Acting Together

Si You's explanation coincided with that of some netizens. "I came to borrow a computer."

It made perfect sense, considering he had just finished his livestream.

But honestly... that wasn't important.

The important thing was that he and Jiang Tingxu were in the same room. That alone was material.

The production team kept up with current trends. Plenty of people online were secretly shipping the "Jiang-Si" CP now. The cameraman heard the director's instructions through his earpiece, cleared his throat, and asked, "Movie Emperor Jiang, are you willing to lend your computer to Si You because you think your partner is pretty good?"

Si You watched coldly from the side, thinking, Dig. Dig deeper. Are you afraid I won't die fast enough?

Jiang Tingxu shot him a glance.

The cameraman felt a little intimidated.

"Si You and I are a CP," Jiang Tingxu said. "I don't think that question means much."

[Another day of the production team being inhuman. Are they targeting Si You, or dragging our Movie Emperor into this?]

[Jiang Tingxu won't put up with that.]

The production team spoke up again, and the cameraman braced himself. "It seems Movie Emperor Jiang is very satisfied with Si You."

Forcing them together, huh? Ginger Powder fans picked up their keyboards...

"Yes, I'm very satisfied," Jiang Tingxu said.

The Ginger Powder fans sat back down again.

After countless fan wars and rounds of selection, the Ginger Powder fans who remained had become a unique breed in the entertainment industry. They never interfered with any of Jiang Tingxu's choices. Ask them why, and the answer was unconditional support. Jiang Tingxu was responsible toward himself, his team, and even his fans. Much of the mud flung at him had later been proven groundless with time. As a result, in an industry so filthy that truth and falsehood were hard to distinguish, as long as Jiang Tingxu nodded, the Ginger Powder fans would simply follow him.

"Si You has performed very well this season. I believe that's obvious to everyone," Jiang Tingxu said flatly. "There's no need to drag us into certain controversial topics." He was tall and lean, his eyes lowered when he looked at the cameraman, creating an invisible sense of pressure. "Any other questions?"

The production team told them to wrap up. If they kept pushing, the Ginger Powder fans might start sending their regards to the show.

With Jiang Tingxu shielding him, Si You let out a breath of relief. To show his gratitude, he sat at the dining table and peeled half a sweet potato for Jiang Tingxu.

Si You had noticed long ago that Jiang Tingxu liked sweet potatoes but hated their skins. Since boiled sweet potatoes were difficult to peel, Jiang Tingxu was usually too lazy to bother and would simply stare at them.

Si You had plenty of patience. By the time Jiang Tingxu came downstairs after drying his hair, he had just finished peeling it. He placed it directly on the empty plate in front of the man. "Eat."

[??? Wait! Song Yalin and Shao Ancheng next door haven't even gotten to this point. What are you two doing?!]

Jiang Tingxu glanced over. Si You's fingers were long and clean, and he was leisurely wiping them with a tissue. Jiang Tingxu generally disliked anyone else touching food that went into his mouth, but this half of a sweet potato had been peeled so exquisitely that there wasn't a single dent left. It was smooth and tender yellow. Jiang Tingxu picked it up and took a bite. It was fragrant and sweet.

"Brother Jiang, Brother Si You." Xue Boyu had slipped away while Jiang Tingxu was answering the cameraman's question. He had gone back to his room to admire what he had filmed for a while, only arriving late now.

Si You waited until Xue Boyu sat down before asking, "What were you filming us for just now?"

Xue Boyu said, "Nothing... I just thought you two looked good in the same frame."

"You're a face-con, huh?"

Xue Boyu said, "More or less."

Si You had known several hardcore face-cons in his previous life, so he understood them a little. He assumed Xue Boyu was that type and never considered that he might be shipping a CP.

It was still early after dinner, so Fei Chang suggested playing cards. Jiang Tingxu politely declined. "I have something to do. You guys have fun."

Si You stood up as well. "I'll go upstairs and make up a bed."

"Sure." Fei Chang was carefree. "Then hurry up. I'll save you a spot."

Si You answered, but the moment he and Jiang Tingxu moved, the cameraman moved too. Jiang Tingxu found it amusing. "Didn't you say you'd respect the guests' wishes inside the rooms and wouldn't film casually?"

Jiang Tingxu had always valued privacy. Hearing that, the cameraman did not follow them.

