The Great General vs. the Little Heir

Xu Chao clicked his tongue inwardly, his gaze gaining a touch of interest as he looked at Gu Chengfeng. A little dark room? This guy belonged on a crime show!

Gu Chengfeng raised an eyebrow and strode over on his long legs. "Chaochao and I have known each other for ages. We're very close, so there's no need for introductions."

For some reason, Xu Chao felt a chill coming from behind him.

He immediately declared solemnly, "I have polio and senile dementia. I honestly don't remember ever being close to you. In this life, my husband is the only person I'm closest to!"

Laughing, the director tapped him on the head with the script. "All right, all right. We all know you love your husband most, and he dotes on you most. Spare us the public displays of affection."

Xu Chao had confessed his love, sworn vows, and whispered sweet nothings right in front of Fu Sichen countless times, and had never felt embarrassed.

But hearing the director say Fu Sichen doted on him most, hearing it from someone else as though it were actually true, made Xu Chao's face burn at once. Even his throat felt a little dry.

"Ahem, Director, enough chatting. Let's get filming."

Seeing the young man's bashful expression, the director understood perfectly. "Usually your skin's so thick a bullet couldn't get through, but now you're getting shy? Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Gritting his teeth, Xu Chao called out each word distinctly. "Director. Chen!"

The director quickly waved his hands in surrender. "All right, all right, I'll stop. Come on, let me walk you two through the scene first."

Otherwise, if Xu Chao went wild and performed a live demonstration of human evolution from apes, how was he supposed to shoot his movie?

"The focus of this scene is on you, Xu Chao. The Little Heir secretly loves the Great General. His repressed love, obsession, and caution all have to show in his eyes."

"This scene foreshadows the Little Heir's descent into darkness, and it's also the turning point of the entire story. It's very important!"

Xu Chao nodded, sneaking a glance at Fu Sichen over there, and inexplicably felt a little guilty. It was only acting. It had nothing whatsoever to do with cheating, right?

"And you, Chengfeng. The Great General only loves the Little Heir as a younger brother. After realizing you've embraced the wrong person, you feel regret, confusion, and guilt. Make sure you get that right."

Gu Chengfeng had kept a dark expression, his eyes lowered. His thick black lashes cast small bluish shadows beneath his eyes, obscuring his expression and lending him an inexplicably sinister air.

Seeing no response, the director called to him again. "Chengfeng, did you understand that scene?"

Gu Chengfeng drew a deep breath and answered quietly, "Mm."

Soon, the crew members in every department were in position.

Filming officially began for the Great General versus the Little Heir's drunken mistaken embrace.

In the film, the Little Heir seemed innocent, carefree, lively, and cheerful, adored by everyone, but behind the scenes, as a concubine's son, he suffered endless prejudice.

The two had met when the Little Heir was seven. The Great General had rescued his frail, pitiful self from an icy river, and had cared for and cherished him like his own younger brother ever since.

But to him, that tenderness was a poison that ate into his bones: obsession, longing, greed, and the desire to possess it alone.

As he looked at his beloved general, who had narrowly escaped death and returned victorious, emotions surged in his heart that frightened even himself.

After several rounds of drinks, the Great General's eyes were already heavy with intoxication, and the Little Heir volunteered to take him back to his room to rest.

As he helped him onto the bed, the general suddenly cupped the Little Heir's face, his deep, magnetic voice brimming with tenderness. "I missed you so much."

In an instant, longing surged like a tide, nearly engulfing his entire heart.

So his love was not one-sided. The man he loved so deeply felt the same tenderness for him.

The Little Heir's eyes filled with wild joy.

But the next second, the Great General slowly leaned closer, his drunken eyes hazy and full of affection. "Xin'er."

All that joy turned to hatred.

His soaring, jubilant mood instantly plummeted to rock bottom, as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.

That instantaneous emotional shift had to be nailed perfectly!

Originally, the director had not been worried. Although Gu Chengfeng behaved in a wild, unrestrained manner, he was exceptionally serious and dedicated when it came to acting. He had won more best actor trophies than anyone could count, and could master any kind of character.

And although Xu Chao was a new actor without formal training, his acting fundamentals were solid, his understanding of his character was deep, and his line delivery was excellent. He was so seasoned that he seemed nothing like a newcomer.

With two such excellent actors, what did the director have to worry about?

But!

