DP Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“In fifteen minutes, you and Lin Xiao will go through a scene,” Director Li said to Xiang Yiye, “The script is on the sofa over there; familiarize yourself with it first.”

The actress called “Xiao Lin” was very outgoing. She pulled Xiang Yiye’s arm and sat him down on the sofa, saying, “You’re Xiang Yiye, right? I’ve seen your profile.”

“Sister Lin Xiao, hello,” Xiang Yiye said. It seemed the rumors online were true. Xinghui’s rising star Lin Xiao would be playing the female lead in this school drama, and the supporting role of Chen Xu was the female lead’s brother.

“You know me? Then without further ado, let’s run lines,” Lin Xiao said. “I’m playing Chen Mo. In today’s scene, it’s my first official meeting with you before returning to the Chen family. It’s kind of like a family recognition…”

Fifteen minutes passed quickly. Director Li clapped his hands, signaling that they could start soon.

The two actors stood before Director Li. Xiang Yiye took out the glasses hanging on his collar and put them on with great care, as if it were a ritual of entering the role. When Lin Xiao looked up again, Xiang Yiye had completely transformed into the character written in lead on the script.

After the scene was performed, Xiang Yiye took off his glasses and rubbed his aching forehead.

Director Li didn’t offer his own comments but asked Lin Xiao to critique, saying, “Lin Xiao, you go first. As his scene partner, your feelings should be more direct. What do you think of Xiang’s performance? Talk about it.”

Lin Xiao looked at Xiang Yiye and said, “His looks and temperament fit my imagination perfectly. When I read the script, the Chen Xu I envisioned was just like this: intelligent and profound. But not too much, or he’d easily come off as cold. Uh, Director Li, I don’t mean to step on anyone… Also, Xiang doesn’t seem like a newcomer at all. He’s so young, several years younger than me, right? But playing my brother doesn’t feel awkward at all. Ah, truly the younger generation surpasses the old…”

Xiang Yiye was a little embarrassed by this barrage of praise.

Director Li then asked Xiang Yiye, “What about you? How do you understand this scene? Tell us about that too.”

Xiang Yiye said, “Sister Lin Xiao’s summary was very accurate. The key word in this scene is ‘family recognition.’ Chen Xu and Chen Mo are half-siblings, but they’ve never met. The atmosphere between them should be a little delicate, but definitely not confrontational, but rather curious and exploratory. From Chen Xu’s perspective, he’s more inclined to expectation. On the one hand, he values family very much, but he doesn’t have many peers around him and has been a bit lonely since childhood. On the other hand, before meeting, he has already heard some stories about Chen Mo from other people’s mouths…”

Director Li asked, “How do you view the highlights of Chen Xu’s character?”

Compared to his previous eloquence, Xiang Yiye’s answer this time was very concise: “Every drama has its main and supporting roles. My most important identity in the drama is as the older brother. The highlights should go to Sister Lin Xiao’s character, followed by the male lead.”

Understanding on point, positioning clear. Director Li nodded and said, “Go get your makeup touched up and take your character stills. The role is yours.”

Xiang Yiye didn’t expect Director Li to be so decisive and was stunned for a moment. It was Lin Xiao who poked him before he reacted.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go take pictures,” Lin Xiao said, pulling Xiang Yiye to the photography studio, still praising him non-stop along the way: “Did you see that? Director Li nodded just now! I’ve been at Xinghui for several years, and I can count the number of times Director Li has nodded at me on one hand. You just got here and you’ve already been affirmed by him. Your future is limitless!”

Xiang Yiye maintained his excellent style of not being arrogant or impetuous and smiled: “Sister Lin Xiao led well. I got into character very quickly just now.”

Lin Xiao has a sweet appearance, but her temperament is straightforward. Hearing this, she said boldly, “You’re so good at talking, I’ll be friends with you.”

Xiang Yiye was distracted for a moment, remembering that he wasn’t nearly as good at talking as he was now. At least when he was in the entertainment industry in his previous life, he was just a naive young man who would offend people because he was too blunt.

