Who Wants to Be the Affectionate Cannon Fodder?! [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 52

Yu Lin was practically leaning his entire body against him; Ning Jinghe could even feel the warmth of his breath.

A fingertip landed on the tip of Ning Jinghe’s nose, tapping it gently before slowly pulling away, only to press down again a second later as if poking at something curious.

Ning Jinghe instinctively held his breath. His mind was a chaotic mess, unsure of what Yu Lin intended to do.

Suddenly, he heard Yu Lin let out a low chuckle. Yu Lin leaned forward, bringing his lips close to Ning Jinghe’s ear and whispering, “You are awake, aren’t you, Brother?”

Ning Jinghe stiffened, wondering how he had been found out.

Then he heard Yu Lin say, “It turns out you have a very faint mole on the tip of your nose. It is quite beautiful.”

Ning Jinghe’s heart began to thud violently. He felt like a small boat sailing on a calm sea, only for a sudden storm to appear out of nowhere and capsize him completely.

Yet the person who had summoned the storm seemed entirely oblivious. Yu Lin remained propped up, staring at him intently. That gaze felt as though it were trying to look straight through his face and into his heart, making it impossible for Ning Jinghe to ignore.

He opened his eyes, feigning composure, and met Yu Lin’s clear gaze. His morning voice held a trace of magnetic raspiness. “You have one too. Yours looks better than mine.”

After saying that, Ning Jinghe did not wait to see Yu Lin’s reaction. Controlling the urge to flee in a panic, he climbed out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom to wash up without looking back.

But Yu Lin was like a little shadow. Seeing that Ning Jinghe was up, he bounded out of bed with a nimble leap and followed him inside.

The hotel bathroom mirror was large enough to accommodate two people comfortably. With a heart full of turmoil, Ning Jinghe stole glances at the mirror. Yu Lin stood right beside him, holding an identical glass, their movements almost perfectly synchronized as they brushed their teeth.

The intimacy felt excessive, like a couple that had just spent a long, tender night together.

“I have to go to the set later. Do you want to…” Ning Jinghe began while tidying up the toiletries Yu Lin had left in a mess. Before he could finish, he was met with a silent accusation from the latter that screamed, Are you going to leave me behind again?

Ning Jinghe sighed and continued, “Then come with me?”

Yu Lin nodded vigorously.

The crew members did not expect Yu Lin to return to the set after finishing his scenes, and they were quite surprised to see him the first day.

Then came the second day, the third day…

Yu Lin was consistent. Every day, he would pull up a chair behind Director Li Rui, clutching a cup of milk tea from an unknown source, and stare fixedly at the monitor without moving. He nearly made Li Rui nervous with his intense focus.

Whenever Ning Jinghe finished a scene, Yu Lin would rush over. He did not say much, but he followed Ning Jinghe wherever he went, afraid that he would vanish if he looked away for even a second. Sometimes, he would stare at the jade pendant Xiao Jingyan had given to Xiao Jingke, a look of faint satisfaction crossing his face.

Over time, everyone noticed that his state of mind was not quite right.

In all his years as a director, Li Rui had seen many actors fall in love on set, but this was the first time he had seen an actor get so deeply immersed in a brotherly role.

While marveling at the fact that Shen Xingzhuo was a rare talent, he also quietly asked Ning Jinghe, “Do you think I should call his manager and have him see a psychologist?”

Ning Jinghe glanced at Yu Lin, who was watching him from a distance. “Let’s wait and see. If it becomes necessary…”

However, Yu Lin’s condition only lasted until the filming of The Breaking Array Song concluded.

Those sudden emotions were like a tide. With the final snap of the clapperboard, they rapidly receded from Yu Lin’s body. He felt as though he had been pulled out of a dream.

The first time Ning Jinghe noticed Yu Lin had recovered was when they locked eyes after the final scene. The longing and worry belonging to Xiao Jingyan were gone from Yu Lin’s eyes, replaced by his own characteristic nonchalance.

The second time was when he heard Yu Lin call him “Ning Ge.”

Yu Lin mimicked the others and said to him, “Ning Ge, congratulations on finishing the shoot.”

Ning Jinghe even felt a hidden sense of regret.

But perhaps it was for the best. Otherwise, he would not have known what to do with Yu Lin after the production ended. He could hardly take him back to his own home.

The assistant director handed out red envelopes to everyone present. Since Ning Jinghe was still in costume and had no pockets, Yu Lin volunteered to hold onto it for him.

“There is a wrap party tonight. Do you want to go?” Ning Jinghe asked out of habit.

Yu Lin remembered the menu he had overheard from the assistant director, and his eyes lit up as he nodded.

Seeing this, Ning Jinghe involuntarily recalled Zhou Yao’s comment about him being “easy to look after.” Even the standard crew lunch boxes were something he ate with great enjoyment. If there were a spicy dish or two, he would likely eat even more happily.

Yu Lin accompanied Ning Jinghe back to the hotel to remove his makeup, and then they took a car to the wrap party. The crew had booked the largest restaurant in the film city, and by the time they arrived, the place was already crowded.

The actors and directors sitting at the same table as Yu Lin knew he could not handle his liquor, so they specifically ordered several pitchers of juice. Even Tang Mo took advantage of the situation to sneak a few glasses.

Unexpectedly, the moment no one was looking, Yu Lin reached for Ning Jinghe’s wine glass.

The glass for the white liquor was tiny, like a toy from a playhouse. Yu Lin picked it up by its stem and inspected it, almost afraid he would break it if he squeezed too hard.

