Moonlight Beautifies the Beauty

Jiang Tingxu had a way of doing things that carried a certain "aesthetic" of not caring whether others lived or died. Usually, it complemented his cold and distant demeanor perfectly, but once it involved other people, it became extremely thrilling and terrifying.

Director Zhu remembered a previous collaboration. The executive producer had rushed to the set and gotten into a conflict with someone over props. In the summer heat, the executive producer argued until his throat was dry, then, face twisted with rage, grabbed a nearby cup of water and drank from it. Jiang Tingxu strolled over afterward, glanced at him, and said nothing. Just as Director Zhu was thinking that this man had quite a good temper, he saw Jiang Tingxu casually sweep his hand after the executive producer left, sending the four-figure water cup straight into the trash can.

Director Zhu had even indirectly asked Jiang Tingxu before, "Do you have germophobia?" Jiang Tingxu then rolled around in mud to complete a difficult fight scene and personally gave him the answer: I just hate it when people touch me, or my things.

But now, Jiang Tingxu took Si You's leftovers and ate every last bite.

Director Zhu and his wife had also supported each other through hardship in their twenties. Though their passion had faded into something calmer now, he knew very well that even the best variety show partners would not go this far.

It was true that Jiang Tingxu valued Si You's acting skills, and it was also true that he harbored private feelings.

For a moment, Director Zhu did not dare think any further.

Director Zhu did not involve himself in fandom matters, but he knew what kind of soul-shaking explosive news it would be if a movie emperor covered in countless honors got together with a washed-up actor riddled with scandals. A variety show was just a variety show, and fans could tell the difference. But if it became real, that was entirely different. For a moment, Director Zhu lost all interest in his late-night snack, his thoughts a mess.

He was twenty years older than Jiang Tingxu and could be considered an old friend across generations. It was rare to finally see Jiang Tingxu as something other than cold and detached outside of acting. Falling in love was a good thing, but... Director Zhu cast Si You a complicated look.

Si You: "?"

With Si You's current status, how could he possibly compare?

No, Director Zhu thought again. He had to add two bundles of long-burning firewood to Jiang Tingxu's faint spark of romance. Yun Si's role did not take up much of the story, but it was crucial. Combined with his unspoken emotions toward the protagonist Lu Tu, it became all the more silent and shocking beneath the oppression of that era. This was also the main reason Sun Wenzhu had glared at Si You after failing to get the role. As long as Yun Si was not played terribly, the role should stir up some buzz. Director Zhu now intended to turn that buzz into towering waves. He had to give Si You a push.

Director Zhu stood and patted Jiang Tingxu on the shoulder first.

Before Jiang Tingxu could ask anything, he stepped forward and patted Si You's shoulder as well, chuckling. "You brat, just wait and see."

Si You: "??"

"Come over when you're done eating!" Director Zhu called. "I'll go over the upcoming scenes with you."

Receiving Zhu Qincheng's guidance was no small thing. Si You sprang to his feet and was about to leave when Jiang Tingxu grabbed his wrist and pulled him back.

"Take your medicine," Jiang Tingxu said softly.

"Oh, okay." Si You quickly swallowed it, then followed Director Zhu without hesitation.

Jiang Tingxu rubbed his fingertips together, feeling for the first time that his charm was nothing special after all.

Huahua hugged her little backpack tightly and did not dare speak.

Jiang Tingxu took the medicine. "I'll hold onto it. You can't watch over him all the time. I'll make sure he takes it."

Huahua did not dare object. Or perhaps she was too thrilled by what she had witnessed. She nodded eagerly. "Okay!"

Sun Wenzhu had watched the entire exchange and could not say a word. When he had first joined the crew, he had been like every other artist who met Jiang Tingxu: speaking softly and trying his utmost to make a good impression. But Jiang Tingxu's sense of distance around them was sharply defined. Getting too close felt like being lightly cut by something sharp. It was Jiang Tingxu's subtle, silent expulsion of those who crossed the line. Yet that distance clearly did not exist with Si You.

Why? Sun Wenzhu wondered.

With that question tormenting his soul, he looked up and saw Si You standing beside Director Zhu, listening intently. A beam of white light shone down over his head, dust motes floating silently in the air. The young man's raven-feather lashes trembled faintly, making him look rather well-behaved. But then, Director Zhu said something, and Si You curled his lips in a smile. That stunning beauty practically rushed at them.

In fact, quite a few staff members on set were secretly watching Si You. At first, it had been because of his scandals, but now they were captivated by his looks. After all, people were visual creatures.

