Tonight, He Looked Better and Better

Song Mingzhou jolted in fright and scrambled off Duan Xun's lap, nearly scared limp.

Duan Xun burst out laughing, but when he saw Song Mingzhou grimacing from the impact, he immediately grew tense. "What's wrong? Where did you hurt yourself?"

Song Mingzhou covered his calf. "N-Nothing."

"You're still saying it's nothing when you were gasping. Let me see." Duan Xun helped Song Mingzhou sit properly, then crouched down and pulled his leg over to inspect it.

"It's really nothing. I just bumped it. I'm fine."

"It's already bruised."

Duan Xun's voice was low and full of guilt. It was all his fault; he should not have been so eager earlier.

Creak.

At that moment, the private room door opened. The director and Lin Cheng entered one after another. "What happened?"

Without changing expression or even looking up, Duan Xun replied, "He didn't sit steadily and bumped his leg. It seems to have bruised."

"..."

So?

Duan Xun impatiently called out to Lin Cheng, "Lin Cheng, go buy some medicine."

Lin Cheng had no idea what had happened. He stepped closer and glanced at Song Mingzhou's leg, but it was blocked so thoroughly that he could not see anything.

Fine.

Then he would buy it. Once told to buy something, he bought it without a word.

"Yes." Lin Cheng left.

Duan Xun remained crouched on the ground, rubbing Song Mingzhou's leg. The director was baffled, unsure whether to stand or sit, and wanted to lean over for a look at just how serious it was.

But then...

It was a faint bruise the size of a fingernail. If he had not looked carefully, he would not have noticed it at all. Stomping his feet twice while walking would have been more serious than this.

"Ahem, this..."

"Director Han, we've finished discussing business. Have you eaten enough?"

The director looked at the barely touched dishes on the table and nodded tactfully. "I'm full, I'm full. How about we head back?"

Duan Xun nodded. "Mm, let's go back."

As he spoke, he raised his head and gazed seriously into Song Mingzhou's eyes. "Can you still walk?"

Song Mingzhou: "..." His toes curled against the floor.

Embarrassed, he tried to pull his leg back and forced himself not to mind the director's inexplicable stare. "I'm fine. I can walk."

"I'll support you."

"..." There really was no need.

Song Mingzhou was on the verge of tears. Duan Xun took in every bit of his expression. He was doing it on purpose. Their relationship had probably already been exposed while they were in the car.

But Director Han had kept pretending to be clueless and had not asked, so presumably he would not spread it around either.

That was why Duan Xun could be so brazen.

Song Mingzhou did not know that. He quietly avoided Duan Xun's support, stood up, and even bounced around in place. "See? I'm perfectly fine. Teacher Duan, you don't need to worry about me. Oh, right, Director, do you two still have things to discuss? Why don't you talk? I'll leave first."

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, who knew what else would happen.

Director Han said nothing and looked at Duan Xun.

Duan Xun rubbed the tip of his nose and magnanimously said, "Then go ahead. No need to rush."

That meant he was telling him to wait outside.

Song Mingzhou understood and nodded. "Okay. Then Teacher Duan, Director, please take your time. I'll head back first."

"Okay."

After he left, the director's gaze became even more subtle. He looked at Duan Xun as though he wanted to say something but hesitated, wanting to ask but unable to bring himself to do so directly.

Duan Xun spread his hands and came clean. "Director Han, to be honest, you should have noticed, right?"

Director Han played dumb. "Huh? Noticed what?"

"..." What an old fox.

Duan Xun deliberately sighed. "You didn't notice? Then forget it. But Director Han, you have to put some effort into this script. As for investment, everything is negotiable."

"Of course, of course." Director Han tested the waters. "What do you think of Song Mingzhou, the one who just went out, for the male lead? He's in my production. Though he isn't playing the lead, his acting is exceptionally good."

Duan Xun narrowed his eyes. An old fox was indeed an old fox, pulling this move on him.

He smiled. "Sure. I think he's quite good. Let him audition."

The two went back and forth for a few rounds, and Duan Xun was about to leave when Director Han could not hold back any longer. He called after him. "Hey, I have one more question. Don't blame me for being presumptuous, but that Mingzhou... you two seem quite close?"

Finally, he had asked.

Duan Xun stopped, raised his brows, and replied with a hint of pride in his voice. "Him? We're in a relationship."

"Oh, so that's..."

"What???"

Director Han's eyes widened in shock. He had thought Song Mingzhou was some little lover Duan Xun was keeping, or just someone he was having fun with. He had not expected him to be the officially recognized partner.

Not long ago, Song Mingzhou had caused such a stir with Gu Yanting and the others. He had neither works nor popularity. If Director Han had not changed his opinion of him on set, he would have thought the same before.

But even if Song Mingzhou was a decent kid, the gap between him and Duan Xun was still far too great.

It was only natural to be surprised.

Duan Xun smiled. "So I'll have to ask you to look after him for the rest of this production. Don't let anyone bully him. It hurts me to see him suffer."

"..."

"Oh, and don't tell anyone about this. He's thin-skinned and doesn't want people to know."

"Of course. I'll keep my mouth shut. Don't worry."

"Alright, I'm leaving. See you next time."

"See you next time, see you next time." The director pressed a hand to his forehead. After getting a taste of gossip, he recalled how Gu Yanting had acted so arrogantly every time he visited the set and could not help laughing.

This was far too interesting.

After Song Mingzhou came out, he obediently went to the parking lot, found a corner, and squatted there to wait. Before long, he saw Lin Cheng coming over, and Lin Cheng even called him.

Song Mingzhou stepped out of the darkness. "Brother Lin Cheng, I'm here."

Lin Cheng hung up without much expression and opened the car door. "Mr. Song, get in. President Duan will be down shortly."

"Okay."

Song Mingzhou obediently sat in the back seat. Lin Cheng shut the door, left the keys with Song Mingzhou, then went upstairs to fetch Duan Xun.

[ Ding. A plot point has been triggered: let Director Han see that your relationship with Duan Xun is unusual, that you share an intimate relationship. ]

Song Mingzhou did not pay much attention to the mission. He felt that the director had probably already figured it out.

Sure enough.

[ Ding. Host Song Mingzhou's key plot point has been successfully repaired. Current mission progress: 30/100. ]

What was he supposed to do on set after this? There was still more than a month to go.

A few minutes later, the two fully disguised men came downstairs.

"President Duan, please."

Duan Xun got into the back seat as well, bringing a wave of warmth with him. Song Mingzhou felt as if even the air had turned hot, and he could not help softening his breathing.

"Brother..." he called out, unable to tear his gaze away.

How could Duan Xun be so handsome? No matter how he looked, it was never enough. He wanted to keep looking at him forever.

Duan Xun's ears grew a little hot under his stare.

When did this little brat become so blatant? He's staring at me way too shamelessly. Doesn't he need to consider whether this is appropriate right now?

Or could it be...

He wanted to do it in the car...

Just as he was thinking that, Song Mingzhou's faint inner voice stopped him. Fine, the other man was simply admiring his face with full concentration and had no romantic thoughts whatsoever.

Fine then.

Duan Xun pulled him into his arms. "What are you looking at?"

Song Mingzhou answered honestly, "You."

"Am I that good-looking?"

"Mm, good-looking." Very good-looking. It was not Song Mingzhou's first time seeing Duan Xun, but for some reason, tonight, the more he looked at him, the better he looked.

Why was that?

He unconsciously leaned closer. Their breaths abruptly drew near. Duan Xun's eyes widened in shock, and before he could stop him, the little brat kissed him firmly.