Where did he learn this skill of having a sweet tongue and knowing how to deal with people? Xiang Yiye pondered as he entered the photography studio. Suddenly seeing a person, the answer and his gaze arrived at his nerve center almost at the same time—

Xu Chuo.

It was late autumn, and Xu Chuo was wearing a dark brown long trench coat, his hair slightly curled. He stood behind the camera, next to a pile of equipment, looking like a real star.

Seeing Xiang Yiye and Lin Xiao, Xu Chuo waved his palm outward and said, “Hi.”

“I heard you two met a few days ago, so I don’t need to introduce you,” Lin Xiao said, winking at Xu Chuo, “Here to accompany your little Han at work again?”

“I can’t help it; he’s too clingy.” Xu Chuo shrugged and looked toward the backdrop. Han Fangyan, who plays the male lead and was also the person sitting in the passenger seat of Xu Chuo’s sports car that day, was taking character stills in front of the backdrop.

“You’re too indulgent of him. Every time you come, I get stuffed with dog food. I don’t even need to eat dinner,” Lin Xiao said.

“It’s a painless way to lose weight,” Xu Chuo said with a smile.

“You’re so nice… Okay, it’s my turn to shoot. You two chat.” After Lin Xiao finished speaking, she went up to take a group photo of the male and female leads.

After Lin Xiao left, there was no longer any separation between Xiang Yiye and Xu Chuo. The two were only a little more than a meter apart. Xu Chuo even took a step closer on purpose.

The faint scent of wood drifted over. Xiang Yiye took a step to the side, worried that the other party would hear his heartbeat. Unexpectedly, Xu Chuo took another step closer, carefully observing Xiang Yiye like a specimen.

Xiang Yiye felt goosebumps from being stared at. He checked his appearance but found nothing wrong. Finally, he couldn’t help but say, “Um… is there something on me?”

Xu Chuo’s gaze fell to his collarbone, and he smiled: “Nothing, the glasses look good. Where did you buy them?”

Xiang Yiye said, “A friend lent them to me. I’ll help you ask when the time comes.”

“Okay… it seems they’re calling you over there.” Xu Chuo said.

Xiang Yiye felt as if he had been granted amnesty and quickly scurried to the backdrop. Xu Chuo chuckled a few times behind him, and Xiang Yiye realized that he had just walked with the same hand and foot forward at the same time.

While taking photos, Xiang Yiye was a little absent-minded. He could see Xu Chuo and Han Fangyan flirting underneath, and he couldn’t concentrate at all.

Lin Xiao saw this and thought he wasn’t used to facing the camera, so she said, “Relax a little, Xiang. Just imagine the camera doesn’t exist, or try putting on your glasses~”

This inadvertently led to a good idea. Xiang Yiye took out the glasses hanging on his collar. His retinas felt very uncomfortable after putting them on, but the clarity of his vision was greatly reduced, automatically blocking out the source of interference.

The shooting went smoothly. Xiang Yiye could hear the staff below occasionally uttering, “So handsome.”

Xu Chuo looked over. Under the lights, Xiang Yiye’s skin was so white and translucent that it seemed to be glowing. He watched intently, not noticing that Han Fangyan’s face next to him had become very ugly.

On the display screen, the image was enlarged to a close-up of the face. Lin Xiao leaned over to take a look and said, “Xiang, you have single eyelids.”

Actually, they’re inner double eyelids, Xiang Yiye thought.

“Actually, they’re inner double eyelids. Look closely.” Xu Chuo said. He didn’t know when he had also moved behind the display screen, startling Lin Xiao.

Han Fangyan looked resentful, stared at the screen, and suddenly discovered something again. His resentment and anger doubled, directly reaching the top of his head. He strode up to Xiang Yiye and ordered, “Take them off!”

“What?” Xiang Yiye was confused.

“The glasses! I told you to take them off! How can you steal other people’s things and wear them casually?” Han Fangyan said, exasperated.

“No, I borrowed them,” Xiang Yiye thought. Could it be that these glasses were Han Fangyan’s?

Lin Xiao immediately said, “Little Han, you’ve misunderstood.”