Jiang Tingxu unscrewed his water bottle, took a quiet sip, and swallowed slowly.

On Yun Si's journey back to the capital, danger followed close behind.

The carriage jolted, followed by the sound of a blade cutting through the air. Someone gave a muffled groan, and then cries of alarm and furious roars erupted from the silence.

This time, the Crown Prince had hired martial world assassins. Amid an ear-piercing buzzing that made one's scalp tingle, a massive Iron Umbrella spun as it swept in from ahead. Every protruding rib was cold and razor-sharp. Yun Si had departed in haste and brought fewer than fifty guards, yet wherever the Iron Umbrella passed, miserable screams and splattering blood followed! Horses shrieked as more than ten black shadows drifted down like ghosts from the treetops on both sides. The two sides immediately clashed in fierce battle!

His trusted subordinate cried out in panic, "Your Highness!"

The Iron Umbrella was practically a merciless meat-grinding instrument of execution. With brutal force, it smashed aside the guards before the carriage. As two guards flew away, their chests instantly became a bloody mess of torn flesh.

With a thunderous boom, the carriage roof exploded. Yun Si leaped into the air.

Moonlight beautified the beauty.

Yun Si wore luxurious dark purple robes, his cold, pale face expressionless. He stood firmly atop the carriage, held his sword sideways, and smoothly drew the blade. A flash of snow-white cold light passed by, clearly illuminating the boiling killing intent in Yun Si's eyes.

Countless arcs of sword light exploded through the night. No one knew what price Yun Si had paid to go from a bullied prince to a highly skilled prince. The bloodthirsty cruelty radiating from him made even the accompanying guards shudder in fear.

Yun Si swept his sword horizontally, driving back a row of assassins before thrusting out with lightning speed. The nearest man in black swayed, then lowered his head in terror. Yun Si had already pulled free his sword, and blood burst from the man's chest. It seemed to be a signal. The scarlet in Yun Si's eyes gradually spread and rose. He lunged forward, rammed one assassin aside with his shoulder, and brought his other sword down cleanly! A bloody line ran from the man's brow all the way down, followed by a spray of blood. Yun Si walked through that rain of blood, his steps light and steady. From beginning to end, his face showed no unnecessary expression, but there was a gloom that even the bright moonlight could not illuminate.

Yun Si knew very well that once he stepped onto this path, he could only kill his way to the end.

When Lu Tu saw him again, he would probably be shocked.

At that thought, a faintly eerie smile appeared on Yun Si's face, only to vanish in an instant. Amid piles of corpses and blood, he swung his sword to his heart's content.

Every strike of Yun Si's sword drew blood, and none of his moves contained even the slightest hesitation.

He leaped into the air, stepped against a tree to borrow force, and flipped. As his body spun through the air, the blazing cold light cut down every enemy around him.

The youth's figure was light and graceful, blending into the swaying shadows of bamboo. Extreme sharpness combined with extreme beauty. The remaining guards stood mute as cicadas, staring blankly at Yun Si.

Yun Si used his sword to brace himself as he rose and said flatly, "Return to the capital."

Before getting into the carriage, he pressed a hand to his chest, then sat back down on the cushion. His cool, indifferent eyes slowly closed.

"Cut!" Director Zhu's face was full of delight. "Good! One take!"

Whether Si You's movements had been perfectly standard or not, they had certainly been beautiful. Especially when he flipped through the air on the wires, his robe billowing like a brilliantly blooming flower of death. It suited Yun Si's character perfectly.

Si You lifted the curtain and came out with a bright smile. "That passed already?"

"Yes!" Even Director Zhu found it hard to believe. "You brat... you've been hiding your talents well!"

Si You smiled sheepishly. He could hardly say that he had not graduated from the beginner's village at all, but was actually an old hand, could he?

Si You slowly climbed down from the carriage, his face pale.

"Let's call it a day," Jiang Tingxu said. "It's late."

"Fine." Director Zhu nodded, then looked at Si You. "What are you doing? Going back to your place, or should I arrange a room for you?"

Si You instinctively looked at Jiang Tingxu.

Jiang Tingxu said, "Isn't there still a side room at my place? Let Si You stay there. Otherwise, with filming starting early, going back and forth would be inconvenient."

Director Zhu's mouth twitched. For the first time, he felt that Jiang Tingxu was truly calculating, his intentions utterly reprehensible!