"Cut-"

"Cut again-"

"Cut, cut, cut-"

"Xu Chao, what's wrong with you? You're finally seeing the Great General after three years apart. Your eyes should hold suppressed love when you look at him, not emptiness, stiffness, and resistance!"

"And when the Great General strokes your face while drunk, why are you dodging? You should be showing disbelief and wild joy. But you? Resistance written all over your face! What the hell are you resisting?"

The scolding upset Xu Chao a little, but he was not angry. He blamed himself. He really had acted badly.

Frowning, Gu Chengfeng stepped forward. "Director, Chaochao's not quite himself today. Give him some time to adjust. Don't scold him."

Hearing that Gu Chengfeng actually dared to speak, the director's anger flared. He pointed straight at his nose and tore into him!

"You have the nerve to make excuses for Xu Chao? Don't you have a fucking clue how badly you just acted? You see the Little Heir as your younger brother, not your future wife. Rein in that look in your eyes!"

Gu Chengfeng instinctively looked at Xu Chao.

With the director suddenly exposing him, he was both worried that this might frighten Xu Chao and curious about how Xu Chao would react.

But Xu Chao did not look at him. His head was lowered as he picked at his fingers, looking dejected and frustrated.

Because of his experiences growing up, he was very afraid of causing trouble for others, but now he really was holding up the entire production.

Biting his lip, Xu Chao said sincerely, "Director, I'm sorry."

The director was so angry he wanted to throw his megaphone. He roared furiously, "What good is an apology? We still can't get this take! You two..."

Lin Zhiya could never bear to see her precious son suffer. Hearing the director scold him so harshly broke her heart.

"Director, Chaochao must be tired. Please stop scolding him and give him some time to get himself back into the right state."

The director was still furious. "Is he the only delicate one here?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he met the gloomy eyes of the man beside him. His heart thumped nervously, and all his anger evaporated, turning into a single thought: Damn it, just say you want to pamper your wife. Why scare me?

The director readily changed his tune. "Fine, fine, fine. Everyone's tired, so we'll all take ten minutes. We'll shoot again later."

With that, he left the monitor and strode away.

Xu Chao started toward Lin Zhiya, but as soon as he moved, the man beside him stopped him.

"Chaochao, don't take it to heart. Director Chen just has a bad temper. He gets anxious when we keep blowing takes. Besides, I haven't been able to get into character either, so I've dragged you down too. Let's run through the scene together and find the right feeling. We'll try to nail the next take."

Xu Chao paused, then smiled and shook his head. "No, it's actually my problem. Let me think it through some more."

Gu Chengfeng watched him leave, his gaze darkening.

Xu Chao reached Lin Zhiya's side.

Lin Zhiya quickly handed him a cup of sweet honey water. "You must be thirsty after saying your lines for so long. Have some water to soothe your throat."

Taking the water, Xu Chao felt warmth fill his heart. "Thank you, beautiful Mom."

Lin Zhiya's eyes curved at the compliment, and she smiled. "Silly darling, you're my son. There's no need to thank me. You've been working so hard acting, you must be tired. Here, Mom also brought you some little cakes and dried meat. Have a bite to tide you over."

Xu Chao shook his head. "I'm not tired, Mom. Don't worry. I'll get myself into the right state. I'll definitely get the next take."

Just then, Fu Sichen walked over as well.

The moment Xu Chao saw him, he instinctively turned his face away.

Fu Sichen asked, "Are you avoiding me?"

Xu Chao quickly turned back and forced a smile. "Of course not! I might avoid anyone else, but never my darling husband!"

A hint of amusement flickered in Fu Sichen's eyes. "Really? I thought you felt my presence on set was interfering with your performance with that actor."

His words were steeped in jealousy.

Xu Chao wanted to laugh, but he was also a little scared. Nothing else-it just made him sound like a little wife cheating right in front of her husband. What was that called, NTR?

Getting sidetracked. Stop!

Xu Chao hurried to declare his love. "Not at all, not at all! Boss, this is acting! It's the Little Heir who has a secret crush on the Great General, not me. You're the only one in my heart."

Meeting the young man's clear, innocent eyes, a sliver of light entered Fu Sichen's heart, so full of dark jealousy.

He lowered his head toward the young man's ear and spoke slowly in a low, magnetic voice. "But even knowing you're acting, I'm still very unhappy."

