Hands Off

Soon, even the worldly-wise Director Zhu found himself a little choked up.

Was Si You missing hands or something? Did he need someone watching him just to drink medicine?

Ignoring everyone around him, Jiang Tingxu watched Si You finish before calmly saying to Director Zhu, "Next scene."

Director Zhu: "..."

Si You's scenes were over for the day, and he could have gone home to rest. Huahua had already gotten everything ready, but Si You dragged over a stool and sat to the side to observe. The moment Jiang Tingxu went on set, he immediately sat up straight, like a thirsting student who had encountered a rare and exceptional teacher.

That was Huahua's interpretation. In reality, it was not quite so.

If Si You had been given the role of Lu Tu, he could have handled it too. Though his portrayal would have differed slightly from Jiang Tingxu's, he would certainly have polished it into something excellent. Si You watched Jiang Tingxu perform with half a mind to learn and half a mind to admire him. At least, that was how it began... Gradually, all the noise around him faded away, and Si You quickly devolved into someone obsessed with looks.

Lu Tu was peerless. With a flick of his sleeve, he embodied refined elegance like jade and integrity like bamboo. Jiang Tingxu's face had no bad angles and was especially beloved by the lighting crew. The man stood by the lake with his hands behind his back. Wind stirred ripples across the water. He gently lifted his eyes, as if the grandeur and splendor of all mountains and rivers had condensed into that single glance, striking straight at the heart with silent, majestic force.

Si You thought that Sixth Prince Yun Si could not truly be called the most beautiful man in Qiyun Kingdom.

Jiang Tingxu's expression softened as well, the sharp coldness hidden beneath his gentleness fading away. As though sensing something, he turned to look over.

Caught off guard, Si You was caught red-handed.

Si You had no idea that the admiration and certain fondness in his eyes were already painfully obvious...

Jiang Tingxu raised a brow, then walked over.

Si You came back to himself. Oh, filming was over...

Fuck! So he had been staring at him the whole time?!

Jiang Tingxu stopped before him and looked him over with teasing eyes. His "attack" had clearly sped up a little, perhaps because Si You's gaze had given him confidence. In any case, he got straight to the point and asked, "Do I look good?"

Si You rubbed the tip of his nose. "Haha..."

"I'm asking you."

Si You: "...You do."

Jiang Tingxu chuckled. "Yun Si looks good too."

Si You: "!"

Si You thought it was so unfair. I was once an actor about to achieve a grand slam too. So why can't I say things as calmly and effortlessly as Jiang Tingxu? A workaholic did not believe in fate, but at that moment, he had no choice but to anxiously admit that there really were differences between people.

"You can stay if you want. I'll treat you to dinner tonight," Jiang Tingxu said. "Together?"

Si You nodded. "Mm. Then thank you in advance, Jiang, the Movie Emperor."

Jiang Tingxu returned a faint, gentle smile.

That strange feeling came again—the noise around them stopped, and an invisible wall carved out a space just for the two of them. It was quiet, so quiet that they could hear their heartbeats growing clearer.

"Jiang Tingxu! Next scene!" Director Zhu shouted.

Si You could not stop himself from lowering his head.

Jiang Tingxu walked over to Director Zhu with no particular expression.

Director Zhu inexplicably felt a chill. "What?"

Jiang Tingxu spoke unhurriedly. "I'm considering whether to bring you along for dinner tonight."

Director Zhu: "?" You brat, I'm the director!

Jiang Tingxu looked cold and displeased, as if his interest had been spoiled. Director Zhu was so startled that he carefully thought back over what had happened. That was right—this man had only said a few words to Si You, and they had been standing one or two meters apart. It was not like someone had interrupted them kissing. Was there any need to get angry?!

Then Director Zhu put on a pained expression. What the hell am I thinking?!

"Hehe... Hehehe..." Huahua sat in the corner, watching the scene with an auntie smile on her face. Si You had no idea that she had long been one of Jiang-Si's supporters. Watching the couple's chemistry from such close range was enough to make her feel like she was ascending to heaven. Huahua desperately wanted to film it and post it in the CP forum, but professionalism stopped her. Journey had not done any promotional events when filming began, which was Director Zhu's usual style. He did not chase gimmicks. He simply hired good actors and a good crew, then released the work once he was satisfied. There would always be investors ready to support it, not to mention that Jiang Tingxu was the lead.

So Huahua did not dare leak anything, worried that any trouble would be blamed on Si You.

Si You poured himself a glass of water. Just as he was about to put down the kettle, another cup was held out to him. He turned and saw Gao Jin, immediately forcing out a polite smile as he filled it for him.

"Thank you," Gao Jin said.

Si You replied, "It's nothing."

Si You could more or less tell what Gao Jin was after. In the past, he would have simply turned and left, but his current situation did not allow it. Having the label of "acting like a big shot" slapped onto him would only hasten his death, especially since Gao Jin had previously gained a group of fans through a beautiful, powerful, tragic master character.

At first glance, Gao Jin's looks were proper but unremarkable. Yet once he put on makeup, he looked exceptionally good on camera. In particular, those sword-like brows sweeping into his temples, paired with a detached expression, made him well suited for otherworldly immortal roles. His temperament was quite good, but Si You had spent enough years in the entertainment industry to know that neither an actor's public persona nor a character's persona should be trusted. Neither had anything to do with the person's actual character.

"You really like Jiang, the Movie Emperor?" Gao Jin took a sip of water.