The arrangement was perfectly reasonable. The crew supported so many people, and when they encountered low-maintenance artists, they practically wanted to beat drums and celebrate. Clearly, Jiang Tingxu was low-maintenance, and Si You was too, but... Director Zhu waved a hand, no longer wanting to bother with it.

Huahua hurriedly said, "I'll go get you some changes of clothes!"

Si You nodded. "Okay."

Jiang Tingxu looked at Si You. "Come with me."

The crew's rooms were not particularly nice. They had been temporarily constructed from PVC panels, everything glaringly white. When Jiang Tingxu stood straight, his head nearly touched the ceiling. There was one bed, a table and chairs, and a kettle in the corner.

The moment the door closed, the faint, gentle smile on Si You's face disappeared. He gasped twice, his brow furrowing slightly, then bent over. Jiang Tingxu immediately wrapped an arm around him and tried to lead Si You to the bed, but Si You's feet would not move. Without hesitation, Jiang Tingxu scooped him up in both arms and carried him over.

Si You's face rested against the pillow as he curled up slightly, then took a deep breath, both hands pressed over his chest.

Jiang Tingxu's expression turned serious. "We're going to the hospital."

Si You shook his head. "No... I just pulled something because my movements were too intense." He smiled at Jiang Tingxu. "You noticed?"

Otherwise, with Jiang Tingxu's personality, they could have filmed several more takes.

"What else?" Jiang Tingxu's face darkened. "Yun Si was barely injured during the fight, yet you made so many little movements when you got into the carriage." Unable to endure it any longer, he said, "Why didn't you say anything if you were hurting?"

"It was the last shot. I gritted my teeth and got through it." Si You had eased somewhat and slowly sat up.

Jiang Tingxu was obviously still angry and did not even offer to help him, but Si You sat with his shoulder pressed against Jiang Tingxu's, the distance between them very close.

"Director Zhu thinks highly of me, so I cherish the opportunity," Si You explained. "I know my limits."

Jiang Tingxu said nothing.

Si You sighed to himself. "You put in so much effort to get me in here. I didn't want to make you lose face either." He frowned again. "The doctor said my skin is thin. Even at the fastest, this injury will take three months to heal. I'll try my best to be careful, okay?"

Jiang Tingxu was amused by his remark about having "thin skin." He glanced sideways. Under the light, Si You's pale cheek looked almost translucent, as though it really would break at the slightest poke.

Si You frowned again.

Jiang Tingxu frowned along with him.

Jiang Tingxu had been born into a good family, with a good background and exceptional qualities of his own. It was impossible to say that he had no temper. It was simply that as his status rose, fewer people dared provoke him. Jiang Tingxu had always been the kind of person who wanted whatever he liked, ever since childhood.

Otherwise, when the old master had once threatened to throw him out of the family, Jiang Tingxu should have tucked his tail between his legs and taken over the company. But what had happened instead? He had forced his way into the entertainment industry and made a name for himself.

For example, right now, Jiang Tingxu simply did not want to see Si You suffering so badly.

The man's hand settled on the young man's back, and he clearly felt Si You's shoulder blades stiffen. Then Jiang Tingxu held his shoulder and, tentatively yet unmistakably ambiguously, pulled him a little closer. This way, Si You only needed to tip his head back slightly to rest against Jiang Tingxu's shoulder, saving him a great deal of effort. Jiang Tingxu's other hand pressed against Si You's chest, feeling the noticeably rapid heartbeat beneath his palm.

Jiang Tingxu said, "Isn't that too fast?"

Si You simply gave up struggling and closed his eyes. Almost through gritted teeth, he said, "Jiang, the Movie Emperor, in this position... is there something wrong with my heart racing?"

Jiang Tingxu stared at his profile for a moment, then smiled. "Nothing wrong with it."

Jiang Tingxu gently massaged him. He had always known Si You was thin, but only after truly gathering him into his arms did he realize just how excessively thin he was. From his fragile heart to his slender waist, he was like delicate porcelain—pale and beautiful, as if a little too much force would crush him.

A weight settled onto his shoulder. Si You had leaned against him.

It had to be said that Jiang, the Movie Emperor, could find the trick to anything once he got his hands on it. At least, Si You found his massage very comfortable, and his tightly clenched hands gradually relaxed.

"Are you treating me like a free massage therapist?" Jiang Tingxu asked softly.

Si You smiled with his eyes closed. "Thank you for your hard work, Jiang, the Movie Emperor. I'll definitely act well to repay you."

Jiang Tingxu gave a low laugh at that.