Ch24.1 - The Peak of Competition Between Beauty and Acting Skills (24)

“Cut!”

Once it was called, Xu Qichen rolled off Lin Ran and laid on the bed. 

Chen Anping was not very surprised by Lin Ran’s performance. After all, that guy had acted in all kinds of difficult roles. Even if it’s with someone of the same sex, with his professionalism, there would not be too many problems.

But Ji Mengze surprised him. The scene was originally written with Nan Ke as the dominant party. But he reversed the roles in the second half! His acting was provocative, yet controlled. This performance ability was definitely beyond what an idol should be capable of, even Lin Ran was carried away by it.

This bed scene should have been seductive and intense, but Ji Mengze’s performance made it fiercely poignant.

Probably because of his temperament. 

Chen Anping felt that he had received a blessing in disguise.

After ‘cut’ was called out, Lin Ran sat up and tried to suppress the restlessness in his heart by controlling his breathing.

The person beside him remained unmoving. Lin Ran reached out to poke him, but decided instead to retract his hand and only called out, “Hey.”

Xu Qichen tightly grasped the sheets. After returning to reality, he felt only miserable.

With much effort, he pushed himself up. The set had once again become noisy.

Lin Ran watched as he tugged on the shirt, got up from the bed, and headed towards the monitor.

He didn’t even look at him.

Not even a glance. 

The fire that had been burning vigorously a few moments ago was suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water and extinguished completely.

The feeling of being able to see but not touch had been torturous enough, he didn’t expect that this guy could instantly revert to how he was before.

He’s even more professional as an actor than himself ah.

Professional to the point of cruelty. 

Xu Qichen had always been distant and reserved with everyone. He would not reject, would not resist, but he would also not approach.

Doubts began to creep up. But he was unwilling to give up.

Lin Ran put on his clothes and left the bed that still smelled faintly of him.

Since the hotel scenes had all been filmed successfully, everyone packed up and left. On the road back, Zhang Xiaoxiao noticed that Xu Qichen was constantly looking out the window silently, so she asked, “Mengze-ge, are you very tired?” 

Xu Qichen looked at her, “No, I drank some wine earlier so I feel a little dizzy.”

“Just now I heard some of the staff praising you, saying you act really well.” Zhang Xiaoxiao smiled widely, “Mengze-ge, your improvement with this film is really great, I can see how serious you are.”

Xu Qichen rested his head on the window, “Was I not serious before?”

“No, you were, but it feels like you’re especially immersed in this film, like the character is actually you. I can’t tell if you’re really acting or not.” 

Xu Qichen did not reply. This was why he felt guilty.

He knew this film was Ji Mengze’s best chance at turning over, and for that, he had to act well. Even if it meant putting all his personal emotions into the character, if this could change everyone’s impression of Ji Mengze and complete the main task successfully, he was willing to do anything.

But he realised that he had overly simplified the original intention of this novel in his head.

When he was writing this novel, he had subconsciously poured some of his own emotions into Yu Ning. Everything that he could and could not do in real life, was expressed through Yu Ning. Rather than the real Ji Mengze, the character of Yu Ning was much closer to his own personality. 

But it was only when he borrowed the strength of alcohol to place himself in Yu Ning’s position to interpret him did he realise how very brave Yu Ning was, and how cowardly he himself was.

Yu Ning had uprooted all the emotions he had kept deeply buried all these years.

The more he acted, the more dejected he felt.

He regretted it. Why did he have to pour his private emotions into the novel, why did he have to create a character in the image of the person he liked? 

The seaside kiss once again came to mind.

Although he had never dated, neither that nor the first kiss scene had been his first kiss.

Xu Qichen never understood the meaning of a kiss. Many years ago, he was once kissed without warning, but only as a joke.

What about Lin Ran? 

The tangled train of thoughts made Xu Qichen fall deeply into self-doubt. Just like how he always broke down whenever it came to writing the emotional plotline, in the end, it was because he had no idea what a normal relationship is.

Suddenly the system reward interface appeared before his eyes. This time he earned 2500 points. As he collected the points, he also stopped thinking.