Once they reached the second floor, Si You lowered his voice. "Movie Emperor Jiang, maybe I should go back to my own room..."

"Scared?" Jiang Tingxu asked.

"No." Si You might find it troublesome, but he would not be afraid. Besides, he was the one benefiting from Jiang Tingxu in this matter. He was mainly worried about bringing him unwanted consequences.

"I'm not afraid either," Jiang Tingxu said. "Your room isn't fit to stay in right now. I asked the staff earlier, and they really can't free up another room. You can make do in mine for a few days. When the weather clears, you can move back."

Si You truly could not refuse that big bed. He answered quietly, "All right. Thank you, Movie Emperor."

Jiang Tingxu looked sideways and saw Si You's obedient, slender lashes. This person had an incredibly deceptive face, delicate and naturally likable. Before, he had used it all wrong, wearing pounds of makeup and acting affected, ruining his reputation completely. Jiang Tingxu did not know whether Si You had finally come to his senses or what, but he had undergone a complete transformation. Jiang Tingxu had never told anyone that he really liked Si You's wildness during livestreams, the way he feared nothing and would fight ghosts without hesitation.

Si You returned to his room and tidied up the crude sofa bed. Then he gathered a few clean clothes. When he opened the door, he warily scanned the hallway, only knocking on Jiang Tingxu's door after confirming no one was there.

"Come in." Jiang Tingxu had not shut it completely.

More than half the wardrobe was empty. Si You picked a corner and hung up his clothes. When he turned around, he saw Jiang Tingxu slowly scrolling through an iPad and casually asked, "What are you looking at?"

Jiang Tingxu did not hide it. "A script."

Hearing that, Si You's feet seemed rooted to the floor.

If he had been given another chance, Si You would definitely have read more scripts in his previous life. Now, let alone getting a good script, even landing an acting role was incredibly difficult.

Jiang Tingxu seemed to sense something and looked up at him. "What's wrong?"

Si You knew it was rude to say this, but he could not hold it in. "Can I... take a look?"

Jiang Tingxu was somewhat surprised.

Si You hurriedly said, "It's fine! I was just asking."

Jiang Tingxu thought for a moment and held the iPad out toward him. "You can, but you have to keep the contents confidential."

Every concession Jiang Tingxu gave was also a silent test.

Si You accepted it as if he had received a treasure.

The expression on his face could not have been faked. It gave Jiang Tingxu the impression that Si You actually loved acting. Yet Si You had only filmed one idol drama when he first became popular, playing a gentle second male lead. Out of curiosity, Jiang Tingxu had clicked on it, then backed out in less than three seconds. The lines were terrible, the expressions were terrible, and the acting was even worse.

So this kind of emotion on Si You was practically "unscientific."

After roughly flipping through three pages, Si You began to understand.

It was set in ancient times, and he was reading a scene between the male lead and the fourth male character.

The male lead was Lu Tu, Junior Tutor to the current emperor. He had placed first in all three levels of the imperial examinations and was one of Qiyun Kingdom's greatest prodigies in the past century. But the kingdom's fate had turned ill, decline had already set in, the small surrounding nations were stirring, and internal nobles were colluding with one another. After a flood disaster left the people in misery, Lu Tu exhausted himself scheming and maneuvering through the crisis, restoring an age of peace.

It leaned toward serious historical drama, its weighty sense of history rushing toward him.

The script was also called Journey.

The fourth male character was Qiyun Kingdom's Sixth Prince. His birth mother had been a lowly palace maid who died of massive hemorrhaging on the day she gave birth. The Sixth Prince was immediately taken in by Noble Consort Lan, but she already had a son of her own and paid him little attention. Because of his birth mother's death, she believed his fate brought harm to relatives and never grew close to him. The Sixth Prince struggled to grow up amid the bullying of palace servants and the discrimination of the other princes. At fourteen, he was rescued by Junior Tutor Lu Tu on a snowy day after the Crown Prince deliberately made things difficult for him.

From then on, the Sixth Prince held the Junior Tutor in the highest respect. He also tasted the allure of power and later joined the battle for the throne, straying farther and farther down a crooked path. The two went from being teacher and friend to cutting ties, drawing swords against each other.

It was clear that the screenwriter had skill. The logic between every line could withstand scrutiny, and the writing was bold as well.

"If I'm not mistaken..." Si You said softly, "the Sixth Prince is in love with the Junior Tutor, isn't he?"

