After Bankruptcy, I Became the Film Emperor's First Love Stand-in - Chapter 4

Luo Ying woke up the next day with a flushed face. The dream from last night felt so vivid that he began to wonder if he was just too eager to sleep with Lu Rang.

The thought startled him. How had he become so desperate?

Lu Rang had prepared breakfast for Luo Ying. During the meal, Luo Ying couldn’t bring himself to look directly at Lu Rang. Every time he recalled the fantasies he’d entertained about him the night before, his ears, which had just cooled down, would flush red again.

After breakfast, an international call came through.

The caller ID showed “Pei Mingyang,” Luo Ying’s childhood friend who was two years younger. In recent years, Pei Mingyang had been sent overseas by his family for work.

Luo Ying answered the phone and said, “Hey, Pei Mingyang.”

Upon hearing the name, Lu Rang glanced up at him, then propped his chin on his hand, listening with keen interest.

“What’s going on with your family? Did you go bankrupt?”

Pei Mingyang’s voice was low and lazy, as if he were just here for gossip.

Luo Ying rolled his eyes. “You already know the answer. If you’re just here to laugh at me, let’s not bother. I’m hanging up.”

“Wait,” Pei Mingyang on the other end seemed to sit up straighter, his tone turning serious. “What exactly happened?”

“I don’t know. I can’t reach my dad anymore. The house and car have been seized by the bank, and I’m left with over a billion in debt.”

“So, what are you going to do now? Where are you staying?”

“Right now…”

Before Luo Ying could finish, Lu Rang stood up and walked behind him. He leaned down, close to Luo Ying’s phone, wrapped one arm around Luo Ying’s shoulder, and took the phone with his other hand.

Lu Rang’s tone was unfriendly, his voice cold. “Don’t worry. He’s staying very comfortably at my place.”

Pei Mingyang sensed the hostility and asked sternly, “Who are you?”

Lu Rang replied casually, “Lu Rang.”

After that, Pei Mingyang on the other end fell silent for a while. Before Pei Mingyang could erupt in anger, Lu Rang decisively hung up the phone.

“Why are you still holding a grudge against him?”

Luo Ying blinked innocently, looking at Lu Rang.

Lu Rang silenced the phone and flipped it face down on the table. He lifted Luo Ying’s chin, his presence overwhelming, his tone tinged with jealousy. “You know I’ve never liked him.”

Luo Ying pursed his lips. Ever since he introduced Lu Rang to Pei Mingyang back in high school, the two had inexplicably developed a rivalry.

Although Pei Mingyang and Lu Rang had little interaction, Pei Mingyang had said plenty of negative things about Lu Rang in front of Luo Ying, like “Lu Rang isn’t a good person. He’s deliberately getting close to you, trying to win you over,” and so on.

Somehow, Lu Rang had found out about this. Later, whenever Pei Mingyang invited Luo Ying out, Lu Rang would insist on tagging along. The two would bicker back and forth, and even now, Lu Rang still held a grudge.

Luo Ying concluded, “I think both of you are pretty petty.”

Lu Rang smiled and, for the first time, leaned in to kiss the corner of Luo Ying’s mouth. “I’m heading to the film set today. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“The film set? Can I come along?”

Luo Ying wanted to observe the filming process to decide whether to discuss investing in the entertainment industry with Xie Yunyu.

After all, aside from investments, the 50 million he’d just received wasn’t of much use.

Lu Rang was surprised that Luo Ying wanted to accompany him to the set, but bringing one more person wasn’t a problem. “Sure. I’ll have my assistant come pick us up.”

When assistant Xia Xi arrived to pick them up, he was stunned for a moment upon seeing Luo Ying trailing behind Lu Rang.

Luo Ying pointed to himself, then poked Lu Rang, avoiding specifics as he said, “I’m his friend, just tagging along to see what a film set looks like.”

Having worked with Lu Rang for so many years, Xia Xi naturally understood their relationship: “Hello, hello, I’ve heard Brother Lu mention you before. I’m his assistant, Xia Xi.”

Luo Ying was sensitive to Xia Xi’s words: “Has Lu Rang talked about me with you before?” Hadn’t they not seen each other for years?

A flicker of hesitation passed through Xia Xi’s eyes: “Oh, I think I saw a photo… your graduation photo.” He smiled and urged, “Let’s get in the car quickly. I’ll put your luggage in the back.”

Luo Ying narrowed his eyes, feeling something was off. A hand reached out from inside the car, and he was pulled in by Lu Rang, who was already seated.

The film Lu Rang had taken on this time was a period drama, shot at a film studio in the suburbs of Haidu. The drive took two hours, and Luo Ying even dozed off in the car, stepping out with unsteady feet.

“Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Lu Rang naturally wrapped an arm around Luo Ying’s waist, leaning close to his ear with an ambiguous smile: “I heard you talking in your sleep last night.”

Last night. Sleep-talking.

Luo Ying’s face flushed at the thought of the intimate scenes from his dream.

He feigned composure: “What did I say in my sleep?”

Lu Rang’s breath brushed against his ear, his voice seductive and charming: “I forgot too.”

Luo Ying shot him a glance, his elegant face falling, wishing he could strangle the version of himself that had that erotic dream last night.

Guided by the set assistant, Lu Rang entered the makeup room, with Luo Ying following behind. Before even stepping inside, he heard a cheerful male voice.

“Hey, why so late? Watch out for the paparazzi outside accusing you of putting on airs.”

As soon as Luo Ying entered, he saw a pair of long legs casually propped up on the coffee table. The man wore a platinum-colored period costume, adorned with several gold and silver accessories, sitting there in all his glittering splendor.