Si You frowned slightly. He sharply sensed a trace of contempt and disapproval in Gao Jin's tone, as if a creature living underground were chasing sunlight. Indeed, the gap between him and Jiang Tingxu was enormous right now. But since he already had the means to turn things around, Si You was confident he could rely on his strength to climb back to the peak step by step. When that time came, he and Jiang Tingxu... Wait! Si You was stunned. Why am I thinking about that?!

Si You's expression twisted.

But Gao Jin interpreted it another way.

He thought Si You had understood his implication.

So Gao Jin continued on his own, "I've known Jiang Tingxu for four or five years. This is our third production together. Of course, wherever he is, every other actor has to play a supporting role. A lot of people like Jiang Tingxu, not just fans. But he is very good at cutting off the affection and attention that follow behind him. Someone like him will never fall in love. In the future, his Lineage will arrange a well-matched woman for him. Marriage and children will be his final choice. Si You, his life is different from yours."

Si You's smile vanished as he turned to Gao Jin. "What are you trying to say?"

Gao Jin shrugged. "The entertainment industry is not easy to survive in. You may have turned some of your reputation around, but it would be too easy for you to fall back into the mud. You need support." As Gao Jin spoke, he raised a hand and patted Si You's shoulder, but did not remove it. "I can help you."

Gao Jin had joined the ranks of serious actors two years earlier, successfully transitioning his career. There was no doubt that he was extending an olive branch to Si You.

If it had been the original owner of this body, or any newcomer struggling bitterly in the entertainment industry, they might have agreed without hesitation when faced with promised benefits. This road was truly difficult to walk. Too many ordinary hearts dreamed of reaching the sky in one step. Beneath the vast gulf between strength and dreams, shortcuts became the best option. Not to mention that Gao Jin's own conditions were good as well.

Given the warped atmosphere nowadays, it could even be called fate's "favor."

But Si You's face had already gone completely cold. "Hands off."

If this had been Si You in his previous life, his fist would have already landed on the other man's face.

The smile in Gao Jin's eyes quickly disappeared as well. "Are you serious?"

Si You shoved Gao Jin's arm away, then brushed at his own shoulder as though flicking off dust. "You're thinking too much."

Gao Jin stared at Si You for a long time, then gave a cold snort and turned away.

Huahua hurried over, trembling with worry. "Si You, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Si You said lightly. There was no way he would submit to being taken advantage of. Just as those big brothers in the livestream had said, even if he left the entertainment industry, Horror Livestream alone would be enough to keep him fed. Or he could become a music teacher, a photographer, a blogger specializing in travel guides, and so on. Those were all possibilities Si You had imagined when he had been exhausted beyond measure. The reason he was still walking the path of an actor was not only because he truly loved it, but also because... Si You did not know how to begin another life.

The beliefs of "if I do something, I must do it perfectly" and "once I choose, I can never regret it" were practically engraved into his DNA. Ordinary people could not understand it. He had long been "trained" by his former Household. He could never stop.

It was like a bleak wind sweeping through his mind. The moment he recalled the past, his soul lost all color. Having died and come back to life, Si You could finally view things from the perspective of a partial outsider and understand just how bleak his former life had been.

He could not think about it. Thinking about it made him deeply unhappy.

"Jiang, the Movie Emperor!" Huahua called out.

Si You abruptly looked up.

Jiang Tingxu frowned as he looked at him. "What's wrong?"

He gave Huahua a meaningful look, and she immediately understood, making an excuse to go to the restroom.

"What did Gao Jin say to you just now?"

"It had nothing to do with him." Si You shook his head. Gao Jin was not enough to affect his mood, but Si You could not bring himself to voice the deeper things. He carried too many secrets, ones that might have to be buried in his heart for the rest of his life.

But Jiang Tingxu interpreted it another way.

Jiang Tingxu suddenly said, "Come with me."

Si You was utterly confused, but he obediently followed.

They returned to the room where they slept. Jiang Tingxu waited until Si You entered, then clicked the door shut.

Si You narrowed his eyes in confusion, unable to understand.

Then that familiar scent suddenly drew near, and Jiang Tingxu gently pulled him into an embrace.

"Even though I don't know why you're unhappy," Jiang Tingxu said warmly, "you seem to need a hug."

After a long while, Si You muttered, "No, I don't."

Though his words were stubborn, he raised his arms and hugged Jiang Tingxu back. He held on a little tighter, as though drawing courage from the other man.

"Are you under a lot of pressure?" Jiang Tingxu asked tentatively.

Si You found it difficult to speak, but he still said haltingly, "I've always... been under a lot of pressure. I don't know what to do... I can only learn more things. Keep learning."

Jiang Tingxu frowned. "To gain approval?"

"Something like that..." Si You said softly. "My family demanded it."

What kind of high expectations could anyone have had for a child whose parents had died early, who lived under someone else's roof, in a primitive and impoverished environment?

Panicked tremors surged through Jiang Tingxu's blood, freezing his lungs and organs in an instant. Yet shivers and exhilaration rose from his heart, rushing suddenly through all four limbs. If he had merely suspected before, then now certain facts lay right before him. Jiang Tingxu was rational and restrained, but in places no one knew, he was also an idealist. He did everything he could to keep his life in his own hands. As a child, Jiang Tingxu had dreamed of becoming an astronaut and exploring the secrets of the universe. Perhaps he might discover new life. But it turned out he did not need to become an astronaut to witness life being reborn.

All things came back to life, and he caught the fresh scent of flowers.

Jiang Tingxu tightened his embrace and asked Si You, "Do you feel better like this?"

Si You's voice remained muffled. The little swirl of hair atop his head looked obedient and well-behaved, bobbing up and down with its owner's movements. "Mm."

They embraced in their little world, while outside, Director Zhu searched everywhere and could not find them.