Pretending Not to Love You [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

After Zuo Qiu and Xiao Bojun returned from City K to City B, they immediately began intensive preparations for their debut. The day after they returned, they were pulled into a photo studio to shoot promotional photos.

Zuo Qiu usually didn’t like taking pictures, and his posture was very stiff.

During a break, Xiao Bojun asked Zuo Qiu, surprised, “You were great during the MV shoot, weren’t you? Why is even your smile awkward now?”

Zuo Qiu: “During the MV shoot, there were no specific poses required. Plus, the surrounding scenery was beautiful, so I felt good and relaxed.”

Zuo Qiu felt helpless. Back then, the photographer just asked them to walk along the river or around a few trees full of blossoms, and he felt like he was just taking a stroll. It was nothing like now, where the person opposite was meticulously demanding, right down to the angle of his head, the shape of his five fingers, and the exact spot on the stool where his leg should rest… Zuo Qiu now felt like his hands and feet weren’t his own anymore.

Xiao Bojun turned to look at Zuo Qiu’s slightly twitching jaw and laughed: “Are you too nervous?”

Zuo Qiu glanced at Xiao Bojun without saying a word. He didn’t know if the photographer had done his homework and knew Xiao Bojun had connections, but when taking photos, the photographer would say “Okay” whenever Xiao Bojun stood or sat casually. Yet, whatever Zuo Qiu did, he had to be corrected.

Xiao Bojun understood what Zuo Qiu meant and pulled him over to the computer to see the results of their session.

“See the difference yourself.”

Zuo Qiu carefully studied a few photos. Now he somewhat understood the photographer. In front of the camera, Xiao Bojun’s movements were natural, filled with confidence in every gesture, while he looked timid and restrained.

Xiao Bojun negotiated with the photographer: “How about this, let us try posing freely first, and if it’s not good, you can guide us?”

The photographer was easy-going and nodded in agreement.

Back on set, Xiao Bojun said to Zuo Qiu, “You try posing in whatever way you think is the coolest.”

Zuo Qiu thought for a moment, tilted his head, smiled at the camera, and flashed a peace sign.

Xiao Bojun almost burst out laughing, but he held it in. He walked to Zuo Qiu’s right side, placed Zuo Qiu’s right hand on his own right shoulder, rested Zuo Qiu’s chin on his left shoulder, and stood firm himself, simply extending an index finger toward the camera.

Zuo Qiu had been completely manipulated by Xiao Bojun. Now that they were so close, he didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.

“Smile naturally, pretend the camera is your lover,” Xiao Bojun gently reminded Zuo Qiu.

Zuo Qiu wanted to laugh. The camera wasn’t his lover; his lover was clearly in his arms.

“Good, good, very good! Just like that, don’t move!” The photographer breathed a sigh of relief when Zuo Qiu finally relaxed. Indeed, good-looking people look good from any angle. The most important thing is to accurately express your presence.

“Try facing each other for a few shots.” The photographer’s shutter kept clicking, giving them a simple suggestion.

The two heard the photographer’s words and turned their faces toward each other, smiling. Zuo Qiu’s smile was like warm sunshine. Although Xiao Bojun only slightly curved the corner of his mouth, his entire demeanor changed, melting like an iceberg.

“The Second Young Master looks so handsome when he smiles. Why doesn’t he smile more often?” Zhao Zhixian, standing off-camera, complained to Xiao Bolin. Every time he faced Xiao Bojun, Zhao Zhixian felt a sense of “Did I forget to pay back money I owe today?”

Xiao Bolin looked at his brother and replied, “It depends on the person.”

In front of the person he likes, he can smile 48 hours a day. For people he dislikes, he is stingy with any expression.

Zhao Zhixian looked confused: What does that mean?

…

After the day’s shoot concluded, Zhao Zhixian gave them a stack of facial masks and instructed, “It’s best to eat light meals these days, and absolutely no pimples. Run for two hours every evening, and then apply a mask…” The two were about to be exposed to the media and fans, and their faces couldn’t have any small flaws!

Xiao Bojun had been unhappy since he heard “eat light meals,” and the instruction to apply a mask was the breaking point. Just as he was about to say something, Zuo Qiu held his wrist and said to Zhao Zhixian, “Okay, Brother Zhao, we will follow the instructions.”

Nowadays, male celebrities even get plastic surgery for better on-camera appearance. Zhao Zhixian’s demands for light eating and face masks were already quite reasonable.

Zhao Zhixian noticed Xiao Bojun’s displeasure and didn’t dare to say more. He realized that with this young master around, his future work might be difficult. Fortunately, Zuo Qiu could talk some sense into Xiao Bojun, and he hoped Zuo Qiu could hold the reins of this wild horse to prevent him from running off the rails.

…

Outside the company building, Zuo Qiu said to Xiao Bojun, “Brother Zhao’s instructions are for our own good. We should just listen. There’s no need to contradict him. Besides, whether we eat meat or light meals and whether we apply masks at home is up to you anyway.”

