DP Chapter 34
by VolareXiang Yiye crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it away. Perhaps he could have taken the opportunity to play hard to get, issuing warnings to the other party to stay within boundaries, but asking him to say things like, “I’m still very popular,” or “You should cherish me,” was quite difficult.
Xu Chuo stood behind him, ruffling his hair, touching him through the bath towel: “So obedient, you deserve a reward.”
Xiang Yiye tensed his back, a little resistant: “I haven’t showered yet, let’s go back to the room later… Aren’t you going to continue reading?”
“I wasn’t really reading, I was just looking at you. You’re as beautiful as a fish in the water,” Xu Chuo said.
No wonder Xiang Yiye always felt eyes on him when he was in the water. Occasionally, he would glance towards the shore and see Xu Chuo holding a book to cover his face, acting like a proper gentleman. It turned out it was all an act.
Like painting, flirting is about rhythm, a balance of looseness and tension. Seeing that Xiang Yiye wasn’t responding, Xu Chuo changed the subject again: “I remember Gu Wenyu’s daughter is a screenwriter. It seems you get along well with her.”
Speaking of his profession, Xiang Yiye immediately perked up, saying, “She’s a very nice person. She doesn’t have a lot of works, but they’re all high-quality in terms of content. She has a unique understanding of human nature and the principles of drama. Her perspective is very sharp. She has a suspense-type…”
He became more and more enthusiastic, a little oblivious to everything around him, when suddenly he felt a heat behind his ear, followed by a nibble on his earlobe.
Xu Chuo wasn’t listening at all. Xiang Yiye remembered that he really didn’t like talking about work during leisure time.
“Can you do backstroke? I’ve only seen you do freestyle,” Xu Chuo whispered in his ear, his voice intertwined with the scent of red wine.
“Yes.”
“Swim it for me. Show me.”
“Another day.” Xiang Yiye got up, ready to shower. He had been teased enough.
But Xu Chuo didn’t know what was wrong with him, or what complex he had, he insisted on it here: “Swim it for me, Xiaoye. I want to see. Just one lap.”
Xiang Yiye didn’t really want to seem so easily manipulated, but the truth was he couldn’t say no to Xu Chuo. After getting back into the water, he knew Xu Chuo’s eyes were following him, and he felt a strange sensation in his heart.
When Xu Chuo said he was like a fish, his heart fluttered; but now, he really felt like a fish, a fish kept in captivity for viewing.
Being appreciated by others, being appreciated by someone he liked, was originally something to be happy about, but Xiang Yiye felt awkward.
He knew this awkwardness stemmed from the gap between himself and Xu Chuo. What Xie Lei said in the afternoon had stuck with him. He and Xu Chuo were not on the same level.
Although Xie Lei was more likely making a judgment on the level of aesthetics, even from a secular perspective, Xiang Yiye was not confident that he could stand on the same level as Xu Chuo.
He didn’t know when Xu Chuo looked at him, whether he saw him as a person, or as some abstract qualities.
Appearance, personality, expertise… these labels could all exist apart from him as a person, and be rearranged and combined in others. It all depended on how Xu Chuo’s tastes changed.
This made Xiang Yiye feel frustrated. He swam somewhat perfunctorily to the center of the pool, and a smear of deep blue suddenly caught his eye.
The ceiling was pure white, reflecting the clear blue light of the pool water below, like crystal clear light blue crystal, except that the center was inlaid with a square area, the blue inside was deep and layered, dancing with the sparkling waves, as if it suddenly came alive.
Xiang Yiye lingered in the center of the pool for a while, then swam back to the shore, and looked up, saying, “There’s something on the ceiling… it looks like a painting?”
“Doesn’t it look familiar?” Xu Chuo reached out to him. “The one I asked you to name at the art exhibition before.”
Xiang Yiye took his hand and got ashore, looking up at the ceiling: “It really is that one. I wasn’t sure just now. How is it hanging there?”
Xu Chuo wrapped him in a bath towel, covering his head and face, saying, “This house is in the mountains. When I want to see this painting, I have to climb a mountain for several hours, then swim a short distance underwater to get to the best viewing point. Doesn’t that sound a bit like going through all kinds of hardships?”
