Originally, Yuan Ye had planned to lie on Fang Shaoyi for a while, and then pounce onto his front when he hung up the phone.

But the call lasted almost an hour. Eventually, Yuan Ye jumped off Fang Shaoyi's back as he realized that the call was not going to end anytime soon. He turned around and put on his pants.

Fang Shaoyi watched as Yuan Ye put on his pants, and Yuan Ye laughed as he did so. Fang Shaoyi waved at him, and Yuan Ye walked over to sit on the sofa with him. Fang Shaoyi put his arm around Yuan Ye's shoulder and said into the phone, "Yes, please go ahead."

Yuan Ye listened carefully to the call, and later Fang Shaoyi put it on speaker. Yuan Ye quietly listened to their conversation without interrupting. Wei Hua's voice was hoarse on the phone, and he sighed and said, "Given the situation, I don't need to say much to you. The shooting has been going on for three months now, and you know how difficult it is."

"I understand," Fang Shaoyi said, his expression becoming heavy as they continued to talk. He told Wei Hua, "I'll give you an answer tomorrow morning. Don't worry, don't get angry. Good things come to those who wait."

Director Wei let out a bitter laugh over the phone, "I hope so. To be honest with you, I have several blisters in my mouth. The others in the group have been urging me to call you for a while now, but you know me, I hate forcing people. Things that are done unwillingly never turn out well. But today, I have no choice. I need someone who is available now and can handle my film, and you're the only one left."

"I understand," said Fang Shaoyi.

Wei Hua continued, "I won't say much more. Just consider this as saving me from a difficult situation. I'll be waiting for your call. Let me know if you can make it."

"Of course," replied Fang Shaoyi.

After hanging up the phone, Fang Shaoyi looked out at Yuan Ye. Yuan Ye was also looking back at him. Before Fang Shaoyi could say anything, Yuan Ye spoke first, "Brother Yi, you have to go."

Fang Shaoyi and Yuan Ye locked eyes, their mutual understanding rendering words unnecessary. Yuan Ye furrowed his brow before continuing, "If you didn't want to take the job before filming started, that's your choice. But now they need you to save the day. I'm guessing Director Wei wouldn't have called you if he had any other options. And even if you were busy, you'd have to make time for this. I mean, come on, it's not like you have anything better to do."

Just now, when Wei Hua called, it was indeed about work. Fang Shaoyi didn't accept the job for "Whisper", but he had already told Wei Hua beforehand so he could look for someone else. Director Wei had indeed started preparing early, carefully selecting an actor and sending him to Shaanxi to blend into the countryside and shed his glamorous star aura before filming began.

The start of filming went smoothly, and Fang Shaoyi and Yuan Ye had even visited the set before. The actor's performance was decent, with a lot of explosive energy.

However, the phone call just now revealed that the actor had taken a leave of absence last week to celebrate his girlfriend's birthday and hadn't been able to return to the set because he was arrested for drug use.

His talent agency is desperately trying to suppress the news, but it's bound to explode sooner or later. This actor is no longer usable, and all the previous scenes he starred in need to be re-shot with a new actor. The production has been delayed for so long that the expenses are piling up like water flowing out of a tap. The only thing left to do now is to find a replacement actor as soon as possible, and Fang Shaoyi is the perfect candidate.

However, the incident occurred last week but the call only just came. It was clear that Director Wei had been looking for other options. He didn't want to use his personal relationship to force Fang Shaoyi to take on this role. But now he had no other options.

Actors are not hard to find, but scheduling good actors needs to be done over a year in advance, sometimes even earlier. If you want to find someone who can immediately join the crew and not hold back Wei Hua's film with their acting skills, then you really can't find anyone.

Fang Shaoyi rubbed his forehead, and Yuan Ye grabbed his wrist. His palm was warm, and he looked at Fang Shaoyi and said, "I know why you don't want to act, and we haven't talked about it. One, I'm afraid we'll argue if we talk about it. I speak without thinking. And secondly, I want you to take this time to rest. You've been too tired for the past two years."

Yuan Ye lifted one leg and straddled Fang Shaoyi, with both knees on the sofa. He pinched his chin and made him look up at himself. Fang Shaoyi raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "This move..."