Before Ning Jinghe could react, Yu Lin downed the contents in one gulp. Then, just like the first time he had tasted an Americano, his eyebrows, eyes, and nose all scrunched together. He stuck out his tongue and complained, “So spicy.”

Ning Jinghe snatched the glass back, his brows furrowing. He had a decent tolerance, but even he did not drink like that, let alone someone like Yu Lin who could be knocked out by a single glass.

“You clearly cannot drink, so why did you dare to…”

Yu Lin leaned back lazily against the chair and lifted his eyelids to look at Ning Jinghe. The light flowed through his eyes like a fallen galaxy.

“Hmm?”

In just a few seconds, his neck was flushed deep red, and his eyes began to lose focus. Ning Jinghe looked at his dazed expression and knew the alcohol was hitting him.

He sighed inwardly, preparing to stand up and tell Li Rui that he was taking Yu Lin back. However, as soon as he moved, the person beside him hooked the leg of his chair with a foot, causing him to stumble.

Midway through standing, Ning Jinghe fell back into his seat. Yu Lin’s knee pressed against his thigh, as if trying to trap him in that corner. “Are you going to run away again?”

The tone was so familiar that Ning Jinghe almost thought he had reverted to his previous state.

Across the table, Li Rui did not hear Yu Lin’s quiet interrogation. Seeing Ning Jinghe stumble as he tried to stand, he joked, “It has been years since we last met. How can you be this weak now, Ning Jinghe?”

Ning Jinghe turned his head to glare at the culprit, who only blinked with a blank and innocent expression.

“I am a bit drunk,” Ning Jinghe said through gritted teeth, deciding to follow Li Rui’s lead. “I think Shen Xingzhuo has had enough too.”

Yu Lin yawned, still wearing that languid, weary expression, looking like a proud cat that was full and satisfied.

“We have seen how little he can drink, but you? How many glasses have you had today? Are you just pretending?”

“I really cannot drink anymore,” Ning Jinghe said. “I will take him back now.”

Without giving anyone a chance to stop them, he grabbed Yu Lin by the arm, pulled him up, and led him straight out of the restaurant.

Ning Jinghe was in a hurry and did not pay much attention to his surroundings. However, as he was ushering Yu Lin into the car, both of them suddenly looked behind them, feeling alert.

Unfortunately, the alcohol had dulled Yu Lin’s senses, and he was not nearly as sharp as usual. The surrounding area was filled with dark bushes, and after looking around for a moment, Ning Jinghe did not see anything wrong. He climbed into the car, feeling suspicious.

The restaurant was close to the hotel, and they reached their destination in no time. Ning Jinghe half-supported and half-carried Yu Lin upstairs. Once they stepped out of the elevator, he faced a dilemma.

If Yu Lin had completely moved on from the character’s emotions, it would be better to send him back to his own room. But if what happened before repeated itself…

While Ning Jinghe was still hesitating, Yu Lin made the decision for him.

He watched as Yu Lin walked sluggishly toward his room. Noticing that Ning Jinghe was not following, Yu Lin stopped in confusion and looked back.

Ning Jinghe realized belatedly that he should go over and support him. As he was about to move, Yu Lin seemed to remember something. He jogged back unsteadily, patted himself down, and finally found Ning Jinghe’s red envelope, which he thrust into his arms.

“Here, yours.”

Then he turned back around, staggered to the door, entered the passcode with practiced ease, and slipped inside as soon as it unlocked.

Ning Jinghe stood there silently, wondering whose room it actually was.

Your alcohol tolerance has improved. Before, you would be unconscious after just one or two sips.

System 007 had just finished its comment when it saw Yu Lin trip over the rug in the entryway and fall face-first onto the floor.

007: …

Yu Lin’s eyelids were heavy, and he did not feel like struggling. He rolled over, found a comfortable position on the floor, and decided not to move.

Ning Jinghe, who had followed him inside, helplessly picked him up from the floor and carried him to the bed.

“I thought you would go back to your own room.”

“Hmm?”

Yu Lin leaned against Ning Jinghe’s arm, feeling the warmth of his body. His brain was fuzzy, and for some reason, he asked a random question. “Brother, we will see each other again, right?”

Ning Jinghe thought he was talking about life after the production ended. He replied, “We will.”

Yu Lin let out a soft laugh. As Ning Jinghe pulled his hand away, Yu Lin moved his head onto the pillow. “Even though I already knew that.”

Ning Jinghe did not say anything, thinking it was just the incoherent rambling of a drunk person. He brushed Yu Lin’s messy hair aside and checked on him. After confirming he had no other reaction aside from the flush caused by the alcohol, he said, “I will go get some water.”

Yu Lin squinted, his blurry vision following Ning Jinghe’s back.

007 asked tentatively: Have you recovered now?

Yu Lin replied muddledly: I think so.

007 said: It might be because your previous experiences were relatively simple, which is why this happened.

Yu Lin gave a vague response and turned his head, pressing his nose against his shoulder to sniff. He had stayed at Ning Jinghe’s place for several days, and now he carried the exact same scent.

I did not expect you to sober up so quickly, though. I thought it would take a while.

Hmm, I did not expect it either.

Perhaps it was because Xiao Jingke appeared in front of him unharmed in the subsequent filming, which calmed those strange fears. Or perhaps it was the moment the shoot ended and Ning Jinghe accepted the bouquet from the assistant director, completely severing the connection to the character of Xiao Jingke and making Yu Lin realize it was all just an illusion.

However, his drowsy mind would not let him analyze it any further. Yu Lin yawned, rolled over to his usual spot, and closed his eyes.

He did not expect that by falling asleep, he would miss quite a spectacle.