FLME Ch62

Before sending the message, Yu Wen copied the carefully crafted confession he had edited. He was too embarrassed to send anything after just replying with a “yes,” as Xie Heyu’s messages were so brief that if he wrote a long essay, it would seem overly sentimental.

Adults, after all, should keep their relationships simple and straightforward. His previous reaction didn’t feel right—being all shy and hesitant, wasting time.

Reflecting briefly, Yu Wen touched the tips of his heated ears, trying to calm down. He copied his long confession into the chatbox again, although he didn’t plan to send it. He couldn’t bear to delete it, so he decided to keep it for a few days to admire.

After calming down for a while, Yu Wen opened Xie Heyu’s profile, went into the notes, and deleted “Teacher Xie.” Slowly, he typed in: boyfriend.

As he typed those words, his emotions were strange—not just shyness, but more of a settled feeling of reassurance. He suddenly realized that, during the time he seemed to be burying his head in the sand, his mind had already been honestly rehearsing this scenario, over and over again.

The staff called them to prepare for filming. Yu Wen hadn’t yet snapped out of his emotions, dazed and flustered as he fumbled to lock his phone and hand it to his assistant.

In the car, Xie Heyu stared at the concise “yes” in the chatbox, his expression as calm as ever.

Mm, he agreed.

That’s good.

Thinking this, he turned off his screen and leaned back against the seat to continue resting.

Less than a minute later, he opened his eyes, turned on his phone, and stared at the word “yes” for a while longer.

Mm, it’s yes.

Satisfied, Xie Heyu nodded and resumed resting.

Thirty seconds passed, and he opened his phone again.

Xie Heyu thought to himself, I’ll just look at it one more time. Just once more. I really need to rest—I didn’t sleep well last night, and I’m exhausted. I really should relax and rest now—

Ding! A new message popped up in the chatbox.

The conversation had ended more than ten minutes ago, so the new message came abruptly. As soon as he glanced at the first few words, his heartbeat nearly stopped.

[I won’t reject you… because I like you too…]

[Hahaha… In short… I just want to tell you, I actually like you a lot…]

[Shall we date?]

A flood of carefully chosen words conveyed the owner’s caution and sincerity. Just from the last sentence, Xie Heyu understood that, during the time before he proposed they start dating, Teacher Xiao Yu had been struggling just as he had—trying to carefully parse out and understand his own feelings.

One word, “yes,” was powerful, but a confession was thunderous.

Xie Heyu could no longer hear anything.

The car was engulfed in a strange, intense silence. After a while, he moved his nearly numb wrist and began typing:

[Mm, let’s date.]

[Are you still coming out?]

[I want to see you.]

[Has the filming started?]

[No need to reply after seeing this. I’ll come to you.]

[I’m coming in now.]

Yu Wen’s phone kept buzzing, but Assistant Xiao Zhou was holding clothes and didn’t have free hands. She asked Yi Ming, who was already done with makeup, to help by handing the phone to Yu Wen.

Yi Ming was sipping plain water through a straw, pretending it was milk tea. He fished the phone out of the assistant’s pocket and went to find Yu Wen in the dressing room.

Before he entered, he overheard the makeup artist saying, “Why is your lip cracked here? It’s going to hurt when we apply makeup later…”

Yi Ming wandered in as Yu Wen sheepishly smiled, explaining it was from heat. But Yi Ming thought the injury looked more like something had bitten it.

The makeup artist shook her head and carefully tried to cover the mark as gently as possible.

Director Miao had referenced some of Yu Wen’s previous makeup looks for Song Mingzhu’s character, like the time Yu Wen wore a red-tinged eyeliner for the Immortal Sect promotional event. It suited the more complex side of Song Mingzhu.

Yu Wen’s large, upward-slanting eyes needed only a bit of enhancement to transform from innocent to pitiful.

When his lashes lowered, the effect was irresistible.

The director also referenced one of Yu Wen’s livestream appearances, pairing him with a set of gold-rimmed glasses. With the glasses, he looked like a proper, elegant young master; without them, he had a seductive aura—the exact effect the director wanted.

However, the available accessories weren’t ideal, and the gold-rimmed glasses found didn’t quite match the desired style. Some weren’t dignified enough, while others had frames too large, covering half his face.

Yu Wen suggested, “I can bring the glasses I used in the livestream.”

Those glasses belonged to Xie Heyu. They looked simple but had well-crafted details. They not only complemented Yu Wen’s face shape but also didn’t press on the bridge of his nose. The lenses were detachable, and they even had a matching single-sided chain. According to Teacher Xie, the matching gold chain was very elegant.

Yu Wen had returned the glasses to Xie Heyu after the livestream, so he’d have to ask him for them again for the production. But it didn’t matter—Xie Heyu was now his boyfriend, so asking for the glasses would be easy.

