Lu Wen: "Really?"

Even though he couldn't see his features, Qu Yanting could tell Lu Wen's mood had changed from his tone of voice. He turned the lamp up a little, and under the faint, dim light, that face indeed looked much more relaxed.

Although it's said one is soft-spoken after taking a favor, Qu Yanting's compromise wasn't entirely because of this bowl of congee. The character was currently a high school student, so it wasn't advisable to film a direct kissing scene. They could use camera angles to imply it, controlling the shot so the audience would get the meaning.

Qu Yanting skipped the explanation and just gave a piece of advice: "You don't have much proper acting experience. It's normal to be nervous or resistant when facing many firsts. You have to learn to overcome it quickly, force yourself to accept it, and even enjoy it, understand?"

Lu Wen's relaxed mood dissipated. Qu Yanting's kind and patient lecture made him reflect on himself. He asked: "Am I very unprofessional?"

Qu Yanting answered truthfully: "For someone not formally trained, yes, a little."

Lu Wen felt frustrated. He really wanted to ask, 'Are you looking down on me again?' but for the sake of his pride, he chose to hold it in. Because based on past experience, Qu Yanting wouldn't deign to humor him and would definitely deliver a blow.

Unexpectedly, Qu Yanting changed his tone: "Regardless of formal training, every actor has their own upper and lower limits. The level you want to reach requires a corresponding effort. If you have talent and are currently at your lower limit, then you should strive to reach your upper limit."

Lu Wen nodded, seriously committing Qu Yanting's words to memory. He was currently unsure where his lower and upper limits were, but he hoped that one day, he could confidently judge his own strengths and weaknesses.

Qu Yanting stirred the congee in the container. The aroma drifted out, filling this dreary little corner. He took a couple of sips and noticed that Lu Wen hadn't touched his takeout and was still chewing on mints.

"Why aren't you eating?"

"Oh, I'll eat after the shoot."

Lu Wen grabbed the portable lamp, tucked it under his arm, and aimed the beam from his chin to the top of his head in a spooky way. "When we get close to recite lines later, I'm afraid of bothering the actress with my breath."

'Quite a gentleman to girls,' Qu Yanting thought to himself.

What he didn't know was that at the opening banquet, Lu Wen had been worried about his breath bothering him, so he had gone hungry the entire evening.

It was almost time for the shoot. Qu Yanting finished his congee and set off with Lu Wen back to the set. He hadn't eaten the milk taro cake yet, so he held it in his palm through the wrapper for warmth.

The shooting location was a road within a residential complex. Monitors were set up by the roadside, surrounded by staff members on break. Qu Yanting didn't go over to sit but stood in the shade of a tree to the left of Qi Xiao's house.

The actors took their positions. Xian Qi said: "Thanks for the late-night snack. My treat next time."

Lu Wen had chewed through half a box of mints. When he opened his mouth, the air felt so cold it was as if a draft was blowing through. "Apologies in advance for any offense during the shoot later."

Xian Qi had filmed many romantic dramas, but not many male actors said things like this. She replied: "You're being too serious. It's just camera angles. Let's just relax."

The director personally yelled "Action!" At his command, Qu Yanting silently unwrapped the taro cake in the shadows.

The roadside was lined with dense trees, and behind them was a row of small Western-style houses. Ye Xiaowu and Qi Xiao stopped seven or eight meters away, a distance of five large trees from Qi Xiao's doorway.

Fearing it was dangerous right at her doorstep, Ye Xiaowu walked Qi Xiao to this spot every day. He said reluctantly: "We're here so soon. You go on, I'll watch you go in before I leave."

Qi Xiao said: "Can you walk me to the tree by my door today?"

Ye Xiaowu smiled: "Didn't you say that tree is too close to your house and you were afraid of being discovered?"

Qi Xiao explained: "The streetlight is broken. I can't see clearly."

Ye Xiaowu and Qi Xiao walked slowly side by side. When they reached the fifth tree, they both tacitly hid in its shadow. Qi Xiao peered at the grass under the tree while taking tiny steps to move a little closer to Ye Xiaowu.

