Gao Zhizhang looked as though he had been soothed.
"Yes, I met Shi Wei. He certainly is a sharp-tongued little thing."
"Xiao Wei is very straightforward. Brother Zhizhang, please don't hold it against him."
"Ruirui, you really are so kind. Don't worry, I didn't give him a hard time."
"...R-really? That's good, then."
Xu Xirui rolled his eyes on the other end. Was I really asking you not to hold it against Shi Wei? I wanted you to give him a good scolding and take him down a peg!
"Ruirui, when can you come out for dinner with me?"
"Sorry, I'll definitely treat you to dinner once I finish filming, Brother Zhizhang."
"Great, then. I'll be waiting for your call."
Xu Xirui hung up on him.
So annoying!
Gao Zhizhang's intentions were actually obvious. He kept asking him out to dinner, then kept plying him with drinks at the table.
You old man, do you think you're worthy? Xu Xirui cursed inwardly.
"Xirui, are you ready?"
"Yes!" Hearing Zhang Zixiang call him, Xu Xirui hurriedly stood up, wearing a smile all the way over. His radiant smile made everyone who saw it feel refreshed.
Xu Xirui had always known his smile had that charm. Brimming with confidence, he promptly ran into a brick wall.
Ji Hanchuan looked calm and paid him no heed.
After what had happened last time, Xu Xirui didn't dare approach him too eagerly.
"Let's start," Zhang Zixiang called.
The unwaveringly loyal Chu Qing knelt and implored He Ming to rise up for the sake of the common people. He dropped to his knees before He Ming with a thud, his eyes red. "The emperor is foolish, the realm is in chaos. If you do not rise, General, we shall perish!"
He shouted it four times in succession, using a different emotion each time, but...
Both Zhang Zixiang and the assistant director could tell that Xu Xirui was imitating Shi Wei's audition performance.
But Xu Xirui's control over his emotions was nowhere near Shi Wei's, and his line delivery was mediocre, so the result was far less powerful.
Although slightly disappointed, Zhang Zixiang didn't call cut.
His face taut, He Ming raised his dark eyes and looked coldly at Chu Qing.
Thinking he must have performed well this time, Xu Xirui raised his head to continue his lines, only to be startled by Ji Hanchuan's terrifying gaze.
His mind went blank. Still on his knees, he shuffled backward uncontrollably, his face filled with fear.
"Cut, cut, cut!"
Zhang Zixiang frowned as he called a halt. "Hanchuan, are you acting? Why are you being so fierce? Anyone who didn't know better would think you wanted to kill him. Rein it in!"
Ji Hanchuan wasn't someone who casually overwhelmed other actors in a scene. No one knew what was wrong, but he had been icy all day, seemingly unwilling to pay much attention even to Zhang Zixiang.
Even Great God Ji had been scolded by Zhang Zixiang. The set fell silent, and no one dared make a sound.
Everyone also happened to forget about Xu Xirui, who was still sprawled on the ground.
Ji Hanchuan walked over to him and held out a hand.
Xu Xirui's heart skipped a beat. Wild with joy, he placed his hand in Ji Hanchuan's with nervous reverence.
"Thank you, Brother Hanchuan."
Ji Hanchuan hauled him up without ceremony. Staring at him, he quirked his lips and said coldly, "A poor imitation."
Xu Xirui's face turned deathly pale, and he froze on the spot.
During the retakes that followed, Xu Xirui either got his lines wrong or wore the wrong expression. A simple scene dragged on for an entire day, exhausting everyone's patience. In the end, Zhang Zixiang decided to fix it in editing and wrapped up the day's work.
Deeply embarrassed, Xu Xirui kept apologizing to everyone. They smiled on the surface, offered a few perfunctory reassurances, and went back to their work. Even Chen Feng avoided him.
Xu Xirui stood there alone in the bleak, cold wind.
It wasn't supposed to be like this...
[Host, haven't you forgotten something again?]
"What is it now?"
[It's so late. Why haven't you contacted Ji Hanchuan?]
"He told me not to cause trouble. What if he's doing something unmentionable with Xu Xirui and I interrupt?"
[...]
"I get the feeling you're looking down on me."
[They aren't doing anything unmentionable.]
"Wow, so you can see them? Hurry up and describe it to me!"
[Host! I can't see them. I'm only guessing!]
"Just kidding, just kidding." Shi Wei hurriedly picked up his phone and called Ji Hanchuan.
Good heavens, I really am such a pitiful future ex. This devoted persona is driving me insane...
"What is it?"
"Hubby, did you miss me?"
"No."
"What did you do today, hubby?"
"Filmed."
Shi Wei resisted the urge to curse. Would saying one more word kill you?
"I'd better stop bothering you, hubby. You're so tired you don't even have the energy for another word. Let's leave it at that."
"Wait."
Shi Wei, who had been gleefully preparing to hang up: ...
"What is it, hubby?"
As though he could hear Shi Wei grinding his teeth in anger, Ji Hanchuan suddenly curled his lips. "What did you do today?"
Shi Wei answered without thinking, "After leaving you, hubby, of course I was busy missing you."
"Speak like a normal person!"
"Oh, stop it. Which part wasn't normal?" After saying that, Shi Wei discovered that his arms were covered in goosebumps.
"..."
"Hubby, has Xu Xirui come to hang out with you?"
Remembering what had happened that day, Ji Hanchuan's eyes darkened. "He doesn't dare anymore."
"Huh?"
"Nothing." Ji Hanchuan suddenly remembered the thoughts he had heard from Shi Wei that day and added, "You don't need to worry."
Shi Wei sucked in a breath.
"Hubby, what exactly do you mea-"
"Read me some lines." Ji Hanchuan lay back on the soft, comfortable bed, not feeling sleepy. Without having to worry about Shi Wei knocking on his door at any moment, he actually felt somewhat unused to it.
"Huh?" This left Shi Wei baffled.
"I need some noise," Ji Hanchuan said.
Shi Wei: ...
I'm gonna murder him!
"White noise."
Shi Wei reluctantly accepted this abrupt turn of an explanation. A light bulb suddenly lit up over his head, and he wickedly opened a novel on his tablet.
"Then listen carefully, hubby." Shi Wei sneered.
"Mm."
"He stood before him, looking down at him with an arrogant expression. 'You dirtied my new sneakers. Lick them clean for me.'"
"His eyes filled with anxious tears. He bit his lip, unwilling, when suddenly his chin was lifted by him."
"He was stunned by his exquisite beauty, as though he had seen that white-clad youth from years ago..."
"He loved him, and he loved him too, but he didn't love him, yet he didn't know he loved him."
Ji Hanchuan couldn't help interrupting. "Is this a tongue twister?"
"It's a novel. I haven't finished reading."
Shi Wei continued, "His heart ached, yet he was furious that he should possess his face. He leaned in and kissed him..."
Uh...
"What comes next?"
Shi Wei hurriedly flipped through several pages.
Holy shit, they're doing that after just one kiss? How did this luxury train start rolling so suddenly!
"There's nothing next," Shi Wei firmly denied.
"He leaned in and kissed him. He tore open his clothes. His trousers burst apart..." Looking at the search results on his phone screen, Ji Hanchuan said, "Shi Wei, what do you mean by reading me this story called 'He's on Top, He's on the Bottom'?"
Shi Wei: ...
"Oh no, my phone only has ninety-eight percent battery left. Bye-bye, hubby!"
He hung up with a snap, swift and decisive.