Xiang Yiye laughed: “So romantic. What if it falls into the water?”
“Beautiful things are easily broken,” Xu Chuo rubbed his wet hair. “I originally wanted you to discover it yourself, but you didn’t look up at all.”
“A sentence would have sufficed. You had to make someone swim a lap,” Xiang Yiye said, “Okay, I discovered it, I saw it… Let’s go, let’s go upstairs.”
The bathroom was filled with steam, and emotions rose and surged within it, like a thickening fog.
Xu Chuo reached out and clung to Xiang Yiye’s neck, turning his head to say something.
Xiang Yiye didn’t quite hear it all, only heard the word “like” inside. He lowered his head and buried himself in Xu Chuo’s neck, saying, “Say it again tomorrow when you’re sober.”
“I’m very sober now,” Xu Chuo said.
Xiang Yiye wasn’t so sure. Adrenaline was a wonderful thing, easily fabricating the illusion of intense emotion. Xu Chuo himself was too open, he could say anything as long as the atmosphere was right.
Moreover, Xiang Yiye knew that Xu Chuo had been really upset these past few days. The fact that he could so decisively sever ties with Xie Lei in the afternoon showed that he had rehearsed those struggles and pains in his heart several times in advance.
Perhaps he just needed someone to warm him up, from that night at Blue Bar until now.
Xu Chuo sensed from Xiang Yiye’s reaction that he didn’t believe him, and flippantly said, “That painting is for you.”
“…For me what?” Xiang Yiye reacted a half-beat late.
“The painting.” Xu Chuo exhaled, “That painting is still in my head. The colors, composition, and materials are not yet clear, the only thing that is certain is that it is painted for you. When I paint it, when I look at it, I’m thinking of you.”
Xiang Yiye was stunned, and heard Xu Chuo continue: “Xiaoye, I like you. You are my muse, the meaning and value of that painting.”
“I like you.” Xu Chuo said it several times in a row, as if the more he said it, the more believable it would be. “I’m sorry, you spoke up for me at the sanatorium today, but I…”
Xiang Yiye stopped him with a kiss: “It’s okay. He’s not your teacher anymore. To me, he’s just a stranger. What he said can’t hurt me at all.”
Xu Chuo turned around and kissed him back.
In the misty water vapor, Xiang Yiye thought that perhaps his thinking should change. He should strive to become a better person, good enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with Xu Chuo, instead of being apprehensive and waiting to be selected.
After this day, the two of them had almost no large chunks of time to spend together. They would often eat a meal together and then go their separate ways to be busy, or just meet in the evening.
Xu Chuo had relatively fewer things to do, and ran over to Xiang Yiye more frequently, sticking to him wherever he went.
Another week passed, and Lin Xiao finished filming her new drama and returned to City S, inviting Xiang Yiye to her house for dinner.
On Friday afternoon, Lin Xiao opened the door and opened her arms to Xiang Yiye at the door: “Come, give me a hug, it’s been months… Oh my god, Xiaoye, how did you lose so much weight! Is Xu Chuo mistreating you and not feeding you?”
Xiang Yiye smiled and stepped into the door, giving Lin Xiao a light hug.
“Why are you spreading rumors behind my back, Xiao? That’s not good,” Xu Chuo followed behind Xiang Yiye, pulling him back to his side. “One hug is enough. Get your claws off. Aren’t there enough male actors on the set for you to touch?”
Lin Xiao rolled her eyes at Xu Chuo: “Warning to some people, if you’re just dropping him off, you can leave now.”
“I’m here to shield Xiaoye from alcohol,” Xu Chuo shook the wine in his hand. “I’m afraid you’ll have ulterior motives towards him.”
Lin Xiao almost swept him out the door.
Before they even got to the table, Xiang Yiye smelled the aroma and asked, “Is that hot pot?”
Lin Xiao filmed on location in the southwest region and brought back half a box of hot pot base, the beef tallow melting and boiling in the pot, filling the room with spicy and savory aromas.
“This is pretty high in calories, right?” Xu Chuo said.
