Chapter 46: The Wrap Party
Yan Huihua woke up even earlier than Jin Yanliu.
This was also his last scene.
“Into The Abyss” had given him so much: sudden fame, a rollercoaster of emotions, like a magnificent and unreal dream.
Now that filming was wrapping up, he truly felt reluctant.
Reluctant to leave the drama, and reluctant to part with the people he’d worked with.
He was a man of delicate and rich emotions. Having so many scenes with Jin Yanliu, facing that lively and beautiful face day after day, there was no way for him to retract his feelings. Not falling deeper was already the result of extreme restraint.
After this drama finished, he didn’t know if he and Jin Yanliu would ever meet again. The entertainment industry wasn’t large, but once they got busy, they might not see each other even a few times a year.
Fortunately, he was getting closer and closer to Jin Yanliu’s level. When he reached the same status as Jin Yanliu, perhaps there would be more opportunities to meet. At various award ceremonies, fashion events, magazine shoots, perhaps they would see each other.
As dawn broke, the last day of filming for “Into The Abyss” officially began. They filmed until around six in the afternoon, as the sun began to set.
The last scene of “Into The Abyss” was a dream sequence.
In the dream, Ye Hengyang took Mu Huaying on a journey. The wind blew their hair ribbons and sleeves, their immortal robes fluttering.
The final shot was of Ye Hengyang turning his head to look at Mu Huaying. This was the last shot of the entire drama. Liu Qichang had originally thought he would have to shoot it many times, but unexpectedly, it was perfect in just one take.
Because Yan Huihua’s eyes were so good: gentle, sorrowful, and full of affection.
“Cut!”
Liu Qichang stood up and shouted excitedly, “Perfect!”
Yan Huihua and Jin Yanliu were both surprised.
Because, knowing Liu Qichang, the last shot wouldn’t be approved without at least ten takes.
“Director, are you sure?” Jin Yanliu asked.
Liu Qichang smiled and said, “If you want to do a couple more takes, I don’t mind. I’m reluctant to wrap up too.”
Everyone laughed. Jin Yanliu turned to look at Yan Huihua beside him. Yan Huihua also looked at him, a smile still lingering on his lips, perhaps not yet fully out of character. The smile carried a hint of sadness and a bit of exhaustion. Jin Yanliu proactively opened his arms.
Yan Huihua hugged him.
“You’ve worked hard. Finally, it’s a wrap,” Jin Yanliu said.
Yan Huihua didn’t say anything, just hugged Jin Yanliu quietly for a while.
The staff brought flowers, and Jin Yanliu and Yan Huihua released each other, each holding a bouquet, smiling and bowing to everyone.
“‘Into The Abyss’ is officially wrapped!” Liu Qichang shouted excitedly.
The scene erupted in cheers. What followed was a nearly half-hour photo session. Zhou Beiyang, Lu Yao, Song Hua, and almost all the actors who could make it were there. They took a wrap-up photo together and then took a car to the wrap party.
Just as they got into the car, Zhou Beiyang said, “That was a pretty tight hug.”
Because it had happened half an hour ago, and with the chaotic photo session just now, Jin Yanliu didn’t immediately understand what he meant. When he finally processed it, he couldn’t help but laugh and say, “You’re so jealous, aren’t you tired of being sour?”
Zhou Beiyang smiled, moved closer to him, and said, “Does Yan Huihua still have a thing for you? I thought that kid was pretty upright, why does he want to be the third wheel?”
Jin Yanliu said, “Yan Huihua is really upright. I haven’t met anyone more upright than him.”
“Then take the opportunity tonight to chat more with this upright person. After the wrap party, you won’t have the chance.”
The thought of this made Zhou Beiyang feel refreshed.
Yan Huihua was upright and had been well-behaved for so long, but having someone who liked his partner so much, spending more time with his partner every day than he did, still made him somewhat uncomfortable.
Now it was good; he figured there wouldn’t be many opportunities for them to meet in the future.
At the wrap party, everyone drank freely. Alcohol was a good thing; everyone was having a good time.
The most excited was Lu Yao, flitting around the room like a social butterfly.
With the success of “Into The Abyss,” he had also benefited greatly. Although his popularity hadn’t returned to its peak, he was considered to have made a comeback. And with the second season filming next year, he, the undisputed protagonist, would definitely become even more popular.
Finally, he could hold his head high and be a big star that everyone admired and respected. It felt so good.
With his heart filled with joy, all past grievances were forgotten. Now, when he mentioned Jin Yanliu, he only felt fondness. He stood up, raised his glass towards Jin Yanliu, and said, “Let’s have a drink.”
Jin Yanliu’s glass was empty, so he picked up the bottle and stood up.
Seeing this, Lu Yao also grabbed a bottle. Liu Qichang said with a smile, “What, are you two going to chug these? This is baijiu, take it easy.”
“Tonight, we drink till we drop.” Lu Yao clinked bottles with Jin Yanliu, “Yanliu, I really want to thank you.”
Jin Yanliu smiled, raised his bottle, and took a sip. Before putting it down, he quickly reached out to stop Lu Yao, because Lu Yao was actually gulping down the baijiu straight from the bottle.
“Are you treating it like water?” Jin Yanliu said with a laugh.