Ye Xiaowu asked: "What are you looking at?"

Qi Xiao said: "A stray cat jumped out of the grass yesterday and almost scratched me."

Ye Xiaowu understood: "Are you scared? Is that why you asked me to walk you over?"

Qi Xiao was afraid of more than just cats; she was also afraid of the dark. She was too shy to admit it, so she answered evasively: "I'm at my door now." This was her line every night before they parted.

But Ye Xiaowu didn't say "goodbye" as usual. He surveyed his surroundings, and after confirming no one was around, he took a step forward. "Even the streetlights in such a high-end complex can break, huh? It would be nice if they stayed broken."

Qi Xiao pretended not to understand: "Well, I'm going home then. See you tomorrow."

Qu Yanting took a bite of the taro cake. He was on the left, the actors on the right, and the aisle between them was occupied by the camera crew. The equipment blocked most of the view; he could only see one of Lu Wen's hands hanging at his side.

After taking that step forward, that hand had clenched into a fist.

After Xian Qi finished her line, she turned to leave. Lu Wen, one hand in a fist, reached out with the other. He was supposed to grab Xian Qi's arm but accidentally grabbed her backpack strap instead.

"Qi-Qi Xiao," he stammered.

Xian Qi turned back, her face shy.

Lu Wen stepped forward on the balls of his feet while simultaneously pulling her back by the backpack strap. When he felt she was close enough, he stiffly pulled his foot back.

He asked: "Are you really scared, or did you just want to walk a little longer with me?"

Xian Qi replied: "I'm really scared."

The crucial moment was coming. Lu Wen's mind was completely filled with the upcoming kiss scene, and his lines came out very stiffly: "From now on, I'll protect you."

After speaking, Lu Wen bent his knees and slowly leaned towards Xian Qi, the wound on his knee throbbing with a dull ache. Even though it was a forced-perspective shot, their lips had to be very close. The closer they got, the more nervous he became, his entire body tensing up like an iron plate.

Only then did Qu Yanting understand Lu Wen's anxiety about the kissing scene.

Sure enough, what kind of acting was this.

Ren Shu couldn't take it anymore: "Cut! Everybody, cut!"

Lu Wen had just stood up straight when Ren Shu rushed over and slapped his arm to the side. It hurt. He shook his arm and took a step back.

"Xiao Lu, why did you grab her backpack?" Ren Shu said. "One hand in a fist, the other yanking her backpack, are you dating her or robbing her?"

Lu Wen mumbled, "I grabbed the wrong thing by accident."

"Then let go, what's wrong with you, holding on like that?" Ren Shu yelled. "Your whole demeanor under the tree was wrong. Too reserved, all sheepish-looking, and your line delivery was idiotic."

Lu Wen: "I..."

"You don't need to explain," Ren Shu said. "You were too stiff when you kissed her. Go look at the playback. A paralyzed person is more flexible than you."

Just then, Xian Qi took off her backpack and squatted down to rub her ankle. She was wearing shoe lifts to compensate for the height difference, and Lu Wen's pull had been a bit too strong, causing her to twist her ankle.

Lu Wen was so embarrassed he wanted to bang his head against a wall, apologizing profusely.

Time was tight for the night scene, so Ren Shu decided to demonstrate the scene himself.

The others scattered, clearing the aisle. The female lead went to apply a cold compress. Ren Shu saw Qu Yanting on the other side and called out: "Hey, cake-eating bystander, get over here."

Qu Yanting didn't want to go, but he couldn't publicly disrespect the director. Swallowing the last bite of his taro cake, he walked into the tree's shadow.

Ren Shu said to Lu Wen: "Now, I'm Ye Xiaowu, and Screenwriter Qu is Qi Xiao."

Qu Yanting tried to back out: "I twisted my ankle too."

"Don't give me that." Ren Shu grabbed Qu Yanting's wrist. Back when they were studying directing, they had often worked on scripts together, getting a taste of screenwriting, directing, and acting.