Jiang Tingxu raised his brows slightly. He had not expected Si You to notice that. "Mm."

"You must be playing the male lead," Si You said. "Has the fourth male role been cast?"

"No." Jiang Tingxu shook his head. "The script was just finished. The director is still selecting."

Si You pressed his lips together as a bold idea surfaced in his mind.

"Movie Emperor," Si You asked, "can I run lines with you?"

Jiang Tingxu said, "...Which scene?"

Si You pointed at one at random. "This one."

Jiang Tingxu took the iPad back. After seeing it clearly, his expression became unreadable. "Are you sure?"

Si You did not answer.

Jiang Tingxu thought he was merely fooling around, but the next second, a low, amused voice sounded in the room. "The Junior Tutor wants to uncover the truth behind Lin City's flood, wants to know why a transport commissioner suddenly died, and wants even more to know where all the disaster relief silver went. In truth, you and I both know that there are very few people capable of accomplishing such a thing beneath the eyes of imperial power. Shall I help the Junior Tutor?"

The visitor's tone was frivolous, carrying a hint of feigned ease, but the tension and unease hidden beneath it did not escape Lu Tu's notice.

The lines were clear, and Si You's grasp of the emotions between each word immediately stirred Jiang Tingxu's nerves.

His gaze darkened again and again before finally settling into tranquil gentleness.

Lu Tu possessed a grand vision, extraordinary intelligence, and the character of a gentleman.

Jiang Tingxu only needed to immerse himself slightly to embody that aura perfectly.

"Does the Sixth Prince know what he is saying?"

"Of course." The Sixth Prince, Yun Si, smiled faintly. Though his birth mother had been lowborn, she had received a single night of favor from the emperor, and her beauty had been anything but ordinary. Yun Si had inherited ninety-nine percent of it. The reason the Crown Prince bullied and humiliated him was because he wanted to see Yun Si's face glisten with tears.

As the two immersed themselves, the surroundings gradually changed. It was deep at night, in a study, with candlelight flickering and making Yun Si's beauty appear almost inhuman.

Lu Tu said softly, "What does the Sixth Prince want?"

"To be honest, I'm investigating the truth behind my birth mother's death. And for that, I need a small piece of leverage against Noble Consort Ning's elder brother."

The moment Lu Tu heard this, he knew there was more to what had happened all those years ago. But... he sighed. The currents of the court were treacherous. Noble Consort Ning had a son and a daughter, and the emperor's favor was at its height. Her maternal family was deeply entangled with the three great noble houses. Yun Si had no leverage at all. Once he became involved, his chances of survival would likely be slim.

"Forget it," Lu Tu said. "It's late. This official will have someone escort—"

He suddenly fell silent.

Si You made a motion as if loosening his clothes and took off his outer robe. His gaze was focused, yet seemed steeped in mist. Invisible threads coiled around one's neck, as if something damp and sticky had spread through the air.

Yun Si truly had no support, but he had known since childhood that this face of his invited both affection and jealousy. That counted as leverage too, did it not?

Everyone liked him. What about Lu Tu? Did he like him?

With that thought, Yun Si pressed his lips together and smiled softly. He had possessed few things in his life, but if it was for Lu Tu...

"Sixth Prince." Lu Tu picked up the fallen outer robe from the floor and draped it over Yun Si's shoulders again. "This official has taught you that only by loving oneself first can one earn the respect of others and find peace of heart and soul. You needn't do this. This is not leverage."

All the ambiguity shattered in an instant. Yun Si's face finally revealed a trace of embarrassment and humiliation, and even his voice trembled unconsciously. "You think I'm lowly too, don't you?"

Childish, Lu Tu thought. He gently hugged Yun Si and sighed. "This official has never thought that."

Lu Tu was a gentleman beneath the pines, unwavering in temperament, with a heart of jade endlessly polished.

I am the vile one, Yun Si thought.

The scene ended there, but the two of them remained in their embrace, still immersed in the emotion and not separating.

"Brother Jiang!" Xue Boyu saw that the door was not closed. A new task had appeared, and he was a little excited, so he quickly pushed the door open.

Si You jolted awake as if from a dream!

Xue Boyu: "..."

Uh...

Mm...

Hehe!

Xue Boyu suppressed the corners of his mouth and asked softly, "What are you two doing?"

Si You: "..."

Jiang Tingxu: "..."