After the Pretty Cannon Fodder Was Coveted by the Best Actor - Chapter 8

A line was sewn through the top of the doll Xian Sui had given to his fans, allowing it to be pinned onto his regular bag as a pendant. He took it everywhere he went, even taking to Weibo specifically to thank the fans, and the rare thing was that Gu Fanzhou had actually liked the post.

Gu Fanzhou was temporarily absent from the set in the evening, so Xian Sui was filming the scenes between Jian Shuyu and Old Master Fu. The actor portraying Old Master Fu noticed the doll on his bag and praised it as unique, causing Xian Sui’s mood to instantly improve quite a bit. “Has Teacher Meng also received gifts from fans before?”

Meng Qiao couldn’t help chuckling softly. “Not many people probably know of me nowadays. I received quite a few when I first entered the industry, but these days, you young actors are still the ones who are popular.”

“How could that be? I see everyone in the crew treating you with a lot of respect, Teacher.” Xian Sui had searched online and found that Meng Qiao had participated in numerous film roles, making him truly a well-reputed veteran in the industry.

“It is just everyone giving me face. As for fan matters, I do not worry too much about them; I still prefer to focus on shining in the industry and playing my own roles well. If there is anything I can teach a young person like you, that would be for the best.” The affectionate gaze of an elder fell upon Xian Sui as Meng Qiao lightly patted the other’s shoulder, as if offering encouragement. “I can tell you are good material. If this film can be released domestically, you ought to make a name for yourself.”

“Really? Thank you, Teacher Meng. I’m only improving thanks to your guidance.” Xian Sui clearly hadn’t expected Meng Qiao to hold such a high opinion of him, and upon hearing it, he doubted whether his ears were malfunctioning, freezing up and almost forgetting to speak. He seized the opportunity to consult Meng Qiao on numerous questions regarding the script, talking so much that even he felt embarrassed. At the end, he proposed treating Meng Qiao to a meal, asking what kind of food the older actor liked so he could reserve a table right away.

Meng Qiao stated that he wasn’t picky about food and didn’t mind what they ate as long as Xian Sui had the heart for it.

Even so, Xian Sui naturally couldn’t bring himself to choose too shabby a restaurant, so after much deliberation, he had his assistant help book an upscale restaurant nearby. The production crew had prepaid a portion of his paycheck, so this didn’t pose a financial hardship for Xian Sui at present.

While his assistant was busy making phone calls to contact the restaurant managers he knew, Xian Sui had already begun filming. Jian Shuyu had an appointment with Fu Minglou, yet he waited deep into the night at the Night Capital with most of the guests having already dispersed, and still there was no sign of Fu Minglou.

Jian Shuyu was already absent-minded, idly spinning an empty wine glass on the tabletop. Before it had completed half a rotation, someone abruptly sat down across the round table. Expecting Fu Minglou, his heart initially filled with joy, but upon raising his head, he met the gaze of Old Master Fu instead. “Sir, what brings you here with such high spirits?”

“When I come, I certainly do not need to ask your permission.” Old Master Fu wore an air of unangered authority, looking nothing like someone who came to the Night Capital seeking merrymaking. Jian Shuyu had no choice but to be on guard, ingratiatingly pouring wine into the empty cup before Old Master Fu. “Since Old Master Fu has come, Shuyu naturally welcomes you at any time.”

“Is that so? I thought you only welcomed Minglou nowadays,” Old Master Fu said with a humorless smile. “That unfilial son of mine is already twenty-five this year, yet he still runs around dance halls like an ignorant child; as his father, I naturally have to discipline him.”

Jian Shuyu’s movements paused imperceptibly, but he quickly forced a natural expression as he draped his arm around Old Master Fu’s waist. “The young master is still young, so being attracted to external things is inevitable. Punishing him a little for a small mistake is good for helping him remember the lesson.”

“Is that so?” Old Master Fu pulled Jian Shuyu into his embrace, his lips nearly pressing against Jian Shuyu’s ear. “Yet for Minglou to get so close to another man, he truly ought to receive some schooling.”