Xu Chuo also came over and pulled him back, saying, “Fangyan, listen to me.”

Han Fangyan’s temper flared up, and he wouldn’t listen to anyone. He pointed the finger directly at Xiang Yiye: “Borrowed? What’s your relationship with Xu Chuo that you’re qualified to borrow his things? You clearly stole them! Give them back!”

The glasses were Xu Chuo’s. Xiang Yiye was stunned. His breathing became a little rapid, and he forgot to defend himself. He reached out, just about to take off his glasses, when Xu Chuo grabbed his wrist.

Xiang Yiye shuddered and could feel that Xu Chuo’s palms were very cold.

“I lent them to you. Don’t take them off. We’ll talk about it after the shoot. Work is important,” Xu Chuo said.

“Xu Chuo!” Han Fangyan completely exploded.

Xu Chuo released his hand, indicating that he hadn’t done anything, and turned his head to focus on smoothing Han Fangyan’s feathers. After a moment, the two entangled figures left the photography studio, and Xiang Yiye’s mood immediately plummeted.

After the shoot, Lin Xiao came over to comfort him, saying, “Han Fangyan is just like that, a walking firecracker. He explodes at the slightest thing. Don’t take it to heart.”

“It’s okay,” Xiang Yiye took off his glasses and asked an unrelated question: “Sister Lin Xiao, do you know how long Han Fangyan and Xu Chuo have been together?”

“I don’t remember, a few months, right? Anyway, not too long…” Lin Xiao said, “Why are you concerned about this?”

He couldn’t possibly say that he was calculating how long Xu Chuo had left before breaking up, so Xiang Yiye had no choice but to say, “No, just gossiping.”

“Then you’ve come to the right melon field. Xu Chuo is an old melon farmer, and the kind who produces and sells his own goods. The melons he grows himself are guaranteed to be ripe and sweet… I’ll tell you slowly when I have time.” Lin Xiao pointed to the glasses in Xiang Yiye’s hand, “Give this to me. I’ll help you return them, so you won’t be embarrassed later.”

Xiang Yiye lowered his head, rubbed the edge of the frame with his thumb, and said in a low voice, “Thank you.”

On the first floor of Xinghui, Xu Chuo was still standing several meters away. Lin Xiao threw the glasses in her hand into his arms from afar.

Xu Chuo barely caught them and laughed: “They would have broken if I had caught them a step later.”

“Do you still care about a dollar or two of glass?” Lin Xiao didn’t see Han Fangyan and said boldly, “Where is he? Did you break up? It’s only been a few months?”

“Waiting for me in the parking lot.” Xu Chuo fiddled with the glasses, changing the subject: “Why did you return them to me?”

“If it wasn’t me, who else could it be? Xiang? Forget it. With Little Han’s temper, wouldn’t that be asking for a scolding?” Lin Xiao put her hands on her hips, “I’m not saying you, but you’re too free every day. If you don’t have class, go back to your studio and paint more paintings. You’re about to join the crew, so let Little Han calm down.”

Xu Chuo’s fingertips slid across the smooth curve of the frame, and he said, “Was he unhappy?”

“Ah? Who?”

“Xiang Yiye.”

Lin Xiao recalled Xiang Yiye’s expression just now and said, “He must have been a little unhappy. It’s his first day here, and Little Han said he stole something in front of so many people. I’d feel wronged too if I were him.”

In the distance, the elevator door opened with a “ding.” Xiang Yiye saw them, paused, nodded in their direction, and walked away as if fleeing.

“See? He’s avoiding you,” Lin Xiao said.

Xu Chuo put the glasses back on his nose, remembering Xiang Yiye’s appearance in the photography studio just now. After knowing who the real owner of the glasses was, almost at the same time, a large patch of red spread from behind Xiang Yiye’s ears, extending to his originally fair cheeks.

That blush might seem like surprise and shame to others, but in Xu Chuo’s eyes, it had a different flavor.

Xu Chuo stared at the figure hurriedly walking away, and said meaningfully, “Avoiding me? I don’t think so.”