Spilling the Tea on the Movie Star Who Won't Leave Me Alone - Chapter 29

“Good! Very good! Exceptionally good!” Jiang Yusen clapped his hands in delight as he watched Xu Chi’s retreating back on the monitor.

“That final sigh, keep it in! Don’t you dare delete it!”

It wasn’t just Jiang Yusen; the entire crew and Gu Jingxuan felt that Xu Chi’s final state was incredibly infectious.

Gu Jingxuan watched Xu Chi’s back on the monitor, but when he didn’t see Xu Chi turn around to walk back after a long time, he felt something was wrong. He said a quick word to Jiang Yusen and ran toward Xu Chi.

It was only when he reached him that he realized Xu Chi had buried his face in his palms, his shoulders trembling.

Clearly, he was stuck in character and couldn’t pull himself out. Gu Jingxuan began to blame himself—why did he have to tell Xu Chi to think about things that made him feel despair?

Even if Xu Chi’s state hadn’t been right for the final shot, given the nature of this drama, Director Jiang wouldn’t have made things too difficult for him. Gu Jingxuan had only offered a pointer instinctively as an actor and a senior, but he had inadvertently caused Xu Chi to recall something painful.

Xu Chi’s face was buried in his hands as he let out low, muffled whimpers like a wounded cub, breaking Gu Jingxuan’s heart.

He stepped forward, rested a hand on Xu Chi’s shoulder, turned him around, and pulled him into a hug.

“It’s okay, I just couldn’t pull back my emotions for a moment.” Xu Chi sniffled, wiping all his tears onto Gu Jingxuan’s costume.

It wasn’t that he was truly still in deep sorrow; it was just that he had been holding that tension for so long that he couldn’t immediately snap back once it ended. With that trace of desolation still lingering in his heart, he couldn’t help but cry.

Sensing that several people were heading their way, Xu Chi pushed Gu Jingxuan away and rubbed his eyes, which were as red as a rabbit’s. “I’m much better now, thank you, Brother Gu.”

When Gu Jingxuan’s warmth enveloped him, Xu Chi had desperately wanted to stand on his tiptoes and offer his lips. It had been a very long time since he had felt such a pure embrace one without any other motives, simply wanting to hold him and provide a point of support.

Jiang Yusen walked over and saw Xu Chi’s red eyes, gently shaking his head.

Some actors can perfectly transition between themselves and their characters without a trace of lingering emotion; they can immerse themselves completely but snap back to being themselves the moment the scene ends Gu Jingxuan was like that. Another type, once immersed, pours their entire soul into the role and finds it impossible to separate themselves completely even after it’s over Xu Chi belonged to this category.

Jiang Yusen didn’t know what words of comfort to offer, or rather, he didn’t think comfort was necessary. As an actor, there are far too many grievances and frustrations that outsiders never see; how could one get help for everything?

“Congratulations, Xu Chi, you’ve wrapped.”

As he spoke, a crowd gathered, offering flowers and red envelopes, surrounding Xu Chi and Gu Jingxuan.

Xu Chi accepted the gifts one by one, thanking everyone sincerely.

Meanwhile, someone muttered, “It’s just the second male lead wrapping up, why make it look like the main lead finished?”

Everyone turned in unison toward the source of the voice and saw Lu Qing and her assistant standing aside empty-handed. No one said a word to her; they simply turned back to congratulate Xu Chi on his successful wrap.

Completely ignored, Lu Qing glared at Xu Chi with a hatred so intense she looked like she wanted to tear him apart and devour him.

Anyone with eyes in the crew wanted nothing to do with Lu Qing, avoiding contact whenever possible. She was arguably the most unpopular female lead in the industry within a production, yet she remained blissfully unaware. She stomped her foot and left with her assistant.

Whispers followed her: “She really thinks she’s the boss. Not a single gift or a word of blessing for the second male lead’s wrap? How arrogant. It’s not like she didn’t get in through connections anyway.”

Anyone with a shred of intelligence couldn’t stand her acting—she even needed 20 “NGs” for a simple scene of sweeping the floor—not to mention the crew was fed up with her “young miss” temper.

“Hmph.” Lu Qing shot a fierce glare back at the crowd before leaving without a word.

That evening, the crew celebrated Xu Chi’s wrap with dinner and a booked KTV room. Everyone was tactful enough not to invite Lu Qing. Jiang Yusen tacitly approved of this. Only Xu Chi, with his kind heart, murmured to Gu Jingxuan, “Is it really okay not to invite Lu Qing?”

Gu Jingxuan had never met anyone as foolishly kind as Xu Chi. He poked Xu Chi’s temple with his finger. “Why do you care so much? This is for your wrap-up. Let’s go.”

“Oh.”

Thinking about the filming tasks for the next day, the crew members were quite restrained and didn’t get too wild. In the KTV room, they just ordered a crate of RIO to liven things up.

Gu Jingxuan remembered how Xu Chi could get drunk on just a bit of plum wine, so he swapped the RIO in front of Xu Chi for juice.

Xu Chi tried to reach for a bottle of RIO, but after a glare from Gu Jingxuan, he silently retracted his hand.

The crew usually had no entertainment, so since the director had finally allowed them to let loose, everyone was fighting for the microphone, singing like howling wolves.

Xu Chi was happy too; he felt as though even a glass of juice could make him drunk. Taking advantage of the gap while someone else was picking a song, he leaned into Gu Jingxuan’s ear and whispered.

“You said before that you’d give me a wrap-up gift. When are you giving it?”

Gu Jingxuan turned to look at Xu Chi. He was sitting hunched next to him, looking up with eyes that were a bit hazy perhaps from the lights, or perhaps because he was sleepy. The heating in the KTV was very strong, so Xu Chi had taken off his coat. He was wearing only a white shirt, and because of the heat, he had unbuttoned the top two buttons, revealing his beautiful collarbones and neck.

Gu Jingxuan’s heart stirred. He grabbed Xu Chi and led him out.

“To the restroom. I’ll give you your gift.”

He hadn’t brought any actual gift with him; he had just followed the crew out in his everyday clothes. But seeing the expectant look in Xu Chi’s eyes, he didn’t want to disappoint him.

“Okay.” Xu Chi nodded, following Gu Jingxuan very obediently. When they ran into crew members asking where they were going, Xu Chi even smiled and said they were just going to the restroom.

It wasn’t until he followed Gu Jingxuan into a stall that Xu Chi realized Gu Jingxuan wasn’t holding anything at all. What was he going to give him? Give himself to me?

Coming to his senses, Xu Chi felt like he was being teased. His face gradually reddened.

He questioned Gu Jingxuan somewhat aggrievedly: “Brother Gu, you didn’t bring a gift at all. You lied to me.”

His small mouth pouted, looking utterly pitiable.

Gu Jingxuan let out a low chuckle, then leaned down and pecked him on the cheek, making a clear “MUA” sound.

“The wrap-up gift is Brother Gu’s ‘muah.’ Do you like it?”