Jian Shuyu almost failed to steady the wine glass in his hand. “Old Master Fu.”

“What, you do not like hearing it?” Old Master Fu chuckled, as if what he had just said were merely casual words. “If you do not wish to hear it, then tonight, accompany me in finishing this bottle of wine.”

“Then Shuyu shall drink this cup first.” Without a second word, Jian Shuyu poured wine into his own cup. He had just consumed half of it when Old Master Fu snatched the glass away, drinking the rest in a single gulp right where Jian Shuyu’s lips had touched it. “Taking a sip of your wine is quite effortless after all.”

Jian Shuyu knew Old Master Fu had subtext to his words, it was merely a reminder that as a humble dancer, anyone visiting the Night Capital with money could easily defile him, and Fu Minglou was not someone he could hope to climb up to.

Moreover, he was a man.

“Old Master Fu is an honored guest; as for these foreign liquors, you are naturally welcome to drink as many sips as you desire.” Acting as though nothing was amiss, Jian Shuyu poured wine into the glass once more.

Director Yu called cut, bringing this sequence to a close. Xian Sui confirmed the reserved restaurant location with his assistant and specifically notified Meng Qiao to attend the appointment when the time came.

Despite the considerable age gap, Xian Sui and Meng Qiao conversed quite agreeably. Meng Qiao had a rough understanding of various gossip within the industry, and beyond that, Xian Sui also sought counsel on acting techniques, even receiving patient, one-on-one advice from Meng Qiao regarding social etiquette and conduct within the circle.

Midway through, Meng Qiao received a phone call and quickly stated that he had matters requiring him to leave early. Xian Sui expressed understanding, parting with a final remark that they would schedule another time when free.

The dishes on the table were still unfinished, and thinking it wasteful, Xian Sui made a great effort to stuff the food into his mouth. Before he could even finish half the table, his peripheral vision accidentally caught sight of Gu Fanzhou emerging from the inner depths, walking slowly toward the elevator lobby.

Xian Sui initially debated whether to step forward and greet him, but noticing Gu Fanzhou lose his footing the next second and forced to grab the wall to keep his balance, he abandoned the food entirely and rushed to the other man’s side. “Brother Gu, are you feeling unwell? Shall I take you to the hospital?”

Such heavy alcohol fumes. The moment Xian Sui stopped beside him, this thought flashed through his mind first.

“Pay me no mind.” Gu Fanzhou straightened his body and stepped into the elevator, feigning normalcy.

Xian Sui hurriedly followed him in. “Are you drunk?”

Gu Fanzhou deliberately kept a distance from him. “Do I look like it?”

Xian Sui desperately wanted to answer yes, but a drunkard probably wouldn’t care to hear such things, so he swallowed the words back. “I’ll take you back.”

“No need.” The elevator reached the floor, and Xian Sui followed Gu Fanzhou out. The latter didn’t seem to have driven over, as he stood downstairs pulling out his phone to operate it.

Seeing that Gu Fanzhou couldn’t even make a phone call after a long while, Xian Sui couldn’t help leaning over to take a look, only to find that the phone had actually crashed.

He couldn’t help marveling, even the newest, high-end smartphones these days could run into this kind of problem?

Unable to just watch, Xian Sui snatched Gu Fanzhou’s phone to help restart it, shoving his own phone into the other man’s hands, but Gu Fanzhou coldly shoved it right back.

“Then I guess I have no choice but to drive you.” Xian Sui fished out the cheap company-issued car keys and quickly drove the car over from the parking space.

Gu Fanzhou wasn’t very cooperative at first, so Xian Sui simply forced him into the car. “Stop acting like a throwing tantrum kid, be a good boy now.”

Gu Fanzhou: “The phone call is not working.”

Xian Sui still vaguely remembered the address of Gu Fanzhou’s villa, plugged it into the navigation, and reached the destination without driving too long.