The director agreed to Yu Wen’s suggestion and temporarily gave him a similar pair of glasses to try out for the costume photoshoot.

When Yu Wen stepped into the spotlight, he immediately got into character. Some people are just born for the camera. A few months ago, Yu Wen had needed special lessons to learn blocking and camera presence, but now he could quickly immerse himself in his role, blending his interpretation and emotions with the character.

He had high emotional intelligence, could respond well in conversations, was popular in variety shows, and even had a bit of luck with mysticism. He could excel in any path within the entertainment industry. All he had to do was choose the one he liked best.

Song Mingzhu’s character introduction sets him at twenty years old. Amid the power struggles between the Fu and Song families, where the elder brothers continuously sparred with each other, this youngest little master barely had any presence. Whenever he appeared, he would stand quietly in a corner with his head lowered, and when ridiculed, he would merely press his lips together and smile gently. This little monster had already found the skin that suited him best, calmly observing everyone’s struggles and dissecting their behavior, carefully piecing together bits to apply to himself.

Once he’d pasted on enough, he finally began to show his claws.

On camera, the boy had delicate features, occasionally lowering his head with a faint air of benevolence. The shy, overly kind little master of the Song family had already begun to reveal a sharp edge through Yu Wen’s subtle gestures.

Director Miao looked at the screen and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Not bad, not bad.”

This look fully utilized Yu Wen’s strengths. Even the tear mole, which usually only his fans fawned over, played a key role in portraying Song Mingzhu’s dual nature—something that hadn’t been too noticeable before.

Yi Ming, standing nearby, casually chimed in, “Not bad, he’s definitely not targeting me.”

Director Miao: “The shirt and vest are well-fitted, really showing off Xiao Yu’s physical advantages.”

Yi Ming: “Wow, that waist, those hips.”

Director Miao: “This will definitely wow the audience.”

Yi Ming: “The perfect heartthrob for the gay community!”

Director Miao: “…We’re a serious production crew.”

Yi Ming silently mimed zipping her mouth shut.

As she raised her hand, she remembered she was still holding a phone. As it flipped, the screen lit up, showing six new messages. The last one read: [I’m coming in.]

Yi Ming didn’t pay much attention at first, but something suddenly clicked, and she slowly shifted her gaze back.

The message was from: boyfriend.

…Oh.

She had just stumbled upon a juicy melon.

No wonder they called her the melon queen.

After finishing the first set of costume photos, Yu Wen took the phone from Yi Ming, noticing her giving him a rather peculiar look, her lips curved in a suggestive smile.

Yu Wen: “…There hasn’t been any gossip lately.”

He figured his senior was just up to her usual habits, always eager for drama, but the major actor scandal had only recently blown over. Even though Yu Wen was a low-key figure, it was impossible for him to stumble into another big event so soon.

Yi Ming’s smile deepened, “You may not have, but I have. Don’t worry, your senior will keep it secret, I won’t tell anyone.”

She walked away, satisfied, leaving Yu Wen baffled. He didn’t think much of it.

Opening his phone, he saw a string of messages from Xie Heyu, but before he could read them carefully, Xiao Zhong called out, “Teacher Yu, Xie-ge is here.”

The boyfriend, who had just confirmed their relationship over WeChat, stepped through the door. Even with so many people and heads in the studio, some taller and more eye-catching than him, Xie Heyu’s gaze didn’t waver for a second, as if magnetized, locking directly onto Yu Wen through the crowd.

Yu Wen clenched his phone, his breath quickening.

Xiao Zhou: “Xie-ge, is your schedule sorted out? Why didn’t you wait for us outside? It’s crowded and hot in here.”

Xie Heyu tilted his head slightly in response to Xiao Zhou, but his eyes didn’t move, still fixed on Yu Wen through the sea of people. “I missed Teacher Xiao Yu, so I came in to see him.”

Xiao Zhou didn’t read too much into it, merely laughing, “Xie-ge, you’re a really dedicated manager—treating your artist like a lover, always keeping him on your mind.”

Xie Heyu didn’t deny it, casually asking a few questions about the shoot’s progress.

People bustled around him, but Yu Wen stood frozen.

It wasn’t until Xie Heyu finished speaking with Xiao Zhou and walked straight towards him that Yu Wen finally moved, his stiff legs taking a hesitant step. His muddled brain spun wildly—Should I stay put or walk up to him? Would it seem rude if I didn’t move? What should I say when we meet? …Hi, boyfriend?

In the midst of his chaotic thoughts, Yu Wen sluggishly took two more steps, when suddenly someone stepped into the space between him and Xie Heyu, saying, “…We’ve rested enough, let’s go try on the second outfit in the dressing room.”

