Chapter 38

Ren Haichuan looked grimly at Cen Wen, who was guarding the door. Cen Wen said awkwardly, "Well... I was just saying I'd go call him for you..."

"No need." Ren Haichuan's lungs ached with anger from Ye Lan's actions. He said resentfully, "We'll talk about it later."

Cen Wen forced a smile. "Okay."

Ren Haichuan turned and left. Cen Wen entered the lounge. Ye Lan had already hung up the phone. He looked up and asked, "Ren Haichuan?"

Cen Wen said with difficulty, "Director Ren came straight over, I didn't dare to really stop him... but as soon as he pushed the door open and heard you on the phone, he left."

Ye Lan hadn't asked Cen Wen to guard the door because of Ren Haichuan anyway, so he said nonchalantly, "It's fine. Delete the video file from your tablet completely. Don't leave any traces."

Cen Wen agreed, walked over, picked up the tablet, and began deleting the file. She had only overheard a sentence or two when Ren Haichuan opened the door and wasn't very clear on what Ye Lan wanted to know. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "If you want to know about Jiang Chi but it's inconvenient to ask him... why not ask Director Ren?"

Ye Lan said bluntly, "It's useless to ask him."

Ye Lan had worked with Ren Haichuan right after graduation. He knew his character well and was certain that he would never get involved in this kind of matter.

Ren Haichuan was extremely upright. Other than filming, he never participated in or cared about other matters. Even if he really knew something, he would never reveal it to others. If there was a non-disclosure agreement involved, it would be even more impossible.

Therefore, Ye Lan wasn't afraid of Ren Haichuan hearing anything, nor did he expect to find out anything from him.

Ye Lan was worried about affecting Jiang Chi and acted with caution, only letting An Ya keep a secret watch and forbidding her from investigating too deeply. An Ya, being overly cautious, didn't find out any more useful information for a long time afterward.

The final stages of 'The Scum' were proceeding in an orderly manner. The supporting actors wrapped up filming one after another. The cast and crew would occasionally get together for meals, drink, take group photos, and agree to hold a celebration banquet before the movie premiere—other crews held their celebration banquets after the box office boomed, but for 'The Scum', just being able to be released would be considered a success.

The actor playing Zhan Ming's father was a veteran actor. After wrapping up, he gave everyone on the crew a piece of calligraphy he had written. It was the first time Jiang Chi had encountered such an elegant affair on a set, and he instantly felt that his profession was much more noble. He hurriedly accepted it, treasuring it greatly.

Seeing how much Jiang Chi cherished the gift, Ye Lan couldn't help but tap him on the head and ask, "You're wrapping up soon too. What do you want? I'll get it for you."

Jiang Chi was immersed in the reluctance of seeing the senior actor wrap up. Hearing this, he was immediately and pleasantly surprised, "Really?!"

Ye Lan was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh. "Are you for real? Any other pure and noble male lead would have unworldlily said 'no, no need' upon hearing something like that. Why didn't you say it?"

Jiang Chi was about to wrap up filming. He was reluctant to part with Ye Lan and was already feeling down. Hearing that he could get a wrap-up gift, how could he possibly pretend to refuse? His relationship with Ye Lan had grown closer these past few days, and he had gotten a bit bolder. He brazenly whispered, "I was never... pure and noble to begin with."

"Wow, not pure and noble? Then that means..." The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Ye Lan felt it was a bit disrespectful. He smiled faintly, swallowed them back, and didn't continue.

But Jiang Chi's mind was completely focused on whether he could also ask Ye Lan to write a few words for him as a wrap-up gift. He was racking his brain, trying to think of what would be good for Ye Lan to write, and didn't notice Ye Lan's expression. He subconsciously pressed, "Then that means what?"

Ye Lan suppressed a laugh. 'He asked for this himself.'

Ye Lan glanced at the people nearby. Seeing no one was paying attention, he leaned closer to Jiang Chi and chuckled in his ear, "If you're not the pure and noble type, then you must be the seductive vixen type?"

Jiang Chi's ear felt like it had been scalded, turning red in an instant.

"I couldn't tell, Little Jiang Chi. You usually hide it pretty well. Very good. For the bed scene tonight... perform well." Ye Lan turned his head to look at Jiang Chi, a smile in his eyes, his voice as soft as could be. "Let me see just how shameless you can be."

After speaking, Ye Lan gave Jiang Chi a gentlemanly smile and sauntered away.

Not far away, Li Weili, who was playing on his phone, saw that Jiang Chi hadn't moved for a long time. He looked up at him and was startled. "Are you okay, Brother Jiang? Why is this ear so red? You're not catching a cold, are you?"

"N-No... I'm fine." Jiang Chi struggled to clear his throat and managed to say, "I just burned it..."

Li Weili was utterly confused. "How did you burn it..."

Having been teased for no reason after thoughtlessly continuing Ye Lan's conversation, Jiang Chi didn't want to say another word. Blushing, he made the excuse that he was hot from wearing too much and went to the bathroom to splash his face with cold water.

That night, the set, both inside and out, was cleared. All non-essential personnel were removed. Besides the actors and necessary staff, even the stagehands were all kept outside the inner curtain.

Ren Haichuan's face was calm. He gave a straightforward description of the plot timeline and the characters' immediate emotional states, then said stiffly, "We are filming a gay film, not a pornographic film. There's no need for you to sacrifice too much. During the filming process, the actors must be dedicated, devoted, and professional. Be sensual, not lewd. Control the scale."

