Dismissing the strange thought, He Yujing played along. “Then I’ll do my best.”
“I didn’t notice earlier, but Xiao Jiang’s shoulder probably isn’t in great shape, right?” It wouldn’t be good to film another intense scene.” Huang Zhicheng steered the conversation back on track, addressing both of them. “Tonight, we’ll shoot a scene from the honeymoon phase—nothing too physically taxing.”
Compared to the previous suffocating farewell scene, the atmosphere on set lightened considerably as they transitioned into the honeymoon phase. The entire villa was brightly lit, with the crew busy adjusting the setup. By the time Jiang Liusui finished with hair and makeup, Huang Zhicheng was just explaining the scene to He Yujing.
“… Initially, you’re preoccupied with flipping through the art book, not paying attention to him.” Huang Zhicheng had just begun when he noticed Jiang Liusui approaching. “Xiao Jiang, you’re ready? Come join us.”
The styling for this scene aimed to create a cozy, at-home vibe. Both of them were dressed in loose-fitting shirts and trousers. Although their outfits were similar, their auras were distinctly different.
“Not bad—you look very well-matched standing together.” Huang Zhicheng was clearly pleased with how they looked. “In a bit, Xiao Jiang, go grab Yujing’s arm. At first, he won’t be paying attention to you and will respond dismissively. You’re dissatisfied and insist on getting his attention…”
Huang Zhicheng explained the scene in great detail. Still somewhat concerned, he added, “The screenwriter provided dialogue, but we won’t be recording audio for this part. You’ll have to rely entirely on facial expressions and body language to convey an intimate atmosphere.”
Outside the window, roses bloomed vibrantly in the night, their flower-laden vines creeping into the bedroom through the window crack, drawn by the warm indoor light
The camera panned from the roses outside, gradually focusing on the two figures on the bed. He Yujing sat on the edge of the bed, flipping through a art book, his slender fingers gently turning the pages. Jiang Liusui tapped He Yujing’s shoulder, and said something to him. He Yujing only gives a faint nod, clearly distracted.
Jiang Liusui wrapped his arms around He Yujing’s arm, shaking it discontentedly. “Hey, big-shot artist[mfn]大画家 (dà huàjiā) – lit. a great or famous painter, often implying high skill or status.[/mfn]—could you spare me a little attention?”
His petulant tone made it seem as if they truly shared an intimate relationship. He Yujing turned his head, their eyes meeting. Jiang Liusui complained, “Is the art book more interesting than me?”
He Yujing looked at him and couldn’t help but laugh.
Jiang Liusui was still rambling on about how distant he’d been when He Yujing reached out, ruffled his hair, leaned in, and planted a quick kiss on him.
The once nonstop chatter cut off instantly, as if someone had hit pause, and Jiang Liusui could only stare at him, stunned.
Whether it was the role taking hold or something else entirely, He Yujing felt his heart give a sudden, inexplicable twitch. He flung the art book aside and, in one swift movement, pushed Jiang Liusui down onto the bed. Coming back to himself, Jiang Liusui laughed and struggled, kicking the person on top of him lightly with his pale calf, only to have his ankle grabbed and yanked forcefully, pinning him back under the man.
He Yujing pulled the blanket over, covering both of their bodies. The scene before Jiang Liusui’s eyes darkened, and he could feel the breath of another person close at hand.
Bracing himself with an elbow against the mattress, He Yujing’s fingers brushed Jiang Liusui’s cheek, seemingly by accident. Jiang Liusui paused, caught off guard, unsure whether this movement was written into the script.
But the next moment, he dismissed this insignificant detail. Jiang Liusui deliberately kicked at the blanket, making the scene appear more intense.
“Cut—! That’s a wrap!”
He Yujing threw off the blanket and got up from the bed, pulling Jiang Liusui up along the way. He spoke first: “No NG.”
Jiang Liusui smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. Huang Zhicheng, who had walked over, looked surprised and asked cheerfully, “What’s going on? You got it in one take—did you really got the hang of it?”