Despite everything, Xu Qichen was a person who could swiftly digest negative emotions rather than be affected by them all the time. When they started work the next day, he was back in the state of working seriously.

Overall, Nan Ke’s part in the film was larger than Yu Ning’s, so often, Xu Qichen would sit nearby and watch Lin Ran act, learning by watching. 

However, today, Lin Ran did not look for him during any breaks.

Even after filming a scene together, the moment the director yelled ‘cut’, Lin Ran just turned and walked off.

The atmosphere was so obvious that even Zhang Xiaoxiao realised something was wrong. She handed Xu Qichen two cups of milk and asked, “Mengze-ge, did you quarrel with Lin Ran-ge? The atmosphere between you two seems weird…”

Xu Qichen received the cups, “Maybe… I’m not sure what happened either.” 

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

It’s not that he didn’t notice Lin Ran’s abnormality.

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“Give Lin Ran-ge a cup ba.”

On the side of the milk tea cup, a handprint of fine water droplets could be seen. 

Xu Qichen compromised, “Okay.”

With the cup in hand, he looked around for traces of Lin Ran.

He caught sight of Lin Ran’s back, leaning against a wall.

His steps were hesitant, but he made his way over nevertheless. He was about three or four metres away when he noticed him chatting merrily with a supporting actress. 

The girl’s eyes were bright, like a deer’s. Lin Ran received a bottle of water from her, and took a sip. The girl said something and he laughed loudly, his smile particularly bright under the sunlight.

Don’t give others that smile ah.

Xu Qichen immediately paused. Or rather, he was frightened by the thought that suddenly appeared in his mind.

Why is this happening. 

He turned around, his steps getting more rushed as he walked, wanting to leave this place as quickly as possible.

Afraid that Xiaoxiao would be disappointed in him for failing to give the cup of milk tea away, Xu Qichen found a corner and finished up both cups himself. The him who always enjoyed sweet foods actually felt nauseous.

This job was truly difficult. Their relationship in reality was clearly strained, but they still had to be intimate in front of the camera.

After finishing his part, Xu Qichen returned to the hotel and curled up under the blankets. 

The next few days went on like this. Neither of them spoke to each other on WeChat, and they continued to work while keeping such a distance. At first Xu Qichen pondered on the reason, but eventually he simply placed the blame on himself.

He must have done something wrong.

0901: “In that case, you should apologise, or your secondary task may fail.”

Xu Qichen: “This task has gone out of my control.” 

The good was overly good, and the bad, overly bad.

Were human relationships all like this?

But…this couldn’t even be counted as a relationship ba! Xu Qichen felt a deep sense of loss.

On a certain night after filming, Xu Qichen sent Lin Ran a message on WeChat. 

Xu Qichen: Let’s go out for supper?

A few minutes later, Lin Ran replied.

Lin Ran: No need, I’m getting ready for bed.

This was a clear rejection ba. 

Xu Qichen did not win himself the opportunity to apologise in person, but if he apologised over WeChat, it would seem insincere.

So, the next day he mustered his courage and approached Lin Ran when he was alone.

“I’m sorry.”

Lin Ran looked up, “Why?” 

Xu Qichen was silent. To be honest, he did not know either. He just felt that it must have been his fault.

After a long time, Lin Ran looked down. “I should be the one apologising. I behaved unreasonably, apologies.”

Without waiting for Xu Qichen’s reply, Lin Ran stood up and left.

He failed again. 

Yes, he had long noticed Lin Ran’s abnormality.

But he was afraid that after clarifying things, he would find that this was actually the real Lin Ran.

And that everything that happened before, was just mischief caused because of the novelty factor.

Anyway this would not be the first time. 

In this way, the stalemate lasted until the day he finished filming his part. Originally, the bar scene was arranged to be filmed earlier, but because of problems arising with the rental of the location, this scene became Xu Qichen’s last scene.

In this scene, Yu Ning was drinking in the bar and dancing with a girl he chatted up. He happened to be seen by Nan Ke, who was at a gathering with his colleagues. This eventually led to the hotel scene.

“Nan Ke, Scene 97, Take 1. Action!”

Yu Ning sat at the bar counter. “One dry martini, thank you.” 