"..." Ye Lan closed his eyes, speechless. "When you say that, can you not stare intently at me?"

Jiang Chi was originally quite nervous, but hearing this, he couldn't help but want to laugh.

Ren Haichuan recalled the phone call he had walked in on that day and didn't think his words were out of line at all. He hadn't worked with Ye Lan for a full two years. In the past, he only felt that although Ye Lan was arrogant because of his talent, he was otherwise clean. Now, it seemed he had clearly been soaking in this big dyeing vat for too long.

Ren Haichuan thought coldly, 'Full of vile thoughts.'

"You take the lead in this scene." Ren Haichuan turned to look at Jiang Chi. "It's a wide shot, no dialogue required. It doesn't matter if you two talk or how loudly you talk. There will only be background music in post-production. As long as the mood is right, it's fine."

Ren Haichuan glanced at the script and said, "The entire process is about three minutes. In the early stage, you're the one setting the pace. Pay attention to your state of mind at this moment... you're insecure, always feeling like you could lose him at any time."

"Zhan Ming." Ren Haichuan looked at Ye Lan. "This should be when your sense of novelty towards Pei Ran is at its peak. Pei Ran, unlike you, doesn't know those fancy tricks. He just simply likes you and wants to be intimate with you. You need to act more practiced than him. At the end, you take the lead."

Ye Lan nodded, indicating it was no problem.

Ren Haichuan took the script from Jiang Chi's hand and said, "I won't call 'action.' Get into character on your own. Once the mood is right, just continue with the scene. The ending point is one minute after Zhan Ming flips over, presses Pei Ran down, and starts taking the lead."

Ye Lan nodded, directly took off his clothes, and lay down on the bed.

Jiang Chi's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he also followed suit, taking off his clothes.

Without a slate clap, Ren Haichuan sat behind the camera, waiting for the two to get into character.

Jiang Chi was worried he would freeze up during this scene, so an hour before filming, he had secretly taken care of his personal needs once.

But even so, once filming actually began, he still couldn't stop having improper thoughts. He didn't quite dare to touch Ye Lan, and a few minutes into the scene, his body was still stiff.

Ren Haichuan's expression began to darken. Jiang Chi pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and just as he was about to lower his head to kiss Ye Lan, Ye Lan suddenly lowered his voice and chuckled, "Feeling shy?"

Jiang Chi's eyelashes fluttered. A moment later, he admitted with a blush, "Mhm..."

"Then you'll have to beg me properly." A glint of cunning flashed in Ye Lan's eyes as he whispered, "Aren't you afraid I'll intentionally cause NGs?"

Jiang Chi glanced at Ye Lan in alarm. Ye Lan laughed out loud. "Just kidding. I won't bully you today... Still nervous?"

Only then did Jiang Chi realize that Ye Lan was helping him regulate his emotions. He swallowed. "M-Much better..."

"This scene was saved for last. It would be unreasonable if you still can't let go, right?" Ye Lan looked into Jiang Chi's eyes, a smile on his lips, and murmured, "Be a little wilder."

Jiang Chi closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them, lowered his head, and lightly kissed Ye Lan's chin, then his lips.

...

Ye Lan's hand rested lightly on Jiang Chi's waist. He turned his head, nuzzling against Jiang Chi's temple, and said with a half-smile, "Have I ever told you? Your kissing scenes are really terrible."

Jiang Chi froze, saying awkwardly, "Y-You've praised me before..."

Ye Lan scoffed.

Jiang Chi pursed his lips and asked in a small voice, "Were you lying to me?"

"Your acting is very good, but your kissing is just average... Ren Haichuan not calling 'cut' after all this time just shows he has low standards for you." Ye Lan estimated that it was time for him to take the lead. He suddenly flipped over, pinning Jiang Chi to the bed, and leaned in to kiss him by the ear. "A wrap-up gift. I'll teach you how a kissing scene should be filmed..."

Jiang Chi froze. 'Teach... teach me? How can he teach this?'

Ye Lan's long fingers gently slipped into Jiang Chi's hair. After ruffling it twice, he lifted Jiang Chi's chin somewhat roughly and commanded indistinctly, "Open your mouth."

Jiang Chi's eyes shot wide open, his heart began to pound.

...

Ye Lan French-kissed Jiang Chi half-forcefully for a moment before letting him go.

A hint of satisfaction appeared in Ye Lan's eyes. In a voice only Jiang Chi could hear, he chuckled, "Feeling it like this... your tongue really is quite soft."

Jiang Chi's face instantly turned as red as a cloth.

Jiang Chi used the last shred of his consciousness to recall that nearly a minute seemed to have passed since Ye Lan took the initiative.

The ending point was one minute after Ye Lan took the lead.

...This was probably his last intimate contact with Ye Lan.

Jiang Chi hesitated for a moment, then proactively, tentatively, and carefully licked the seam of Ye Lan's lips.

Ye Lan was taken aback. He parted his lips slightly, allowing Jiang Chi to invade the space between his lips and teeth.

Jiang Chi's movements were gentle, his breathing was soft, and his gaze was persistent and affectionate.

Ye Lan: 'Little wolf cub, you learn pretty fast.'

He suddenly recalled a question An Ya had asked him over the phone.

"If Jiang Chi had really given you some kind of hint in that regard that night, what would you have done?"

What would he have done, what would he have done...

Ye Lan really wasn't sure.

But there was one thing he was clear about.

If Jiang Chi had proactively licked his lips that night like he was doing now.

He definitely wouldn't have been able to remain unfazed.