Lu Yao’s face was flushed. He finally put down the bottle, wiped his mouth, and said, “I only learned from Director Liu a while ago that you were the one who recommended me for the role of Lu Fanglin, and you were the one who chose me.” He gave a thumbs up: “Magnanimous.”
Jin Yanliu said, “Well, we’re known rivals, so I think of you no matter what I do.”
Everyone laughed. Lu Yao then talked about their past feud: “You might not know, but Yanliu, Beiyang, and I have been classmates since junior high.”
Those present knew that he and Jin Yanliu were former classmates, but many didn’t know that he was also classmates with Zhou Beiyang. Zhong Qianqian asked with a smile, “Then, back in middle school, which of the three of you was the school heartthrob? The girls in your school must have been blessed, three handsome guys.”
“That would be me,” Jin Yanliu said with a smile. “They were still a little lacking.”
“You don’t know how popular Jin Yanliu was in our school. Except for his grades, he excelled at everything,” Lu Yao said.
“Then which of the three of you had the best grades?”
“Zhou Beiyang,” Lu Yao said.
Jin Yanliu added, “His grades were also unmatched.”
Liu Qichang had actually learned about Jin Yanliu and Zhou Beiyang’s relationship a while ago, but since the two hadn’t gone public, he pretended not to know. Now that it was out in the open, he said, “You and Beiyang, such good brothers, why keep it hidden? It’s quite awkward. You two are so close, there was a time I suspected you were dating.”
As soon as he said this, Yan Huihua immediately looked up.
Lu Yao laughed and said, “I’ve suspected it for a long time. Since middle school, I felt their relationship wasn’t quite brotherly, nor quite like lovers. It made me jealous.”
“They’re brothers? Like, the friend kind, or…” Yan Huihua was still a little confused.
“To be precise, they were brothers before, but not now,” Jin Yanliu said.
“Yanliu’s father and Beiyang’s mother were together before, then they separated,” Lu Yao said.
This kind of thing was somewhat private, and everyone avoided going into details, but it shocked Yan Huihua.
These two… were brothers?
So their closeness wasn’t because they were dating, but because they were brothers?
Or were they brothers before and now they had become lovers? Was that even possible?
If it were the latter, wouldn’t that be a forbidden love?
He glanced at Jin Yanliu, then at Zhou Beiyang.
The group drank late into the night. Jin Yanliu was tipsy, while Liu Qichang and Lu Yao were both drunk. Jin Yanliu saw Liu Qichang and Lu Yao into their car, but his own steps were unsteady. Zhou Beiyang supported him, and he put an arm around Zhou Beiyang’s neck: “Drive slowly, find someone… to take care of them…”
“I’m… not drunk, I can… still drink,” Lu Yao shouted, extending his arm.
Jin Yanliu shrugged and laughed. After the car drove away, he turned to Zhou Beiyang and said, “Lu Yao is quite funny when he’s drunk.”
“Don’t talk about others, look at yourself.”
The cold wind was biting, and Jin Yanliu leaned against Zhou Beiyang for a moment, looking up: “Is it snowing?”
The first snow of the year came particularly early, light and delicate. The snowflakes were tiny, landing on his face with a cool touch, then quickly disappearing.
Zhou Beiyang also looked up and said, “It really is snowing.”
The rest of the crew hadn’t left yet. Seeing the snow, everyone was excited.
“It’s too cold, let’s go back,” Zhou Beiyang said.
Jin Yanliu nodded and waved goodbye to everyone, but he saw Yan Huihua, wearing a light gray coat, standing in the crowd, watching him.
Jin Yanliu smiled and waved at Yan Huihua.
Fatty Xiao drove the car over, and Zhou Beiyang helped him into the car.
The north wind was so cold, it stung his face, but Yan Huihua only felt warmth in his heart.
He had been preoccupied throughout the latter half of the party, thinking about whether those two were brothers or lovers.
If they were lovers, he should naturally give up, having no chance and shouldn’t interfere in their relationship.
But if they were just brothers, he wanted to try one last time before parting with Jin Yanliu.
Anxious and nervous, he pursed his lips in the cold wind.
He had to try, otherwise, if he gave up just like that, he would spend the rest of his life in regret.
Perhaps there was a slightly dark thought in his mind, thinking that even if they were lovers, he should still try.
As soon as Jin Yanliu got into the car, he completely collapsed.
Hearing him groaning, Fatty Xiao asked, “How much did Brother Yanliu drink?”
“He definitely drank a lot,” Zhou Beiyang said.
Drunk Jin Yanliu started to lean against Zhou Beiyang, groaning.
Fatty Xiao drove, suddenly remembering that night a few months ago, in the bar, drunk Jin Yanliu had also acted like this, groaning and snuggling into Zhou Beiyang, trying to touch him.
At that time, driving in the front, he had been both embarrassed and nervous, wanting to look but not daring to.
Now the scene was repeating itself. He vaguely heard Zhou Beiyang say, “Don’t act crazy, we’re in the car.”
Jin Yanliu just chuckled ambiguously, his hand reaching for Zhou Beiyang. Zhou Beiyang was still mindful of Fatty Xiao. He was very possessive and particularly unwilling for others to see this intimate side of him and Jin Yanliu, so he grabbed Jin Yanliu’s hand, preventing him from moving.
But Jin Yanliu, by nature fearless, became even more brazen and deliberate the more Zhou Beiyang tried to evade him.
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