Capturing My Demon King Costar

Maybe it's the shock of hearing those words come out of his own mouth, but Yao Shen wakes up with a start, sitting up in bed with a yelp, the sheets pooling around his waist, trapping him in place.

What kind of person sleeps with someone whose name they don't even know?

Worst, what kind of person sleeps with someone who doesn't even ask them their name?

Did Yao Shen do that just because the ghost kings wanted him to get something from Xin Hulei?

Reincarnation must really change a person, because Yao Shen can't imagine himself being so forward now.

Yao Shen would like to ask Xin Hulei directly, but the ghost kings' cryptic words held him back. Something tells him Xin Hulei wouldn't react well if he knew who Yao Shen was in his previous life, even with what happened between them.

It would be a shame to ruin the budding 'whatever' they have growing between them by digging up past life resentments.

Yao Shen didn't even believe in any of that a few months ago, so he's happy to leave all that drama in the distant past he doesn't even remember, where it can't hurt him or anyone else.

As to the ghost kings demands...the future is long, who knows what will happen.

Reinvigorated after a good night's sleep he jumps into the shower whistling to himself, a little amused at washing off the flaking proof of last night's activities off his stomach.

He's curious to know if Xin Hulei sent him anything after his last text.

There's only one unread message when he unlocks his phone.

[Xin Hulei: be a good boy and maybe I'll let you]

It takes Yao Shen a moment to remember the last message he sent along with the photo. His middle tightens suddenly as soon as he does, heat radiating from his bellybutton all the way up his chest.

Xin Hulei is really something.

[Naughty Ghost: Good morning. Did you sleep well?]

[Naughty Ghost: had any dreams about me? wink.png]

Yao Shen is going about his day, getting dressed to go to set when Xin Hulei's message arrives.

[Xin Hulei: did]

And that's all he says.

[Naughty Ghost: and what happened in your dream?]

[Xin Hulei: i'll show you some time]

Is that a threat or a promise? 

[Naughty Ghost: keep me waiting and I'll go knocking on other doors]

[Xin Hulei: try]

That single word sends an unspeakable shiver down Yao Shen's spine.

He puts his phone away before he unlocks some hidden kinks that were better off never seeing the light of day.

---

Bi Jialu is relieved to see Yao Shen's mood much improved compared to the day before, but is equally stumped as to why the sudden change.

Yao Shen doesn't tell her anything, only looking into his phone from time to time and smiling at something out of her view.

Yao Shen is once again going to be filming with Xin Hulei for most of the day, it's too bad that there are going to be other people on the scenes with them, because Yao Shen would actually appreciate the opportunity to have some alone time.

On the other hand, maybe the other actors will act as buffers and the production crew won't be on such high alert to keep the two of them separated.

His optimism evaporates the minute he arrives at the shooting location and sees Tan Liansi glaring at him from across the mounted cameras, her script clutched tightly in her fist.

Yao Shen ignores her, smiling instead at Ye Fang, standing at her side.

"Morning, Ye laoshi" he says when she waves him over. Noticing the dark circles under her eyes, he adds, "Is everything alright? Hasn't laoshi been able to sleep, lately?"

She looks around, as if self conscious of being overheard by Xin Hulei and Tan Liansi, who are conferring together, their heads close.

Ye Fang takes hold of Yao Shen's sleeve and pulls him towards a more secluded corner of the set.

"Please don't laugh, laoshi," she says, her tone serious.

"I won't," Yao Shen assures her, worried about the haunted look in her eyes. "Ye laoshi can tell me if anything is happening."

She closes her eyes and nods, taking a sobering breath. "Maybe my teachers were right, and I'm just a silly girl who allows supernatural nonsense to pollute her mind but...I believe our hotel is haunted."

Ye Fang lowers her eyes in embarrassment, as if she expects Yao Shen to burst into laughter.

He isn't laughing.

"Uh, what makes you say that?" he asks, tentatively.