"Am I handsome?" Yuan Ye asked with a smile, but then he quickly became serious and said, "Brother Yi, don't be confused. Let's take our time to sort things out between us, and I believe that neither of us will make the same mistake again. I believe in myself and I believe in you."

Yuan Ye's eyes were firm as he spoke of his belief, and at this moment, his charm was probably irresistible to anyone who was his lover.

Fang Shaoyi reached out and hugged him, burying his face in Yuan Ye's chest, where the scent of soap lingered on his clothes. Fang Shaoyi let out a gentle sigh and rubbed his forehead against Yuan Ye's body, showing a completely vulnerable side. He never hesitated to show his weakness in front of Yuan Ye. His voice sounded muffled through the fabric of Yuan Ye's clothes as he said, "I'm really scared."

With one hand reaching forward to balance himself against the back of the sofa, and the other gently grasping the back of Fang Shaoyi's head by his hair, Yuan Ye asked him, "What are you afraid of?"

"Many things," Fang Shaoyi repeated in a low voice, "many things."

Yuan Ye had tough bones, having grown up rolling around in the mountains and forests like a real man. His frame and physique were both sturdy and strong. Although he didn't have the artistic muscle lines like Fang Shaoyi, he was definitely powerful, with a broad and solid chest and back that exuded a mature male strength.

"Are you afraid that I won't like it?" Yuan Ye asked softly, "Are you afraid that I'll push you away like I did before, along with everything else around you?"

Fang Shaoyi let out a soft "Mm" before slowly continuing, "I'm also afraid that one day you'll want to break up, but can't bear to... and then go back and forth, wanting to speak but holding back."

With that one sentence, he shattered Yuan Ye's heart.

Fang Shaoyi had never spoken like this before. It seemed like he never shared his innermost thoughts with anyone, whether it was when he was younger or now. He never said what he was thinking, and you had to figure it out for yourself.

Yuan Ye knew this about him and had grown accustomed to it. He rarely pressed him for answers because that was just his personality. It wasn't necessary to try and change him. Just like how Fang Shaoyi never restricted Yuan Ye's words, unless he was afraid of him offending someone. One was open, the other reserved. That was just how they were.

This was the first time in a long time that Yuan Ye had heard Fang Shaoyi talk about his feelings. It wasn't in a roundabout way or through other words, but directly saying that he was afraid. The impact was too strong, and Yuan Ye's eyes were starting to turn red. He leaned over and gave Fang Shaoyi a kiss on the head, and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't be afraid."

Yuan Ye said, "It's enough to pay the price of separation once, there won't be a next time."

Yuan Ye understood Fang Shaoyi's struggle clearly. He really didn't want to take on any more roles, especially after the one that He Han and his team had been involved in lately that only made him even more reluctant to take on any more work in the short term. If Yuan Ye wasn't Fang Shaoyi's lover, and he was just a scholar, he would be much freer and wouldn't have so many people criticizing him.

The torment that Yuan Ye faced in this industry was also tormenting Fang Shaoyi. Every word of criticism towards Yuan Ye felt like a stab in Fang Shaoyi's heart.

But the one calling him was Director Wei, who he was both indebted and close to. He had to help in this situation. Although Fang Shaoyi appeared indifferent on the surface, he was actually a person who valued loyalty and affection. Every word Director Wei spoke on the phone was heartfelt, and if Fang Shaoyi could remain indifferent during such a difficult time, he wouldn't be himself.

Yuan Ye said, "I want to see you make movies. I fell in love with you because of your films."

Fang Shaoyi remained silent as Yuan Ye planted a kiss on his collarbone. He heard Yuan Ye's voice, low and gentle, as he whispered in his ear and said, "The you beside me is my heart... and the you in the movies is my dream."

Yuan Ye and Fang Shaoyi went to the set together. They flew there directly the next afternoon. When they arrived, there was no need for any discussion. Fang Shaoyi quickly scanned the contract and signed it.