He had just taken a sip when a beautiful woman with a good figure appeared beside him. “Is your taste in alcohol so conservative?”

Yu Ning rested his chin on his hand as he sized up the woman before him.

The woman smiled and told the bartender, “B52.”

Yu Ning laughed. 

The woman asked, “One for you?”

“My honour.”

“Two B52s.”

The two B52s were placed in front of them and the bartender lit them up. On the drink with distinct layers, a blue flame leapt to life. 

Yu Ning turned to look at the person beside him. “Ladies first.”

The other party picked up a short straw and inserted it into the shot glass. As she was about to lower her head, the straw burned up.

“Cut!”

The actress immediately threw the straw on the floor and stepped on it, apologising profusely. 

“No problem, I also find this difficult,” Xu Qichen comforted.

The bartender was a professional bartender. He reminded them once again, “You must drink fast, don’t be afraid. Or don’t use the straw. Cover the fire with lemon slices, then wipe the edge of the shot glass, and drink it in one gulp.”

This drink’s alcohol content was reasonably high, so only one or two takes of them actually drinking it would be filmed, the rest was up to post-production.

“Once more!” 

“Nan Ke, Scene 97, Take 2! Action!”

“Pa!”

Yu Ning smiled, “Ladies first.”

The woman shot the straw straight into the drink and finished it in one gulp. “It’s your turn.” 

Yu Ning picked up a slice of lemon and downed the drink while covering the flame, then put the glass back.

“Good, that’s a pass.”

After a few more shots by the bar, the two actors moved to the dance floor.

“We can fake the kiss scene ba,” Xu Qichen asked Director Chen. 

Chen Anping could not understand, “You can exchange real kisses with male actors, but when it comes to female actors you want to fake it?”

Xu Qichen smiled awkwardly.

Considering Ji Mengze’s profession and insane fans, Chen Anping eventually agreed, “Fine, place your thumb on her lips later.”

“Nan Ke! Nan Ke and Gina, take your places.” 

Everything was ready. Xu Qichen held the actress’s waist. She was wearing a halter neck dress, so he felt an unshakeable discomfort touching her bare skin.

“Nan Ke, Scene 98, Take 1. Action!”

On the dance floor, beneath the dazzling lights, Yu Ning and a woman were intimately pressed together, wantonly swaying as one with the music.

“Nan Ke.” 

Nan Ke retracted his gaze.

Gina, who was sitting beside him, asked with a laugh: “What were you looking at? Someone you know?”

Nan Ke shook his head: “I saw wrong.”

Waiter: “Hello, your drinks.” 

“Thank you.” Gina tried to place his drink in front of him, but accidentally spilled it. The blue cocktail flowed off the table onto Nan Ke’s pants. Gina apologised profusely, flusteredly grabbing tissues from her bag to wipe it for him.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Nan Ke lowered his head and reached out to stop her.

This set of actions, under the distortion of light and angle, became an incomparably ambiguous position.

Yu Ning, who had a clear view of the scene, tightened his grip on the woman. The two were practically plastered against each other. He lifted his hand to tenderly stroke her cheek, then lowered his head to kiss her, but his gaze was stuck on a certain dark corner not too far away, until it met with that of Nan Ke’s. 

A provocative gaze full of temptation and aggressiveness.

He felt like the character he was acting was a hunter.

Yet also the hunted.

Seeing Nan Ke watch him without moving, seemingly frozen to the spot, Yu Ning ended the long kiss and frivolously pulled the woman by her hand, back to their seat at the bar. 

“Cut! That’s a pass!”

The cameraman exclaimed to Chen Anping, “Yu Ning’s gaze earlier… perfect!”

Chen Anping nodded.

Xu Qichen released the actress’s hand. Seeing her bashfulness, he respectfully widened the distance between them. 

Earlier, when he had seen Lin Ran and the actress playing Gina’s intimate position, his mind had flashed back to that afternoon; when Lin Ran and another actress had chatted merrily.

And to countless other times when Lin Ran had ignored him.

A nameless fire had burned in his chest and he had felt very unlike himself.

He had thought that that moment of spacing out would result in an NG, but it passed. How strange. 

