Spilling the Tea on the Movie Star Who Won't Leave Me Alone - Chapter 28

Xu Chi became the first person ever to arrive on set, so much so that Director Jiang thought he was seeing things.

The director actually stepped out of the studio to check if he was in the right place before walking back in to greet Xu Chi.

“Xiao Chi, why so early today?”

Meeting Jiang Yusen’s eyes, Xu Chi felt a bit guilty. After all, he had just rejected the director’s invitation, and he wasn’t sure if Gu Jingxuan had brought it up yet. Xu Chi felt as if he were standing exposed before Jiang Yusen.

Jiang Yusen looked him up and down but said nothing more. He walked over and patted him on the shoulder. “After you finish today’s scene, you’re wrapped. Not bad, very good.”

Jiang Yusen was famous in the industry for his strictness; he was almost never heard praising anyone. The last person he had publicly commended was Gu Jingxuan years ago. Xu Chi’s face flushed instantly as he stammered, “It’s all thanks to Director Jiang’s guidance.”

What Jiang Yusen liked most about Xu Chi was his humility and drive. His grip tightened slightly as he gave Xu Chi’s shoulder a squeeze. “Work hard, and don’t learn any bad habits from that kid Gu Jingxuan.”

Before Xu Chi could reply, Gu Jingxuan’s voice drifted in from behind them. “I hear you badmouthing me first thing in the morning, Director Jiang. You certainly have a funny way of showing your appreciation for me.”

Xu Chi stole a glance at Gu Jingxuan, pursing his lips to hide a smile.

Jiang Yusen simply disliked the roguish air Gu Jingxuan had cultivated over the last few years. He said bluntly, “I appreciated the old you. The current you? I don’t even want to look at you. Vulgar!”

Ignoring the critique, Gu Jingxuan smiled and pulled Xu Chi behind him. “Well then, how about you blow some ‘immortal breath’ on me? See if you can turn me into something refined?”

As soon as Gu Jingxuan spoke, Xu Chi was the first to laugh. Realizing it was inappropriate, he immediately covered his mouth with his hand.

Rendered speechless by Gu Jingxuan’s cheek, Jiang Yusen waved them off as if he couldn’t be bothered. “Go, go, go! Get to makeup. We’re filming the grand wedding scene today; we need to make up for the previous shots.”

Xu Chi’s makeup today required very little—just a set of white robes and a pale complexion.

With nothing to do after getting ready, he took his phone from Lin Tao and quietly opened Baidu Tieba. He had always followed the fan-fiction threads dedicated to the two of them. Every day after work, he would pull out his phone to read the stories written by his favorite authors.

“This person… why do they always write things that are so explicit?”

Inevitably, many posts were quite graphic, written as if the authors wished they could turn their stories into videos. Xu Chi’s face turned bright red; he felt embarrassed yet couldn’t stop himself from reading further.

When Lin Tao returned with warm water, he found Xu Chi covering his glowing face, wearing a smile that was far too suggestive.

“What are you doing?” Lin Tao snatched the phone from Xu Chi’s lap. “The makeup artist went to all that trouble to make you look pale, and here you are getting so excited your face is turning red. What on earth are you looking at?”

Xu Chi took the water without answering, merely holding the cup and taking small sips. As the flush faded, he thought back to what the author had written. He couldn’t help but wonder to himself: Can I really do that position? My waist doesn’t seem that flexible…

“Xu Chi, come over here!”

“Final shot, Action!”

The ending of Childhood Sweethearts featured the wedding of the male and female leads, while the second male lead played by Xu Chi departed alone into a snowstorm.

Having just read those “indecent” things on the forum, Xu Chi found it impossible to get into character. Seeing Director Jiang’s face darkening, Xu Chi took a breath and bit his lower lip hard. He didn’t know how to project a sense of desolation through his back. Having never received professional acting training, his grasp on complex emotions was often lacking.

After the 8th “NG” (No Good), Xu Chi was on the verge of tears. His face truly was deathly pale now.

“Director Jiang.” Seeing the signs of an impending explosion from the director, Gu Jingxuan called out to him first. “Let me go give Xu Chi some coaching. Let’s take a break.”

Gu Jingxuan dragged Xu Chi into a corner. Xu Chi kept his head down, silent.

“What’s wrong? Are you really going to cry?”

Gu Jingxuan had originally intended to tease him to lighten the mood, but he was startled to see a tear actually slide off the tip of Xu Chi’s nose.

He panicked instantly, patting Xu Chi’s back and whispering comfortingly, “Aww, don’t cry, baby. Be good. We’ll adjust your mood, and you’ll definitely pass the next take.”

Amused by Gu Jingxuan’s tone and the pet name, Xu Chi let out a wet laugh and looked up. His large, watery eyes stared unblinkingly at Gu Jingxuan; his lower lip bore the teeth marks from trying to stay quiet, and his nose was red. Seeing him looking so pitiful and lovely, Gu Jingxuan felt a desperate urge to kiss him.

Gu Jingxuan thought: This is really going to be the death of me.

“But… I can’t grasp the emotion.” Xu Chi understood the character’s feelings, but he couldn’t translate Director Jiang’s request to show “despair and desolation” through his back.

Gu Jingxuan reached out to wipe a tear from the corner of Xu Chi’s eye and cleared his throat. “Have you ever experienced a moment of total despair? Or is there something that makes you feel hopeless? Think about those things while you’re acting. In the previous takes, your face looked sad, but it was only on your face. Your back just looked normal.”

He paused before adding, “Think of something that would make you break down. Bring that emotion into the scene.”

Xu Chi pondered the advice and nodded.

“Alright, let’s go back. Once you finish this, you’re wrapped. I’ll take you out to dinner tonight, and I have a wrap-up gift for you.”

“Okay.”

Something that makes me feel despair… what would it be?

Xu Chi closed his eyes, steadying his emotions.

“Final shot, take 10, Action!”

The death of his parents must have been his moment of greatest despair. Being maliciously slandered, eventually being forced to leave the music world. His parents dying together in an accident, not a single relative willing to take him in… having to sign a restrictive contract just to enter M.G Entertainment.

His ears were filled with the festive roar of wedding drums; his eyes were met with a sea of celebratory red.

But in his eyes, none of it belonged to him. All he could see was the vast, empty white ahead.

Director Jiang didn’t call “cut.” Xu Chi didn’t know how far he had walked. Finally, his shoulders trembled, and he bowed his head with a long, heavy sigh.

“Cut!”