The mountain road was rough and winding. It took the crew all morning to make the climb, and everyone was tired and hungry by the time they reached the inn.
The temperature was low at that altitude, and the spring chill had yet to fade. The crew shivered in the cold, but they still had to brave the biting wind to set up the props on location.
Xu Chun sat to one side, his jacket zipped up high to keep the cold wind off his neck, and watched the crew in a daze.
It was their first day, and the actors, like the crew, needed to adjust to the environment. Most of the time would be spent setting up props. After all, it was already noon, and by the time they finished, it would be almost evening.
"Brother Chun, are you cold?" Xie Jianyuan walked over and offered him the hot water bottle in his hand.
"Thanks." Xu Chun took it and felt much warmer.
"Are the clothes you brought thick enough?" Xie Jianyuan asked.
The question caught Xu Chun slightly off guard. He hesitated awkwardly for a moment, then chose his words carefully. "Maybe... not that thick."
Seeing his regretful expression, Xie Jianyuan couldn't help laughing. "It's okay. I'll lend you some of mine."
Xu Chun breathed a sigh of relief, and his smile grew a little more sincere. "Thank you." Otherwise, he really would have frozen to death.
Though the inn looked old on the outside, it was clean and tidy inside. The bedrooms had everything they needed, from bathrooms and beds to desks. The accommodations weren't as good as those at the film studio, but Xu Chun wasn't picky.
The production had booked the entire inn, with the actors on one floor and the crew on another.
After greeting the crew, Xu Chun returned to his room. Xie Jianyuan was right next door. The soundproofing was poor, but fortunately, Xie Jianyuan was quiet and didn't disturb him.
The temperature dropped to its lowest that night. Xu Chun took a hot shower and finally warmed up a little, but the weather in the south was damp and cold, and the bed was icy.
Xu Chun put up with it for a while, but he only felt colder and colder. At last, unable to stand it, he decided to go next door and ask Xie Jianyuan if he had another hot water bottle.
After putting on his slippers, Xu Chun opened the door and looked down the hallway for a while. Some crew members were still moving about. It was past eleven, and he didn't know if Xie Jianyuan had gone to bed.
After he knocked, a long while passed without a sound from the room. Just as Xu Chun was about to head back, the door suddenly opened.
Xie Jianyuan stood behind the door. When he saw who it was, he paused in surprise, then raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Brother Chun, what is it?"
Though it was a little hard to ask, Xu Chun steeled himself and said, "I wanted to get a hot water bottle from you."
"Come in." Xie Jianyuan stepped aside to let him in.
After Xu Chun entered the bedroom, Xie Jianyuan turned to look for the hot water bottle. Just as Xu Chun was growing bored waiting,
The light suddenly flickered with a sputter, then began flashing on and off.
No way.
Xu Chun looked at the light overhead and sighed helplessly to himself. Something this unlucky had happened on the very first day.
With a sputter, the light went out, plunging the room into complete darkness.
"Brother Chun, I found it. Come over here," Xie Jianyuan suddenly said, his voice inexplicably low and husky.
Though Xu Chun was a little puzzled, he was asking for a favor and couldn't very well say much. He could only feel his way toward him, one step at a time.
In the moonlight from the window, Xie Jianyuan watched quietly as Xu Chun stumbled toward him.
When Xu Chun slowly reached his side, Xie Jianyuan suddenly seized his arm, shifted slightly, and turned to pin him down on the bed.
Before Xu Chun could react, he felt a slight coolness against his lips. He froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.
Xu Chun's mind was in a fog. Only the cool, warm sensation against his lips was perfectly clear.
Shouts from the crew outside abruptly dragged Xu Chun back to reality, and he pushed Xie Jianyuan away with a sweeping motion.
Fortunately, it was dark all around them, so his burning red cheeks and awkward, helpless expression couldn't be seen.
"Sorry." Xie Jianyuan sounded a little flustered. "I slipped."
Xu Chun took a few steps back and looked at him suspiciously.
Just then, the light in the room suddenly came back on, and a crew member knocked on the door outside.
Xu Chun glanced at Xie Jianyuan, then went to open the door.
The crew member was slightly taken aback to see Xu Chun there too, then said, "The inn's wiring is old and malfunctioned, but the owner has already fixed it. We're really sorry."
Xu Chun smiled gently and said, "It's fine."
As he spoke with the crew member, he didn't notice Xie Jianyuan behind him seemingly toss a drink bottle from the table onto the floor in an offhand manner.
Only the crew member noticed. He watched Xie Jianyuan's actions in puzzlement and was about to ask when Xie Jianyuan raised an index finger to signal him to be quiet. His dark, narrow eyes were icy, with a hint of threat and warning.
It was the first time the crew member had seen that expression on Xie Jianyuan's face. Too frightened to say much more to Xu Chun, he quickly turned and left.
"Brother Chun." Xie Jianyuan looked at a loss. He kicked the empty bottle at his feet as if venting his frustration. "I really didn't mean to. I accidentally slipped and grabbed onto you for support, but I didn't expect to pull you down with me, and then..."
At the mention of it, Xu Chun's old face reddened again. "Stop talking."
Xie Jianyuan obediently fell silent at once, his dark eyes fixed on him without blinking.
Xu Chun frowned at Xie Jianyuan. It was the first time he had seen a flustered, awkward expression on Xie Jianyuan's face, and he couldn't help wavering a little.
Seeing his expression soften, Xie Jianyuan pursed his lips, and his voice inexplicably grew quieter. "Brother Chun, don't be angry. I really was wrong."
Xu Chun's head ached a little. Was he acting coquettishly with him?
"I understand." Xu Chun sighed helplessly and consoled himself. He had only been kissed. If he made such a fuss over this, what would he do when he had a kissing scene? Besides, Xie Jianyuan hadn't done it on purpose. Was there any need for him to get angry with someone younger?