Caught off guard, Qu Yanting couldn't break free and defensively crossed his arms over his chest.

Ren Shu gently pulled Qu Yanting while explaining: "You have to grab her hand, pull her over gently, then you move closer yourself. It's an interactive, progressive process."

The two were face to face. Ren Shu said: "You're tall, so it doesn't matter if you spread your legs or bend your waist, the movement has to be natural and smooth." He was shorter than Qu Yanting, which looked a bit comical. "After pulling him over, let go of his hand and cup his face."

Lu Wen stared intently. Qu Yanting stood there, the side of his face cupped by Ren Shu's hand. He flinched slightly, and this small movement added a sense of helpless resignation to being manipulated in this demonstration.

Resigned yet not resisting, he seemed... very obedient.

Ren Shu pressed his thumb against Qu Yanting's chin and performed a forced-perspective kiss, kissing his own thumbnail.

He got to the key point: "For a light, fleeting kiss, you need to control the speed. Approach her first, pause for a moment for the close-up, and then you kiss her after the camera moves."

Lu Wen couldn't help but clench his fists again.

Ye Xiaowu's kiss on Qi Xiao was premeditated, and that had to be shown. Ren Shu added a detail here: "You first get close to her cheek, making Qi Xiao and the audience think Ye Xiaowu is going to kiss her cheek. Save the last line for this step. After you say it, in the moment Qi Xiao is dazed, lower your head and kiss her lips. It's like you're tricking everyone."

Detailed almost to every single shot, Ren Shu finished his demonstration, stepped aside, and asked, "Xiao Lu, did you get all that?"

Lu Wen's eyes were fixed, his gaze still on Qu Yanting. His thoughts were slowly being taken over by Ye Xiaowu's persona. He answered, "I got it."

Ren Shu crooked his finger, palm facing in. "Come on, run through the scene the way I taught you."

Lu Wen didn't even notice Ren Shu's gesture. He only remembered Ren Shu saying that Qu Yanting was Qi Xiao. He was Ye Xiaowu now. He took a single stride and stood right in front of Qu Yanting.

Because of their height difference, Qu Yanting had been keeping his head lowered, but now he had to look up. Before he could react, a warmth enveloped his wrist—Lu Wen had reached out and grabbed him.

Perhaps from clenching his fists for so long, Lu Wen's palm was coated in a thin, warm layer of sweat.

He had to be gentle. Gripping Qu Yanting's wrist, he applied a little force, pulling the other man half a step closer to him, while simultaneously stepping forward to close the other half step.

With his backpack slung over his right shoulder, Lu Wen raised only his left hand and gently cupped the side of Qu Yanting's face. His hand was large; his palm held Qu Yanting's face, and his fingertips brushed against the thin shell of Qu Yanting's ear.

Qu Yanting's body stiffened. His crossed arms unconsciously tightened their grip on his own sleeves. He didn't know if it was the warmth from Lu Wen's palm or some other reason, but half of his face had grown hot.

He was so stunned he forgot to flinch away, only trembling slightly, because Lu Wen had already lowered his head, pausing right beside his cheek.

There was no lighting. The streetlight was broken, and it was dim and indistinct under the tree's shadow. Lu Wen could only see the tiny star of light reflected in Qu Yanting's pupils. With a dip of his eyelashes, even that bit of light was hidden.

He moved closer, and closer still, until he was a hair's breadth away, close enough to feign a kiss.

Lu Wen's mind went completely blank. All he could hear was his own nervous heartbeat, all he could smell was the sweet fragrance of the milk taro cake Qu Yanting had just eaten. He finally couldn't hold his breath any longer, letting a wisp of it brush against Qu Yanting's cheek.

The faintly cool scent of mint. Qu Yanting felt as if he were in a world of ice and fire, dazed and speechless.

By his ear, Lu Wen said to him, "From now on, I'll protect you."

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Ren Shu: Boredly playing on his phone