The pay was very low, lower than any other project he had worked on before. Director Wei said, "I'm not trying to cheat you. We spent too much money in the beginning, and we already can't afford the cost of reshooting. I still have to negotiate with the investors, and don't have that much money to give you. I'll remember your kindness, and I'll see what I can do in the future."

Fang Shaoyi shook his head. "Leader, let's not talk about that between us."

Wei Hua's throat was hoarse, and a sore on his mouth had already scabbed over. He looked haggard. Changing actors midway through a production was the most troublesome thing, especially when it was the male lead. All the previous efforts would go to waste, and people don't like old things. It's hard to recreate the same emotions as the first time when filming something that has already been shot.

That's why Fang Shaoyi was so valuable. He used his acting skills to try to bring the emotions of the entire production back to life. If each scene was better than the last, it wouldn't just be a rescue mission, but a transformation.

This film is not a commercial one. Director Wei was pursuing the storyline without caring about anything else. However, the producers and other people involved have high expectations for this film. They don't expect it to make a lot of money, but they still want to aim for awards.

The investors are aware of this too. If they invest more money and the film doesn't win any awards and the box office fails, they will lose everything. The investors don't want to invest any more money. Director Wei has already invested 8 million yuan from his own studio, and he can't afford to invest any more.

Fang Shaoyi said, "I'll fill in the missing funds. Everyone can rest assured and focus on filming without worrying about anything else."

The executive producer was also present at the time. He was in charge of the money, and he just patted Fang Shaoyi's shoulder without saying anything.

Wei Hua shook his head and said, "You don't need to do that. I'll figure something out."

"Don't waste time thinking about that, use your brain to think about how to adjust the scenes that need to be changed," Fang Shaoyi said, then turned to the producer and said, "I'll have Brother Geng contact you tomorrow, and you can explain it to him in detail."

In fact, the entire crew had been anxious all week. At first, only a few core members knew about the lead actor being arrested and kept it quiet, afraid of causing panic. But it was not a sustainable solution, as the actor still hadn't returned and the truth couldn't be hidden. The crew was on edge, wondering what to do with the production. Could they still film? Would it be a failure?

Fang Shaoyi's arrival in the group was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for everyone. He wasn't just any actor, but the best candidate chosen during the scriptwriting process. He brought not only his acting skills but also his money, solving two major issues for the production. The rest were just minor details.

Yuan Ye came over to help with the script. Many of the inner monologues were cut out before because it wasn't Fang Shaoyi taking the role, and they were afraid the actor couldn't express them well. Now, many scenes needed to be adjusted, and the lines had to be changed.

The screenwriter asked Yuan Ye, "Little Yuan, can you stay here and help me?"

Yuan Ye replied, "Of course, I can do that. But I also have something else to do. I can help when they don't need me over there."

"In these past few days while you're here, I thought it would be a good opportunity for us to chat," said the screenwriter, who was Director Wei's long-time partner in both the screenwriting and literary circles. He was one of the top figures in the industry, and Yuan Ye had always respected him since he was young and admired him greatly.

Yuan Ye nodded and replied, "Sure, no problem."

The two of them came to the set suddenly, and Ji Xiaotao was still at the company with a lot of work to do. There was no one to take care of his workload for now. Fang Shaoyi suggested, "Why don't you stay at the company? You're not young anymore."

Ji Xiaotao immediately refused, "No, no, no. I have to follow you until you're old. If you're not filming, I'll be at the company. If you're filming, I have to be there with you. Who else will I talk to when Brother Ye leaves in a few days?"

The phone was on speaker, and Yuan Ye laughed and said, "Wouldn't it be great to be a manager in the company? Are you silly?"

"Yuan Ye, don't join my brother in persuading me! Then won't I be lonely, right?" Ji Xiaotao asked. "Did I do something wrong? Do you think I'm too old and want someone younger?"

As soon as he said this, Yuan Ye quickly replied, "No! Come on, come right away! You can come tomorrow!"

Ji Xiaotao's voice became low, and he sounded quite disappointed. "Anyway, if you want to find someone else, I don't mind. I'll find you someone who is hardworking and honest."

Fang Shaoyi chuckled, and Yuan Ye also laughed. Yuan Ye spoke into the phone, "Okay, stop pretending. We won't stop you from coming, so don't act like a naive cabbage."