“I don’t care. Anyway, I probably won’t have any roles to take until the end of the year. I’m going to indulge myself today,” Lin Xiao said. “As for Xiaoye… should we skim off the oil before he eats? Jiang Xi, go to the kitchen and get the filter paper.”
Also eating with them was Lin Xiao’s boyfriend, Jiang Xi, who was also an actor. He was the younger brother type, looking even younger than Xiang Yiye, but he was actually three years older than him, and entered the industry earlier, currently residing in the 12th tier.
As they officially started eating, Lin Xiao chatted about the interesting anecdotes from the film crew, vehemently denouncing a certain director for bullying the weak and favoring others, a certain actor for having a terrible temper and throwing his weight around, etc.
Jiang Xi chimed in and acted as a hype man. Xiang Yiye focused on eating and occasionally asked questions.
Xu Chuo didn’t participate much in the conversation, focusing on fishing out vegetables, meat, and meatballs, filtering off the oil and putting them in Xiang Yiye’s bowl.
A surge of competitive spirit welled up. Lin Xiao glanced at her boyfriend, but he was eating happily, ignoring her.
Lin Xiao coughed and picked up a piece of fatty beef for Jiang Xi.
Jiang Xi had never received this treatment before. He looked at Lin Xiao, hesitatingly saying, “You can’t eat anymore?” This wasn’t Lin Xiao’s normal appetite.
Lin Xiao gave him a roll of her eyes, then turned back to the battlefield. Xu Chuo had already leveled up, putting on gloves to peel shrimp for Xiang Yiye.
Jiang Xi looked at this one, then at that one, and finally understood, whispering, “Shall I peel one for you?”
Lin Xiao: “Thanks, I’m full.” Her younger brother was good in every way, except for not having any foresight at critical moments.
Some dishes were easy to absorb flavor, and the spiciness didn’t decrease even after rinsing. Seeing Xiang Yiye’s lips coated with the one and only exclusive color number, Xu Chuo raised his thumb and wiped his lips.
Xiang Yiye dodged to the side, and Xu Chuo shamelessly chased after him, whispering something in his ear, and was lightly elbowed by Xiang Yiye.
This oblivious, self-contained stance was unbearable for Lin Xiao. She reached into the pot with her chopsticks, fishing around, loudly saying, “Where’s my cabbage? Has anyone seen it? Who gobbled it up?”
Xiang Yiye: “…”
Xu Chuo: “…Who are you calling a pig? Eat properly, no personal attacks.”
After three rounds of wine, Lin Xiao began to unleash her true nature, pouring out her woes: “I was afraid of looking fat on camera in historical dramas, so I started dieting on the set. I’ve been dieting for months, living on a breath of fresh air every day. As a result, Xinghui Film and Television Company screwed me over. They’re such jerks.”
“When I first joined the company, they said I wasn’t obedient. I don’t understand, why do I have to live like a fake person? Wouldn’t anyone like me if I wasn’t like that? Except for Sister Mingming, no one thinks highly of me. I don’t think highly of them either. I curse them to have every drama they film flop…”
At this point, she stopped talking and said to Xiang Yiye, “Don’t worry, this curse doesn’t apply to you, ha…”
Jiang Xi and Xu Chuo were washing dishes in the kitchen. Xiang Yiye patted the back of Lin Xiao’s hand, saying, “Sister Xiao, it’s Xinghui Film and Television Company that can’t handle you. In the future, many people will like you. Your authenticity will touch them.”
He was just truthfully repeating Lin Xiao’s life trajectory. Lin Xiao might stagnate for these few months, but after leaving Xinghui Film and Television Company, in addition to broadening her acting path, her public image would also improve. Later, because of that straightforward, real-person feel, she would gain countless fans in several variety shows.
Lin Xiao was completely unaware of this, hugging Xiang Yiye’s arm and starting to cry: “Xiaoye, my Xiaoye, how are you so good? Helping me keep the role and comforting me… I can’t figure it out, how did that kid Xu Chuo get so lucky? Don’t stop me, I’m going to bury him…”
Xiang Yiye: “…”