“Yes, so you can leave work early.” He Yujing said, and the staff nearby all laughed. A younger female crew member couldn’t help speaking up: “Teacher He was smiling so indulgently just now—looking at Teacher Jiang as if he might melt right there.”
“Exactly, both of you acted so well! You two are such a perfect match.”
Amid the chorus of praise from everyone, Jiang Liusui’s makeup artist chimed in while screaming internally.
Yes, they’re such a perfect match.
Especially that last part—she wished she could have watched it for a few more seconds.
What’s the point of stopping there? The atmosphere between you two on the bed was just… incredible. Go film an R-rated scene already!
Filming ended much earlier than expected, and everyone was happy to leave work early. Jiang Liusui was about to go remove makeup and change clothes when He Yujing answered a phone call.
After a brief exchange with the person on the other end, and He Yujing responded absentmindedly, as if a sudden thought had struck him. “Want to hang out? A friend is organizing a gathering. Do you know Chi Lianxi?”
Jiang Liusui opened his mouth, wanting to say that his tolerance for alcohol was shamefully low. He Yujing noticed his hesitation and said casually, “It’s fine if you don’t know him.”
On the other end of the line, Chi Lianxi was furious: “He Yujing, who do you think you’re looking down on?!”
But at that moment, Jiang Liusui said, “No, I do know him.”
He Yujing picked up on something immediately: “Do you like him?”
Jiang Liusui paused: “You could say I’m a fan. I really admire Mr. Chi’s performances—I think he’s amazing.”
Chi Lianxi’s debut film had won several newcomer awards. Just as everyone was expecting him to become the youngest Best Actor, he unexpectedly shifted to TV dramas.
Film and television were two different worlds, and transitioning from the big screen to the small screen somewhat diminished an actor’s prestige. Some speculated that his failure to secure a Best Actor award was due to this perceived downgrade. Chi Lianxi even lost some fans because of it. Yet, he remained unfazed, continuing to take on both film and television roles over the years, choosing scripts purely based on personal preference.
Chi Lianxi genuinely loved acting and lived his life with a refreshing nonchalance. Among the younger generation of actors, Jiang Liusui admired him the most.
Huang Zhicheng also praised, “Xiao Chi’s really talented. Just a bit unpredictable, and he likes to play around.”
But as He Yujing listened to Chi Lianxi’s clamoring over the phone, he found it utterly grating.
What’s so impressive about him anyway? Why is he even worth liking?
Huang Zhicheng said to He Yujing, “You have another shoot tomorrow. It’s one thing for you to go wild[mfn]浪 (làng) – lit. wave; colloquial shorthand for “fooling around,” “messing about,” or being playful.[/mfn] on your own, but you want to drag Xiao Jiang along too?”
He Yujing let out a casual “oh.”
“Want to come with us?”
“I’m definitely not going!” Huang Zhicheng said with amusement. “Don’t stay out too late.”
Seeing Jiang Liusui hesitate, Huang Zhicheng encouraged, “Go with him. It’s a good chance to meet people and make friends.”
“Okay.” Jiang Liusui nodded, then added, “But I’m not very good at drinking…”
“No problem, you don’t have to drink if you don’t want to,” He Yujing said, hanging up the phone. “Take off your makeup and come find me. I’ll drive us there.”
The place Chi Lianxi had chosen was a standalone private club. To protect member privacy, it was never open to the public.
Jiang Liusui followed He Yujing upstairs. As soon as they entered the room, cold air mixed with the smell of smoke and alcohol hit them. The private lounge was expansive, the bottles on the glass coffee table catching the neon light like scattered jewels. People were scattered across the long sofa, and among them, Jiang Liusui spotted several faces he often saw on trending searches.
The moment He Yujing appeared, everyone in the room lit up with delight:
“Hey! A-Jing’s here?”
“Brother Yu!”
Chi Lianxi had been holding the microphone, ready to belt out a song, but when he saw He Yujing, he eagerly offered it with both hands. “Come on, come on, superstar—you sing!”
Someone laughed, though it was unclear who: “Wouldn’t that turn into a concert then!”