Only when Xu Qichen was asked by the stylist to get his drunken make-up touched up, did he stop thinking about it.

The bar was overly noisy. It felt like one’s heart was pounding to the heavy beat of the music. The drink he had downed earlier also began to take effect.

Xu Qichen mocked himself. He was truly a professional, constantly using alcohol as a catalyst for awakening his acting skills.

Or rather, awakening his emotions. 

“Nan Ke, Scene 99, Take 1. Action!”

They continued to drink and chat. The ambiguous distance between them continued to reduce until he finally drunkenly fell into her arms.

Falling into her arms was an impromptu action added by Xu Qichen.

Nan Ke’s hand around the glass tightened again and again. Finally, he told Gina, “Excuse me, I have to do something, I’ll have to leave now.” 

“Go home early, I’ll pay the bill.”

Ignoring Gina’s obvious disappointment, Nan Ke left the spot that made him feel awkward and walked towards the bar counter. He snatched the collapsed drunk up from the woman’s arms.

“Apologies, I’ll be bringing this person back.”

“Ai?” Yu Ning, who had been forcibly pulled away, swayed on his feet. His face revealed his confusion. 

The woman had no intention of letting him go that easily. “Who are you, what’s your relationship with him?”

“None of your business.” Nan Ke’s expression turned ugly.

The woman swore, then left with her bag.

Yu Ning rested his head on Nan Ke’s shoulder. After squinting at him for half a day, he called out, “Nan Ke?” 

Nan Ke helped him up, but was pushed away.

“Let go…” Yu Ning put his weight back on the bar counter. “You ruined my night….”

Nan Ke became angrier. He grabbed his wrist, “Your night? Is your nightly entertainment sleeping with strangers?”

Lin Ran used more strength than he expected, Xu Qichen furrowed his brows in pain. He wanted to shake his hand off, but the other party grabbed both his forearms. 

“What are you doing?!”

The confusion, grievance, hesitation, and dispiritedness accumulated over the past few days exploded all at once.

“Why are you still trying to manage me? Ah!?” With all his strength, he freed his hands. “Leave whenever you want, ignore me, treat me as air, are these not your greatest talents!?”
Alcohol and emotion wore away his strength, Xu Qichen’s body slipped down the bar counter to the ground.

“What right do you have… to interfere…” 

Much of that was not from the script.

Lin Ran looked at him mumbling to himself, tears running unchecked down the eyes; and his fist clenched.

Xu Qichen raised himself up with one hand on the floor, while he tried to use his other hand to climb up with the support of a barstool. He realised that he had misspoken the dialogues, but the director did not stop them, so he could only continue with the original lines.

“You chased away my partner for tonight.”
Sprawled on the bar with his head tilted, he pointed at the dance floor and smiled innocently. 

“Go… go find me another one… who looks better than you, and is more tender…”

With that, he buried his face in his arms like a child and began to murmur drunkenly in French.

Lin Ran stood there for a while, then he stepped forward to help him up. Xu Qichen seemed to have completely lost the spirit of resistance and had collapsed. Lin Ran couldn’t walk while holding him up, so he squatted down, looped Xu Qichen’s arms around his neck, and carried him up on his back. In this way, he walked out of the noisy bar step by step.

The long shot finally ended. 

“Cut! That’s good!”

Xu Qichen immediately came down from Lin Ran’s back. His legs felt weak and he almost fell, but he managed to hold himself up.

Lin Ran turned around and glanced at him, but just as quickly turned back again.

The staff rushed up to them. Xu Qichen caught sight of Li Yun, with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. 

“Congratulations Mengze for completing your part!”

TN:

So this chapter was delayed for a week because reasons, (thank you for waiting) but let’s pretend it’s because it’s twice as long as the previous ones… and that’s after it has undergone my clumsy chopping. Well. 

Next update: Chapter 24.2
I’m aiming to finish that asap and avoid chopping it further, but we might end up with a 24.3. Real life always has the final say.

Good news: Most future chapters will be shorter than this monster of a 24, but still twice as long as the previous chapters. On the other hand, who knows if we’ll be able to generate readable 6~7k word chapters in a week :’)

Finally, our beloved editor Sarcasm is the reason I’m alive today.