The Entire Entertainment Industry Knows the Best Actor Has a Crush on Me - Chapter 10

Up until the script reading session, the other person assigned to the room still hadn’t arrived. Similarly, Pei Yuan was nowhere to be found.

One of the actors looked around and spoke up, reminding the director, “Director, Film King Pei isn’t here yet.”

The director waved his hand dismissively. “He has a temporary matter to attend to; he won’t be participating in the reading or the opening ceremony.”

Qiao Zhiyu’s ears perked up. If the director’s words were anything to go by, it seemed the two of them might actually be roommates.

On Set and Online Drama

The script reading went smoothly, though it took some extra time because the newcomers struggled with their delivery. Bei Qianqing looked displeased several times, her darkened expression scaring the rookies until their faces went pale.

After returning to his room, Qiao Zhiyu snapped a photo of his bed and sent it to Pei Yuan.

Zz: [Which side are you staying on?]

Aside from unpacking his own luggage, he hadn’t touched anything else in the room. His phone buzzed almost instantly.

Don’t Mess with Me, My Butt’s on Fire: [Sleep wherever you want.]

Qiao Zhiyu thought for a moment before replying: [I’d like to stay on the side near the window.]

Don’t Mess with Me, My Butt’s on Fire: [Okay.]

Just as the director had said, Pei Yuan didn’t show up even by the time filming officially began. Their shared scenes had to be postponed. Photos of the opening ceremony were posted online, and since Pei Yuan was missing, many netizens claimed their previous suspicions were correct.

The hashtags began to trend:

• #PeiYuanAbsentFromOpeningCeremony_DissatisfiedWithCrew
• #PopularFilmKingUnhappyWithResourceCaster
• #ActorWithPowerfulBackground_FilmKingQuits

Meanwhile, Qiao Zhiyu was sitting in his chair, chatting with Gu Jiao. Currently, they were filming a scene between the “Concubine” (Bei Qianqing) and the “Prime Minister.”

Qiao Zhiyu watched occasionally but spent most of his time replying to Gu Jiao’s messages. Since he had performed in this play in his previous life, he could practically recite the script from memory. Despite Bei Qianqing’s difficult personality, her acting was undeniably good. Her “sickly” makeup made her look fragile and hauntingly beautiful traits that defined her character, Chu Mingxin, as a “woman.”

Many staff members couldn’t stop staring.

Gu Jiao’s messages popped up:

Sister Jiao: [Whose soldiers are these marketing accounts? They’re rotten to the core!] Sister Jiao: [Ignore the internet. Don’t take the irrational fans’ insults to heart. Focus on filming. Don’t reply to any drama-related info on Weibo except for normal fan interactions.] Sister Jiao: [Those bastards are the best at taking things out of context.]

From the promotional photos to the opening ceremony, Qiao Zhiyu’s social media had been practically trampled.

Sister Jiao: [By the way, you and Film King Pei are on good terms, right?]

Qiao Zhiyu stared at the screen, thinking for a moment before typing: [I guess?]

Sister Jiao: [Why are you being shy? You both got out of the same car. If I hadn’t warned you that day, were you planning to come here with him?]

Qiao Zhiyu looked away from the screen, denying it in his heart. I clearly rejected him at the time… Remembering Gu Jiao’s warning to avoid suspicion, he didn’t tell her that they were roommates.

Zz: [We haven’t been in touch…]

Gu Jiao replied quickly: [I didn’t tell you to stay away from him entirely! Socialize a bit in private—this is your olive branch.]

Olive branch… Qiao Zhiyu didn’t reply to that, only asking: [How are Naidou and Tudou?]

Sister Jiao: [Eating and sleeping well.]

A Night Visit

By evening, Qiao Zhiyu had finished his scenes with the other actors and was sitting in his chair for a makeup touch-up. Qi Lean, a talkative young actor, was crouching beside him asking for advice on the script. His antics often made Qiao Zhiyu let out a low laugh.

In his last life, they were only acquaintances, but now Qiao Zhiyu realized Qi Lean was an incredibly talented and spirited actor.

“Zhiyu, what are you soaking in that cup? Is it tea?”

Qiao Zhiyu smiled and handed his thermos to the other. Qi Lean leaned in curiously. He didn’t recognize everything, but the goji berries and chrysanthemum were clearly for health. He looked up at Qiao Zhiyu, somewhat speechless.

“Health-conscious, huh…?”

Qiao Zhiyu nodded and introduced the ingredients: “Dandelion, goji berries, cassia seeds, dried tangerine peel, licorice, and chrysanthemum. It’s very good for when you stay up late. Want to try?”

Qi Lean shook his head frantically, declining the offer. Qiao Zhiyu didn’t push, blowing on the hot tea and taking a light sip. His profile looked ethereal; if Qi Lean hadn’t known they were the same gender, he might have felt the need to maintain some “social distance.”

Faint footsteps approached from behind. Qiao Zhiyu assumed it was a passing crew member and didn’t look up. However, Qi Lean suddenly stood up straight.

Just as Qiao Zhiyu was about to look, a weight settled on his shoulders, a light gray wool blanket.

“Pei… Film King Pei! Good morning!” Qi Lean blurted out.

A man’s voice came from above, devoid of emotion. “Hello. But it’s currently night.”

Qi Lean’s face turned red. “Sorry…” He looked at Qiao Zhiyu hurriedly. “Zhiyu, I’ll be going first!”

As the young man scrambled away, Qiao Zhiyu turned to speak to the newcomer. “You scared him off.”

Pei Yuan raised an eyebrow. “What are you drinking?”

Qiao Zhiyu pulled a small bag of mixed tea leaves from his pouch, shaking it. “Want some?” As he moved, the blanket started to slip, but Pei Yuan caught it and tucked it back around his shoulders.

“Why aren’t you wearing more? Aren’t you cold?”

“It’s too much trouble to keep taking clothes on and off. Hot tea keeps me warm.” Qiao Zhiyu didn’t have an assistant, so no one was there to watch his things. Despite being “health-conscious,” he often overlooked these small details.

A staff member saw Pei Yuan and brought over a folding chair. Bai Chao, having finally parked the car, arrived to see his “butt-on-fire” boss sitting next to a “beauty.”

My goodness, Bai Chao thought. So, he accepted this script just to flirt? Looking at Qiao Zhiyu, Bai Chao mused that if this were a video game, he’d definitely call him “wife.” In reality, however, he valued his life too much to try.

“Little Chao, go get a cup,” Pei Yuan ordered.

“Oh…”

Soon, a stack of disposable paper cups was placed before Pei Yuan. He looked at Bai Chao. “Are you very dissatisfied with your current job?”

“Huh? No, not at all.”

Qiao Zhiyu’s eyes crinkled with a smile. He picked up a cup and poured some tea from his thermos. He recognized Bai Chao from his previous life. As the tea filled the cup, Qiao Zhiyu suddenly hesitated. Given their current relationship, was this too intimate? Would Pei Yuan find it distasteful?

Just as he was about to pour it out and get a fresh cup, a hand reached out and took it. Pei Yuan blew on the steam and took a shallow sip.

“It’s a bit bitter.”

Qiao Zhiyu dazed for a moment, lowering his eyes. “You won’t be used to it at first…”