Right as the backing track hit the chorus, He Yujing didn’t hesitate. He took the microphone and hummed a few casual lines. The private room’s top-notch sound system brought every nuance of his voice to life. Even Jiang Liusui, who knew nothing about singing, couldn’t help thinking it sounded amazing.
He Yujing’s vocal tone was highly distinctive—no matter what he sang, it carried his unique flair. Jiang Liusu suddenly recalled a fan’s praise he’d stumbled upon by chance:
“’If he were willing to sing me a song, any song, I’d marry him on the spot.’”
He Yujing sang only a few lines before putting down the microphone. The private room erupted in applause and whistles. He casually handed the microphone to a friend nearby, draping his arm over Jiang Liusui’s shoulder: “This is Jiang Liusui, my co-star for this MV.”
Most of Chi Lianxi’s friends were people of considerable status—whether they were in front of the camera or behind it, they had connections to this circle. Many looked at Jiang Liusui with curiosity, surprised that He Yujing had chosen such a relatively unknown actor and was personally introducing him.
Chi Lianxi was the first to react: “Oh, so this is the one who’s a hundred times better looking than me?”
Seeing that he still remembered that remark, He Yujing said, “Good that you remember.”
Even after seeing him hundreds of times in movies and TV shows, seeing Chi Lianxi in person felt entirely different. Jiang Liusui couldn’t help showing a fascinated expression, his eyes sparkling.
Not wanting to come off too forward, he didn’t admit he was a fan. Instead, he simply smiled: “Hello, Teacher Chi.”
Chi Lianxi was taken aback by the attentive gaze and couldn’t help blurting out, “You’re really pretty.”
Then, with a grin, he asked, “How old are you?”
He Yujing couldn’t stand his playboy-like demeanor and interrupted with a scoff, “None of your business.”
Just as Chi Lianxi was about to retort, the private room door swung open. Su Wan walked in carrying a square paper box.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said, placing the box down. “I baked some chocolate scones at home and brought them for everyone to try.”
“No worries, A’Jing and the others just arrived too.” Chi Lianxi watched her unpack the box. The scones were baked to perfection—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside—adorned with vibrant strawberries and blueberries, each layer drizzled with chocolate sauce.
Although not usually fond of sweets, Chi Lianxi couldn’t help but compliment the muffins’ appearance. “I remember you’re quite skilled.”
A younger female artist chimed in with a smile, “Susu makes desserts really well, she just doesn’t do it often. We’re lucky today.”
Su Wan smiled warmly. “Everyone, help yourselves.”
From the moment he saw Su Wan, He Yujing’s eyes had quickly returned to Chi Lianxi, who mischievously winked at him.
He Yujing clicked his tongue in frustration, wondering what Chi Lianxi was up to. Slightly annoyed, he was nonetheless caught off guard when Chi Lianxi waved his phone at him, signaling him to check a message.
Chi Lianxi: Su Wan specifically asked if you’d be here. She only came because she heard you were coming.
He Yujing: I’m not interested in her. Don’t meddle next time.
Chi Lianxi: No way, even Su Wan doesn’t catch your eye? Are you really waiting for a celestial beauty?
Back at the club, a friend asked He Yujing if he wanted to find a goddess he would fall in love with at first sight for the MV. He Yujing didn’t deny it and even went along with the joke. Because it was so funny, the story spread throughout their circle, and Chi Lianxi had naturally heard it. He paused before adding:
Chi Lianxi: Let me tell you first, the goddess you’re looking for has already been taken.
Chi Lianxi: He seems pretty satisfied with Su Wan—ah, I mean with Su Wan’s baking skills.
He Yujing looked up just in time to see Jiang Liusui nibbling on the scone Su Wan had brought, looking completely innocent.
“It’s pretty good,” Jiang Liusui said, noticing He Yujing’s gaze and mistakenly thinking he wanted some too. “Want a piece?”
He Yujing: “……”
— — — —
Author’s Note:
Jing: Is eating all you ever think about, baby?
— — — —