She holds on to his hand like a lifeline, startling him with the intensity of her relief. "Does that mean that laoshi believes me?"

"Uh..."

Ye Fang shakes her head. "Nevermind, it's already great that laoshi is willing to humor me." 

"Did- did you see any ghosts?" Yao Shen asks, trying to catch Xin Hulei's eyes, but he's still deep in conversation with Tan Liansi.

Ye Fang shakes her head again. "Didn't see, but..." gingerly, she raises her wrist and shows Yao Shen a tarnished silver bracelet. "My grandmother gave me this to ward off evil. Ever since we started filming the bracelet has gotten darker and darker." 

Just talking about it makes her shiver in fright. "And that's not all, I have several amulets in my hotel room, and they have all been used up or triggered at different times." Her already large eyes widen comically in her pretty face. "Ge, I think...I think that not only ghosts, but demons might be walking among us as well."

Yao Shen tries once again to catch Xin Hulei's eye over Ye Fang's shoulder, but this time he's talking with Director Chen, and still not paying him any attention.

"Ye laoshi is really superstitious," Yao Shen says, chuckling awkwardly. "Maybe there's a rational explanation for why all the talismans were tripped."

He sees the dismay in Ye Fang's face and hurries to add. "Or maybe not, maybe it's only that the feng shui in laoshi's room is really bad and it's tripping the amulets, because the uh...the vibes are rancid?"

Ye Fang mouths the words "the vibes are rancid" in silence at him, and Yao Shen realizes he should probably just shut up.

Luckily for him at that moment, Director Chen calls for everyone to go to their marks so they can start filming.

---

The scene they're filming consists of yet another instance of Mei Shuang airing her grievances about yet another person trying to take her Shizun away from her.

This time she's complaining to Yan Shuyi about Chao Yue being only a lowly girl, little better than a commoner with almost not cultivation to speak of, who is nonetheless, pestering Yan Shuyi with useless questions about Frozen Peak and Xie Huan.

"What does my oldest disciple suggest?" Yan Shuyi asks, while trimming the flower arrangements in the disciples class room. 

Mei Shuang's solution is brutal and economic. "That girl should return to where she came from at once."

She doesn't expect to find an unlikely ally in Xie Huan, who was eavesdropping on their conversation and joins in to voice his full support.

"I agree with shijie," he says, smiling from ear to ear -- always an incongruous sight for Yao Shen to see on Xin Hulei's stoic face -- "Our master's marriage arrangements for Chao Yue might have fallen through, but as her shixiong, I'll be happy to make new ones and wish her and her future spouse a thousand blessings and years of happiness."

No sooner is he done talking than Chao Yue walks in, holding her hands in front of her chest. "Many thanks to older brother for his warm wishes," she says, smiling sweetly. "Although, I think he knows the particularly sad circumstances under which my engagement fell apart."

She shoots Xie Huan a cold look, hiding a veiled threat to reveal his real identity if he continues to try and get rid of her.

As always, it's Yan Shuyi who dispels the tension. "I would think that my disciples would have learned the principle of charity by now," he says, patting first Mei Shuang on the shoulder, and then Xie Huan. "Chao Yue is my guest here and welcome to stay for as long as she wants."

The scene ends by focusing on Chao Yue's innocent smile of gratitude that turns into a smirk as her gaze shifts towards Xie Huan.

Director Chen yells cut and congratulates the four of them on a job well done.

"We'll have a short break before taking it from the top," he says, conferring with the assistant director.

Yao Shen takes advantage of the break and catches hold of Xin Hulei, dragging him into a secluded corner before anyone can steal him away.

Maybe Ye Fang is just a superstitious worrywart, or maybe Gao Wu is really attracting so many ghosts that their hotel is on the verge of hosting an anticipated tomb sweeping festival.

Xin Hulei's hands fly to his waist immediately, pushing him into the wall behind his back. "Little menace, what are you trying to do?" he asks, whispering the words near Yao Shen's ear. "Provoke me in public and we'll give the illegal photographers the show of a lifetime."