Xiao Bojun had been troublesome since childhood, but since meeting Zuo Qiu, his words and actions were often influenced by him, both before and after he fell for him. Looking at Zuo Qiu’s expressive face, Xiao Bojun conceded. You look so pleasing to me, so everything you say is right.

After dinner, Xiao Bojun crossed his legs in the living room, watching TV while waiting for Zuo Qiu. Zuo Qiu finished cleaning the kitchen half an hour later. He went to his room, changed into sportswear, and headed to Xiao Bojun’s gym to run.

Xiao Bojun waited for Zuo Qiu for a long time but didn’t see him. When he saw Zuo Qiu heading to the gym alone, he followed him.

Xiao Bojun leaned against the door, admiring Zuo Qiu’s body. Zuo Qiu was very lean and well-proportioned, with almost no curves, except for a backside that was slightly more perky than the average man’s. That butt looked especially good to the touch. Whether awake or dreaming, Xiao Bojun felt he was about to lose control of his hands, urgently wanting to reach out, slap it hard, and feel the elasticity of that area. It must be very springy and soft!

Zuo Qiu ran on the treadmill for half an hour. Just as he was about to find an excuse to get Xiao Bojun to exercise too, he saw Xiao Bojun, shirtless, start doing push-ups on the carpet beside him. His strong deltoids and biceps surged and dipped with his movements. Zuo Qiu looked at his lean, inverted-triangle back and long legs. He was watching so intently that he nearly lost the rhythm of the treadmill. Zuo Qiu secretly swallowed, composed himself, and dared not look anymore.

…

After exercising together for two hours, applying a face mask together was no longer strange.

The two lay side-by-side on Zuo Qiu’s bed, each wearing a white sheet mask. Zuo Qiu found the feeling very unique.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit sissy for guys to put on face masks?” Xiao Bojun asked Zuo Qiu.

Zuo Qiu turned his head to look at Xiao Bojun, reached out, and pressed the sheet mask on Xiao Bojun’s face, making it cling to his skin. “No. Even with a face mask, you still look very MAN.”

Xiao Bojun turned his head: “Really?”

Zuo Qiu nodded seriously: “Really.”

Xiao Bojun relaxed. He didn’t care about anyone else’s opinion, only Zuo Qiu’s. Since Zuo Qiu said he was very MAN, then he definitely was.

…

Whether it was psychological or the mask really worked, when Xiao Bojun woke up the next day, he thought Zuo Qiu’s face looked very smooth and delicate. He reached out and pinched Zuo Qiu’s cheek as he was setting the table. “This little piece of soft tofu, can I take a bite?”

Zuo Qiu slapped Xiao Bojun’s hand away. “Stop messing around.” Zuo Qiu thought Xiao Bojun was probably too bored from not having a girlfriend lately, always touching him.

Xiao Bojun made a serious face: “I’m not messing around. I’m serious.”

Zuo Qiu glanced at him. This person loved to tease him; he’d be a fool to believe him. He turned and walked into the kitchen.

Xiao Bojun savored the smoothness on his fingertips. Why does no one believe him when he speaks the truth?

…

At ten in the morning, the doorbell rang. Zuo Qiu was about to open the door when he saw Xiao Bojun was already standing there.

Subsequently, four people pushed two large garment racks into the living room. The racks were completely covered with clothes.

Once the racks were placed in the living room, Xiao Bojun waved the four people away: “You can go now.”

After they left, Zuo Qiu asked Xiao Bojun, “Are these your new season’s clothes?” Xiao Bojun’s family was very extravagant. Every time the season changed, someone would deliver clothes to him. They used to send them to the school, but now they sent them directly to the apartment.

Xiao Bojun shook his head at the question: “No, they’re not mine. They’re ours!”

Zuo Qiu’s eyes widened. He looked at the two racks again. The clothes on both racks were identical in style, with only slight differences in size.

“Some are mine?”

Xiao Bojun folded his arms: “Mh-hmm!”

“Why do I have some? I don’t have that much money to buy them.” Each of Xiao Bojun’s clothes was expensive. The money Zuo Qiu had likely wouldn’t be enough to buy all these outfits.

“Who said you have to pay for them? These are all sponsored by the company. Both of us get a share!”

Zuo Qiu immediately felt relieved upon hearing he didn’t need to pay and happily said, “Your company is really good!” After debuting, artists’ clothing became more important. He had just been worrying about his wardrobe yesterday, and now the company was sponsoring them. Being a celebrity was great.

Xiao Bojun chuckled internally. The really good one isn’t his company, it’s him!

…

Two days later was an auspicious day. It was suitable for receiving wealth, weddings, travel, and debuts.

That day, Zhao Zhixian registered a Weibo account for the two, called “Z.X Duo,” and posted the first Weibo entry, titled “Us,” along with the song’s MV.

Simultaneously, Bailuo Entertainment’s official Weibo account liked and reposted the entry. Within half an hour, the most famous Movie King and Queen artists under Bailuo reposted the Weibo, and five major marketing accounts friendly with Bailuo directly reposted the entry. An hour later, the “Z.X Duo” landed on the hot search list.