Having to watch Xu Chao gaze at another man with sincere love, with hazy, lingering affection, made the violent urges in his heart almost overflow.

His wonderful Chaochao only needed to stay obediently in the exquisite, splendid cage he had woven, looking only at him every day, thinking only of him, clinging only to him...

He would nurture his little rose with every precious, beautiful thing in the world.

There was no need for him to come out and expose himself to so many people's eyes. Hide him away, for him alone to see.

Xu Chao noticed the increasingly dangerous, pathological look in the man's eyes.

He felt frightened and endangered, yet his heart also sped up uncontrollably, leaving him a little flushed and fluttery.

Meanwhile, Director Chen Lixin, who had just watered nature with his inborn fire hose, returned to see this scene. He suddenly clapped his hands and cried out.

"Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly the feel!"

Everyone on set turned toward him in curiosity and skepticism. Holding up his trousers, the director ran toward them as he spoke.

"Chaochao, that feeling you just had facing your husband, wanting to love him but not daring to-that's it! Remember that feeling. When we film later, just use it when you face the Great General!"

Those words...

Hearing them, a smile slowly bloomed on Fu Sichen's cold, gloomy face, like melting snow and ice and the revival of all things.

Xu Chao, meanwhile, looked utterly bewildered. What the hell? When had he ever wanted to love Fu Sichen but not dared to?

There was only the sordid bond between a shameless simp and the object of his simping between them, not a shred of genuine affection!

Don't go talking nonsense!

Yet looking at the man's face so close to his, he felt as though a rabbit were tucked inside his chest, his heart pounding faster and faster.

Xu Chao could no longer figure out what was going on. He just felt a little annoyed, enough to dare call Fu Sichen by his full name!

"Director, Director, what nonsense are you talking about? The Great General is just a character in the movie. What does he have to do with Fu Sichen?"

Oh, wait. Maybe there could be a connection.

At that moment, Xu Chao and the director exchanged a glance, as though their minds were in sync.

The director could not help saying, "If we had him play the Great General..."

Naturally, Gu Chengfeng was the first to object to that suggestion.

He had finally gotten this opportunity to work with Xu Chao. Give it up to Fu Sichen? Not a chance!!!

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

But the director's gaze traveled back and forth between Fu Sichen and Gu Chengfeng a couple of times.

The two men had fairly similar builds, both tall and long-legged, with broad shoulders and narrow waists. As for their faces, although they did not look alike, it would be dark. Keeping the man's face hidden in shadow would only add to the atmosphere.

This idea actually seemed workable!!!

The director put the idea into action immediately, arranging for a makeup artist to style Fu Sichen.

As for whether Fu Sichen was willing to perform and how much his appearance fee would be, such trifles hardly required the director's personal attention. Sending in young comrade Xu Chao would suffice!

Thus, an hour later, regardless of Gu Chengfeng's vehement objections and furious glares, filming officially began for the Great General versus the Little Heir, with Fu Sichen showing only his body, not his face.

Looking at the imposing, incredibly handsome Great General in costume, Xu Chao gulped.

He understood the Little Heir's motivation one hundred percent.

At his most helpless and lonely, a powerful, gentle man had appeared by his side, looking after him, caring for him, and cherishing him.

H-how could he possibly not fall in love!!!

Xu Chao's heart beat faster and faster, joy almost spilling from his curved almond eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he ran toward the man he loved...

"You're back, my general!"

Fu Sichen reached out to catch the young man who threw himself into his arms. His gaze grew a little dazed, as though he had returned to the past...

Back when nothing had happened yet, and nothing had fallen apart.

Chaochao had always clung to his side, burrowing into his arms like a kitten. He would say he was keeping him company while he read, only to find a comfortable position and fall fast asleep.

He would also leap onto his back mischievously, wrap his arms around his neck, and sweetly call him Achen.

He would push him down onto a stool too, fiercely warn him not to move, then play him a Dreamlike Piano Piece.

Back then, Chaochao had always gazed at him intently with those smiling eyes, as though he were his entire world.

Noticing Fu Sichen's distraction, Xu Chao found it a little strange and could not help calling to him. "Boss, what are you thinking about?"

Fu Sichen stared at him and suddenly said, "Call me Achen."

That name...

Xu Chao's body abruptly went rigid.

He thought he understood why it had felt strange.

Fu Sichen was not looking at him, but through him at someone else—the person who would call him Achen.