"Hahaha, okay then," Ji Xiaotao stopped acting and grinned, "I'll go once I settle all these matters!"

In reality, the online wave of criticism the two of them had been facing was far from over. He Han had successfully played the victim and gained sympathy from "righteous" netizens who were constantly pitying him. Some with wild imaginations even imagined the two of them as bullies. He Han was pushing his luck, but Yuan Ye couldn't publicly argue with him again, as it would lower his own status.

However, there was no way that Geng Jinwei would let He Han get away with his disgusting behavior. All his ugly matters were exposed by "netizens" and some were even revealed by marketing accounts. The truth and lies were mixed together, but one after another, they kept coming. He wanted attention, didn't he? Well, he got it.

After reading about all his scandals, many people thought that if someone like Yuan Ye criticized him, then he must have done something truly disgusting. Why wouldn't he scold others?

You have no shame and insist on having two male leads, so any scolding you receive is well-deserved.

He Han wasn't afraid of being criticized. Nowadays, celebrities aren't afraid of scandals. As long as it's not something like cheating, domestic violence, or drug abuse, which can't be redeemed, everything else can be whitewashed over time.

But he might have gotten the attention he wants now, but it's hard to say whether he'll have the chance to redeem himself in the future.

As soon as Fang Shaoyi joined the crew, there were a lot of things to do and neither of them had time to look at the rumors online. Even if people were cursing up a storm online, they couldn't see it. Nobody in the crew had the time to pay attention to those things.

The crew was like a computer that had been shut down and restarted. All the previous work was cancelled. Everything, big or small, had to start over. Even the clothes the actors wore had to be remade. The two actors had different body sizes, so the clothes were too small.

Fang Shaoyi played a young intellectual who had been sent to the countryside and hadn't been able to return for many years. The city vibe had long been worn away from him. When he was young, he had a crush on a girl in the village, and the two of them had many romantic moments in the mountains and forests. At that time, he was a naive and gentle young man, with a bit of recklessness, but also a lovable stubbornness.

Such a boy was bound to be charming. Unfortunately, things were not destined to be lucky for them. The girl became pregnant, and their relationship was exposed. In the ensuing struggle, he saw the girl bleeding with his own eyes, and was later sent to the city hospital, pale-faced.

She never returned. Some say she ran away, others say she died.

Year after year, his hopes were in vain. The cloth strips tied to the high branches of the trees and the lookout on the mountaintop all came to nothing. Eventually, he would often mutter to himself, saying things that no one else could understand.

Many people thought he was crazy, that he had mental problems. He would have moments of clarity, but then he would retreat into his own world. No one ever heard what he was muttering about. In the end, the sound of the cloth strips flapping in the wind merged with the murmurs, like whispers carried by the breeze.

This theme was quite daring, and it took some effort to get it approved. In recent years, certain topics have become increasingly difficult to film, especially those that challenge the censorship system. It's likely that there will be cuts and modifications made in the future.

The actress was a newcomer, only twenty-two years old and very young. Director Wei had previously said that after all the rehearsals, she had finally found the right feeling for the role. She was a bit nervous when she saw Fang Shaoyi, bowing and greeting him, calling him "Fang-laoshi." She also looked at Yuan Ye and called him "Yuan-laoshi."

Fang Shaoyi waved his hand and said, "No need to be so polite. Brother Shaoyi and Brother Yuan Ye, just call us like this."

The actress smiled shyly and said, "I'm a bit nervous."

Yuan Ye laughed and asked her, "Did you read those online rumors and are afraid that we will make you cry?"

Everyone around them laughed after he said that, and the young girl quickly shook her head and said, "No, no, I didn't believe that. Everyone on set says that both of you are very kind."

Yuan Ye laughed. "They're just teasing you. Wait until Fang-laoshi's face turns sour, then he'll start scolding people."

The people around them laughed again, and Fang Shaoyi lightly tapped Yuan Ye's head with the script. "Stop talking nonsense."

"I'm just trying to liven up the atmosphere," Yuan Ye said with a smile. "Everyone's faces are so long, it's scaring me."