Ch29.2 - The Peak of Competition Between Beauty and Acting Skills (29)

Work had ended earlier than Xu Qichen had expected. They were back in the hostel by 11:30 PM. Working for an entire day had been hard on them, so everyone quickly washed up and went to bed early to get more rest in preparation for recording another program the next day.

To keep up appearances, Xu Qichen also showered and changed into his pyjamas. After he closed the door and tucked himself in, he laid down listening to the ticking of the clock. On the stroke of midnight, Xu Qichen quietly climbed out of bed and put on an unremarkable long black down coat and a grey and white wool hat. 

He looked in the mirror.

Then chose a dark grey scarf and wrapped it around his neck, covering half his face so only his eyes could be seen.

Satisfied, Xu Qichen stealthily opened the room door, felt his way around the living room, and sat down on the stool in the entryway to put on his shoes.

Just as he was about to open the door, the light came on. 

“Where are you going?”

Xu Qichen jumped in fright. He turned around and saw Bai Yi, with his pyjamas and bed hair. “I… I’m going out to buy food.”

“Must you dress up like that to buy food? You look more like you’re going to steal food,” Bai Yi teased softly.

Xu Qichen smiled guiltily.

Bai Yi yawned, “I know you’re going to watch the movie.”

Xu Qichen was stunned. Just as he was about to ask how he knew, Bai Yi continued, “Go ba, I’m going back to sleep.” Bai Yi walked over and opened the door for him, then pushed Xu Qichen out. “I won’t tell anyone, but you have to promise me something.”

Xu Qichen stood in the doorway, “What?”

“I want to sing the theme song for Master Lin’s next film, mention it to him for me?” 

So it was that. Xu Qichen nodded, “I will mention it, but I might not succeed.”

Bai Yi gave him an ‘OK’ sign, then reached out to tug Xu Qichen’s scarf further up. “Be careful, don’t get caught.”

“En.”

This early in the morning, there were fewer people on the street. Xu Qichen came out of his dormitory, walked to another street, hailed a taxi, and went to the cinema that Lin Ran had chosen. Before getting off, Xu Qichen took a look at his mobile phone – 1:10 AM. 

Don’t know if Lin Ran is there yet.

When Xu Qichen walked into the cinema, there was almost no one else except a few young people who had just finished watching a film.

Xu Qichen stood in an inconspicuous corner and looked around for Lin Ran.

His phone’s notification sounded. 

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.

[I’m behind XXX Film’s display.]

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Lin Ran was wearing a pair of black framed glasses and a dark grey cotton padded hat on the outside of his baseball cap. He had zipped up the collar of his coat and covered the lower half of his face. He looked like a college student.

“It’s starting soon~” Although his sharp tooth could not be seen, Lin Ran’s smile could be seen clearly in his eyes, “I bought popcorn and milk tea, do you want anything else?”

Xu Qichen shook his head and sat down opposite Lin Ran, “Have you been waiting for a long time?” 

“No ah, I just arrived too.” Lin Ran took in Xu Qichen’s outfit, “Your wool hat is really nice.”

Xu Qichen was a little embarrassed, thinking whether he should reply or not, but found that his black baseball cap looked familiar “You still have this cap.”

“That’s right,” Lin Ran mock frowned, “Don’t you try to take it back, I won’t let you have it.”

Childish. 

Xu Qichen poked the straw into the milk teacup, took a sip, and smiled to himself.

It’s sweet.

Soon the movie began. At 1:30 in the morning, he thought that no one would come except them. Unexpectedly, there were several couples present too.

Just like them. 

Boys with boys.

The ticket checking staff was very tired and didn’t even lift their heads. Lin Ran, followed by Xu Qichen, smoothly entered the screening hall. He had chosen seats closer to the back row. Habitually holding on to Xu Qichen’s wrist, Lin Ran searched for their seats row by row.

While he was focused on looking at the numbers, the wrist he was holding broke free. He subconsciously lowered his head before he realised that that hand had grasped his own.

Intertwining their fingers. 

“It’s the row above.”

He paused for a moment.

“Oh.”

A certain kind of happy emotion spread wildly in his heart. 

After the opening credits got over, Xu Qichen could just make out the scattered 5-6 members of the audience.

The experience of watching his own face on the big screen for the first time was overwhelming.

Ah, no, it can’t exactly be regarded as ‘his own’ face, Xu Qichen thought.

The film opened with Nan Ke and Yu Ning’s meeting seven years later, and the dramatic conflict was obvious. 

There was always a transitional monologue whenever the setting shifted between seven years ago and seven years later. Whenever it was a memory, the monologue is in the form of Yu Ning’s thoughts from seven years ago. When returning back to reality, the monologue is an excerpt from Yu Ning’s new book. This method gave the film a unique sense of drama.

Although he’s the actor, and these scenes were acted in by himself, under the Director’s masterful arrangements, Xu Qichen still found himself absorbed into the plot.

When he saw Nice’s Baie des Anges, he could not help but recall their last night in Nice.

He silently glanced at Lin Ran. The constantly changing light from the screen shone on his face, dancing across his features like Xu Qichen’s own joyful mood. 

[To love someone whom one will never see again is to give a cry of exultation as one perishes in the flames of passion. One lives only in and for this moment.]

When the Nan Ke on the screen said this, Xu Qichen saw the pair of boys three rows in front exchange a kiss in the dim lighting.

This scene made his heart pound and he averted his gaze, looking for something to do to get rid of the feeling of awkwardness. He reached into the popcorn bucket and grabbed a handful.

Just as he was about to stuff it in his mouth, his arm was pulled away forcefully, causing him to fall leftwards. 

Into an unexpected kiss.

The moment their soft lips met, his heart seemed to stop.

He was released very quickly.

His heart began to beat again, recovering slowly, then beat increasingly faster. 

Lin Ran turned to look at the screen as though nothing had happened.

On the other hand, Xu Qichen was still in a daze, gripping the handful of popcorn tightly.

The hand that had been grasping his arm stole popcorn from his palm.

He looked at Lin Ran. 

In the chaotic dimness, only the pair of eyes beneath the black cap shone brightly.

He held the popcorn he had stolen and waved it in front of Xu Qichen mockingly. Then he raised his chin in the direction of the screen, “Watch.”

Xu Qichen subconsciously turned back towards the screen.

It was the scene of Nan Ke and Yu Ning kissing under the moonlight. 

“They’re not done yet.”

A sudden burning sensation spread from his chest to his cheeks like a forest on fire.

Xu Qichen lowered his head and pulled up his scarf to cover more of his face, shrinking into himself.

Beside him, Lin Ran could not help laughing under his breath. Seeing Xu Qichen refusing to look at the screen, he leant over and whispered beside his ear, “You’re the one who acted in that, how can you still be embarrassed ah?” 

Lin Ran’s warm breath, mixed with the aroma of his summer grass scented cologne, rushed through the ear and to permeate the air around them.

Xu Qichen didn’t look at him, but forgetting his usual gentleness, talked back in a low voice.

“Of course, a film emperor would not be embarrassed. Pardon me for not being one.”

Upon hearing that, Lin Ran stopped laughing. “No.” 

When he was no longer teasing childishly, his tone became serious and sincere.

“I also get embarrassed.”

In the dark, to the background of Yu Ning’s monologue and the piano accompaniment as soft and tender as whispered words of love, Lin Ran fumbled and grasped Xu Qichen’s hand.

“And excited, so I want to kiss you.” 

“Even if only for a second.”