Gu Fanzhou was practically half-carried indoors by Xian Sui, who seemed to want to take him to a bedroom to rest, but lacking knowledge of the layout, he simply placed the man on the sofa first.

The hired servants had taken leave, and realizing there was no one else around to welcome them, Xian Sui wandered off on his own to locate the kitchen, managing after a short while to brew a bowl of hangover soup.

Gu Fanzhou pressed his temples, and when Xian Sui brought it to his lips, he paused before opening his mouth.

He had specifically gone to negotiate contract termination with Xie Zhuangqiu, yet because of Xian Sui, the two of them had fallen out rather visibly on the surface, with the negotiation subjected to endless harassment and obstruction by Xie Zhuangqiu.

Gu Fanzhou believed the time wasn’t right to reveal his hand yet; striking now was too wasteful, and he had to wait until Xie Zhuangqiu was at his most helpless to uproot him entirely.

With red and white liquor mixed together on the table, any normal person drinking like that would find it unbearable; that Gu Fanzhou had managed to leave the restaurant with his consciousness intact was already remarkable.

As the bowl of hangover soup slid down his throat, Gu Fanzhou felt warmth spread through his stomach.

Xian Sui had him lie flat on the sofa, but since it wasn’t long enough, the back of Gu Fanzhou’s head rested on Xian Sui’s lap while the latter applied a warm towel to his forehead.

As if the shadow of Jian Shuyu from the shoot had merged with the person before him, Gu Fanzhou lowered his eyelids, reflecting that alcohol truly impairs human judgment. “Do not let me see your face.”

“You’re closing your eyes right now anyway, so even if I wanted you to see, you couldn’t.” Xian Sui sighed helplessly.

Gu Fanzhou didn’t reply, closing his eyes as he drifted half-consciously into a dream featuring the tear mole beneath the left corner of Xian Sui’s eye, prompting him to reach out and touch it.

“Brother Gu?” Gu Fanzhou’s hand hadn’t truly touched Xian Sui; instead, he extended his palm outward, as if thirsting for something.

Gu Fanzhou withdrew the hand he had instinctively reached out toward Xian Sui. “Thank you.”

Xian Sui chuckled softly. “You finally remembered to say thank you.”

The conversation cut off there, and Gu Fanzhou drifted back to sleep at some point, waking up later to find himself resting in a third-floor bedroom.

He usually resided on the second floor, and without permission, no one was allowed to enter uninvited, so Xian Sui taking him up to the third floor made logical sense.

Prompted by some unexplainable impulse, as if knowing someone would be waiting there, Gu Fanzhou headed toward the third-floor balcony.

Much like the previous time, Xian Sui was seated by the railing flipping through his script, holding a cigarette in one hand and occasionally bringing it to his lips to exhale a few puffs of smoke.

Gu Fanzhou froze for a moment. He suddenly wanted to hold the cigarette in Xian Sui’s mouth, before pressing out the cigarette butt and kissing Xian Sui’s lips instead.

For a fleeting second, he even doubted whether his reality had been breached; no matter how he looked at it, Xian Sui carried the shadow of Jian Shuyu, even if their personalities weren’t entirely alike.

“Brother Gu.” Xian Sui instinctively stubbed out the cigarette, expressing concern over Gu Fanzhou’s physical condition.

Gu Fanzhou sat down beside Xian Sui, indicating that he was completely fine and capable of participating in today’s upcoming filming. “Are you smoking to get into character?”

“The further along the story goes, the heavier Jian Shuyu smokes.” Xian Sui confirmed Gu Fanzhou’s guess.

“He doesn’t want Fu Minglou to stop loving him, but he fears even more that Fu Minglou will love him.” Gu Fanzhou paused, the topic abruptly shifting. “The next scene is in the night alley.”

Gu Fanzhou hadn’t forgotten the incident Xian Sui encountered when he first joined the crew, perhaps motivating this choice.

“Now, shall we try kissing?”

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