Pretending Not to Love You [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Zuo Qiu looked at Xiao Baijun’s roguish appearance and replied: “Your imagination is better than your looks.” (A play on words: “Thinking is more beautiful than one’s appearance.”)

Xiao Baijun narrowed his eyes. He had realized that Zuo Qiu’s mouth had actually become sharper recently.

“Do you want to try whether I’m better at thinking beautifully or acting beautifully?” (A play on words: “Doing is more beautiful than one’s appearance.”)

Zuo Qiu didn’t engage, turned on his heel, and slipped away.

After Zuo Qiu left, Xiao Baijun lay on the bed, savoring the moment in his dream, when the knocking on the door and Zuo Qiu’s voice sounded again.

“Xiao Er, if your wet dream is over, get up and have breakfast.”

Hearing Zuo Qiu’s tease, Xiao Baijun made a decision in his heart—in the future, he must let Zuo Qiu know what “acting beautifully” (doing) felt like compared to “thinking beautifully” (imagining)!

…

After the two finished breakfast, Zuo Qiu stopped paying attention to the online developments and pulled Xiao Baijun to rehearse lines. Their flight to the film city in M City was tomorrow afternoon, and the drama would officially start filming on Monday, so memorizing lines was imperative.

Xiao Baijun flipped through the script, treating it like a novel, but after a few pages, he frowned, “There’s a kissing scene?”

Zuo Qiu, who was looking down at his script, was unconcerned. “Isn’t it normal for idol dramas to have kissing scenes?” Some even had explicit bed scenes. The drama they were going to film only had two kissing scenes between the main characters, which was already quite few.

Xiao Baijun stared at Zuo Qiu, “You can bring yourself to kiss someone you’re not familiar with?”

Zuo Qiu imagined it for a moment, “I think I can endure it.”

Being an actor always required some sacrifices. Zuo Qiu had long been prepared. Even the Movie Emperor Ou Sheng spent time as an extra in his early career, jumping into icy rivers in winter and wearing padded jackets in summer. Zuo Qiu was lucky enough to debut as a lead, and a kissing scene was just lip-to-lip contact.

Xiao Baijun continued to flip through the script, going over all of Zuo Qiu’s scenes. He glanced at Zuo Qiu, who was silently reciting lines. Zuo Qiu didn’t mind him kissing others, but he minded. Xiao Baijun got up and walked to the balcony to call Zhao Zhixian.

“If a kissing scene shouldn’t be acted out for real, how is that handled?”

When he received Xiao Baijun’s call, Zhao Zhixian immediately became tense. Hearing the question, he replied: “You can discuss using camera tricks (borrowed position) or a body double with the director.”

“Okay, then after we join the crew tomorrow, discuss it with the director.” He was about to hang up, but then thought of something and continued, “In the future, try to find roles for us without kissing or bed scenes. If a kissing scene is unavoidable, discuss using a body double with the director beforehand.”

Zhao Zhixian reviewed the plot of I Think I Love You. The Second Young Master, as a supporting character, didn’t even have a girlfriend, let alone a kissing scene, so this request was actually on behalf of Zuo Qiu? But Zuo Qiu had read the script before and hadn’t mentioned not wanting to film kissing scenes. So, was this the Second Young Master’s possessiveness acting up, making a secret demand? Zhao Zhixian rubbed his hands, giving himself a thumbs-up for his smart deduction.

Xiao Baijun returned to the living room after making the call. Zuo Qiu looked up at him and reminded him: “You need to memorize your lines.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t hold you back.”

In the afternoon, when Zuo Qiu woke up from his nap, Xiao Baijun informed him that they wouldn’t be cooking dinner; they were going to his house.

“My grandma said we’re joining the crew tomorrow, so she wants us to go back for a meal tonight.”

Zuo Qiu hadn’t fully woken up. After hearing this, he reacted for three seconds and then said: “Should I buy something?”

Although Zuo Qiu liked Xiao Baijun, he never truly thought they would end up together, so there was no nervousness like a “shy daughter-in-law meeting her in-laws.” The thought of bringing something was purely out of courtesy.

Xiao Baijun thought about it, “Just buy some fruit.” If he bought anything too expensive, he wouldn’t want Zuo Qiu to spend the money. If he went empty-handed, he was afraid his grandma and mother would think Zuo Qiu lacked manners. So, buying some fruit would suffice as a token gesture.

Zuo Qiu agreed. He took a shower, changed his clothes, and followed Xiao Baijun out.

The sun in late July was still scorching, even at 4 PM, like a steam basket. The two wore baseball caps and went downstairs. The family driver was already waiting.

Once in the car, Zuo Qiu said: “I’ve never asked you, why didn’t you learn to drive?” Many rich second-generation students drove to and from school, but Xiao Baijun, even though his home was in the city, stayed in the dorm every day and never drove.

Xiao Baijun recounted the incident of hitting a utility pole in high school, then his eyes darted around, “How about after you get paid for this drama, you buy a car?” Then he and Zuo Qiu could go get their driver’s licenses together, and he could drive Zuo Qiu’s car too.

Zuo Qiu didn’t think twice. “Too expensive. I’m not buying one.” A car held little practical value for him and was a major depreciating asset. He would be crazy to buy a car.

Xiao Baijun was already used to Zuo Qiu constantly talking about money. He negotiated with him, “Then we can split the cost and buy a cheap car for five or six hundred thousand. That’s fine.”

Zuo Qiu looked at Xiao Baijun. Was five or six hundred thousand “cheap”? He had never seen that much money in his life! And the key point was—

“Didn’t your family tell you not to drive? Aren’t you afraid your family will find out?”

Xiao Baijun: “Just don’t tell them.”

Who says a man with slight color blindness can’t drive? They couldn’t completely deny him just because of one minor car accident!

Men who can’t drive aren’t good men! Of course, this “driving” included various meanings.

…

Zuo Qiu received a warm welcome when he arrived at Xiao Baijun’s house, from his grandmother Yin Qiushui and mother He Can, down to the family’s pet poodle, A Xing.

“Oh, Qiuqiu is even handsomer in person than on TV. You look so good.” Yesterday, Yin Qiushui had planned to watch Come With Me to support her grandson, but unexpectedly, she became a fan of Zuo Qiu. She was currently a “grandmother fan” of Zuo Qiu.

“Grandma, you flatter me,” Zuo Qiu replied while petting the dog rubbing against his leg.

“I saw on TV that you’re very good at cooking. Who taught you? Your parents are both teachers? It’s amazing that they raised such a handsome academic ace…”

Zuo Qiu smiled and answered the grandmother’s various questions until, five minutes later, he suddenly realized that, aside from his own voice, there were no other sounds in the living room. He turned in surprise to look at Xiao Baijun, only to see Xiao Baijun glaring at his feet. Zuo Qiu followed his line of sight, looked down, and saw that the poodle that had been rubbing against him was now pressing its two front paws onto his calf, rear legs on the ground, its body humping back and forth.

Zuo Qiu: …

Xiao Baijun: I’m going to kill you!