The man turned his face, his features delicate and refined, his makeup cool and elegant. His beautiful, fox-like eyes curved as if always accompanied by a bewitching smile.

“Who’s this? A new assistant? Quite good-looking.”

Luo Ying thought to himself, this guy’s mouth was a bit annoying.

Lu Rang gave the man a cool glance, pulling Luo Ying to sit beside him, and said, “My boyfriend.”

Then, Lu Rang held Luo Ying’s hand, as if deliberately declaring their relationship.

Luo Ying looked at their clasped hands. What was he trying to pull?

Wasn’t the entertainment industry supposed to keep relationships tightly under wraps?

Not only was their relationship one of patronage, but his father’s negative influence had also trended on social media for two days.

Whichever of the two got exposed, wouldn’t it invite criticism?

Ultimately, Luo Ying himself didn’t want anyone digging up the patronage arrangement. Putting on the substitute act in front of Lu Rang was one thing, but he didn’t want the whole country to know.

Just as Luo Ying tried to pull his hand back, he gave up under Lu Rang’s intense gaze.

“Oh, what a shame. He’s exactly my type.”

“I’m Ye Xirong. What’s your name?”

Luo Ying rarely had to introduce himself outside—who in Haidu’s elite circles didn’t know him? Ye Xirong’s question caught him off guard.

He found self-introductions bothersome and simply stated his name.

A crew member called Ye Xirong away to review the script, while Xia Xi went to buy coffee for Lu Rang. The room was left with only Lu Rang, Luo Ying, and a silent makeup artist.

Lu Rang had few scenes in this drama, preferring a more natural on-screen presence. After the makeup artist finished his styling with a simple touch-up, she left, leaving the two of them alone, staring at each other.

Luo Ying hadn’t come here to watch Lu Rang work. From the moment he entered the film studio to now, he had observed many things. On the way, he even ran into the investor of this film, who was rumored to have poured nine hundred million into this big production.

Nine hundred million…

Luo Ying would need eighteen months to earn that much. It could pay off half his debts.

Why hadn’t he realized how hard it was to make money before?

Before, before, before.

It had only been three days, but Luo Ying suddenly understood what it felt like to struggle without money.

Lu Rang noticed the shifting expressions on his face and asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Luo Ying wasn’t in the mood. “Thinking about how to make money.”

Lu Rang said, “Why the hurry? Not enough? Want me to add more?”

Luo Ying slumped into the sofa. “That would be even better.”

Lu Rang lifted his chin, watching Luo Ying through the mirror. “But it depends on your performance. If I’m in a good mood, maybe I can.”

Luo Ying gritted his teeth. Hadn’t he performed well enough last night? He’d practically been naked and on the bed, and it was Lu Rang who had pretended to be all proper.

Sometimes, Lu Rang was even harder to please than he was.

Seeing Luo Ying fall silent, Lu Rang’s beautiful brows furrowed. He beckoned, coaxing, “Come here.”

Luo Ying obediently walked over to Lu Rang and let him take his hand.

Suddenly, his balance shifted forward as Lu Rang pulled him into his embrace.

He ended up straddling Lu Rang’s lap, their position intimate and embarrassing.

Outside the corridor, people came and went, and the chatter of staff occasionally drifted past the door. The makeup room wasn’t locked, and anyone could walk in and see their suggestive scene at any moment.

Luo Ying tensed up, breathing slightly faster. He pressed his hands against Lu Rang’s shoulders, trying to appear calm. “So, this is what you’re into.”

Lu Rang, unashamed, raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, placing his hands on Luo Ying’s waist. “Want to play something a little more exciting?”

Luo Ying steeled himself. “Sure, for fifty million more.”

Lu Rang readily agreed. “No problem.”

Luo Ying’s hands slowly slid down from Lu Rang’s shoulders. He shifted his knees and hips slightly forward, brushing his nose lightly against Lu Rang’s, his lips deliberately grazing the corner of Lu Rang’s mouth.

Lu Rang caressed his back, cradling his head with one hand, and chuckled softly. “Your kissing skills weren’t that great the night before last.”

Luo Ying’s gaze turned seductive as he gently nibbled Lu Rang’s lower lip, whispering softly, “Then teach me, Lu-ge?”

“Learn well.”

With that, Lu Rang’s lips covered his, his slick, soft tongue sweeping through Luo Ying’s breath. The sound of their wet kisses lingered between their thin lips, and Luo Ying felt his breath being slowly stolen away, the dormant desires within him gradually stirred.

When he could no longer breathe, Luo Ying felt his legs go weak. He tried to adjust his sitting position but was firmly pressed down by Lu Rang.

“Don’t move, Luo Ying. My self-control isn’t that great.”

Luo Ying felt the unusual sensation against Lu Rang’s body. He turned his face away, leaning tiredly against Lu Rang’s shoulder, and raised his hand, palm open. “Fifty million. Check or bank transfer?”

A hint of amusement flickered in Lu Rang’s eyes. “Kissing you is quite expensive, huh?”

“You agreed to it. We’ve already played the exciting game—no backing out now.”

Lu Rang pinched the back of his neck and set him down. “I know, I won’t go back on my word.”

Luo Ying huffed. “Next time, lock the door in advance! I don’t want anyone else seeing us.”

The set assistant knocked on the door from outside, reminding Lu Rang that it was time for him to appear on camera.

Before leaving, Lu Rang pulled Luo Ying close by the shoulder and teased in a tone only the two of them could hear, “Did you learn what I taught you just now? I’ll check tonight.”

Luo Ying froze for a moment, a blush creeping up to his ears. He glared at Lu Rang’s retreating back and muttered under his breath, “You jerk!”

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