“…”

Looking more closely, his tall, long-legged boyfriend was blocked, and all Yu Wen could see now was Director Miao.

Yu Wen: “…Oh.”

His reply was drawn out, as if it took a while for him to accept reality.

“How many more outfits today?”

Xie Heyu asked quietly as he approached. Director Miao replied, “Two or three more. We’re working on the main looks today, so it’ll take a while, probably all day.”

Hearing his voice lifted Yu Wen’s spirits a little. Xie Heyu accompanied him into the dressing room, and Yu Wen glanced at the man’s long, slender hand by his side. He felt a slight itch to reach out and mischievously tease him, just like Xie Heyu had done to him earlier that morning. But when he extended his hand, it swiped at empty air—Xie Heyu had already lifted his hand to open the door.

“…Xiao Yu, you were full of energy earlier, but now you look so down,” Director Miao teased, noticing something off about his demeanor. “Tired? There are some snacks on the table, eat more to keep your strength up.”

Xie Heyu glanced at him.

Yu Wen was embarrassed to admit he felt deflated from not being able to hold his hand, so he forced himself to perk up. “Not tired! Xiao Yu can keep going for another hundred outfits!”

When he emerged after changing into the second outfit, Xie Heyu was still in the dressing room. It was clear he planned to stay and supervise the entire shoot today.

Yu Wen sat down, and the makeup artist began adjusting his look. Xie Heyu sat on the nearby sofa, watching him intently. His calm gaze held an inexplicable heat, and every time their eyes met in the mirror, Xie Heyu would slightly squint, as if his gaze could almost burn through the glass.

Even the makeup artist sensed something off. “Your manager looks so fierce, hahaha, is he unhappy with Teacher Yu’s makeup?”

Yu Wen snapped out of his daze and explained, “He’s always like that, a deadpan face. Today, it’s probably because, probably because…”

“…He received a confession, and wants to hug someone, but can’t,” Xie Heyu interrupted out of nowhere.

“Confession? From who?” Yu Wen turned around, stunned.

The makeup artist gently redirected his head back and laughed, “I get it. Once I got a confession from my crush while at work, and though my body stayed, my mind ran a hundred miles away…”

Xie Heyu thought to himself, it’s a little different though.

His crush was sitting right in front of him—he could see but not touch, and it made him itch with longing.

Yu Wen briefly locked eyes with Xie Heyu in the mirror, understanding everything immediately. He quickly pulled out his phone and unlocked it, but then realized the makeup artist and several assistants were still around. Feeling awkward, he turned the screen face down, fully aware of what had happened.

It wasn’t a big deal, just a little embarrassing.

So embarrassing, in fact, that he didn’t dare look Xie Heyu in the eyes again for the rest of the session.

The makeup adjustment took half an hour, and once they had settled on a style, the makeup artist and assistants left one after another to fetch more tools and accessories. At some point, the room had emptied, leaving only the two of them.

Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Wen swiftly opened their chat history. Sure enough, his clumsy fingers had accidentally sent the long confession he’d been writing in the chat box.

Below that, Xie Heyu had replied with a few messages. One of them, “I want to see you,” was simple and direct, but the emotion trapped in the cold digital text felt like it burst out from the screen, hot and overwhelming.

Yu Wen thought to himself, there’s no need to feel embarrassed after all.

The words he had thought were a bit awkward and cheesy had been treasures in Xie Heyu’s eyes. He couldn’t even wait for a reply and had come straight to the studio.

He really wanted to see him—so badly.

It was rare to see Teacher Xie acting impulsively, his usually composed expression completely off, almost too cold.

This grown-up romance was so childish—Yu Wen thought, both he and Xie Heyu were.

But his lips couldn’t help but curl up a little.

Now alone, Xie Heyu pulled the curtains to block the cameras. After locking the door, he turned around, about to say something, only to find Yu Wen already standing up, taking off his jacket.

“…Want a hug?” Yu Wen was adjusting his complicated costume, tightening the belt around his waist to avoid it digging into Xie Heyu. While fixing his outfit, he quietly said, “You just said you wanted a hug… but only for a little while, don’t mess up my look… And no kissing, I have lipstick on…”

Before he could finish, a strong hand grabbed his arm and yanked him straight into a tight embrace.

Despite his cool demeanor, Xie Heyu’s body was warm. The makeup room had the air conditioning running, but being wrapped in Xie Heyu’s arms made Yu Wen feel snug. The slight discomfort of being tightly squeezed around his waist was easily overlooked.

Yu Wen wriggled a bit, finding a more comfortable position in his arms, and said, “I used to love leaning on you. You’re tall and muscular; it’s really comfortable… After that confession misunderstanding, it’s been a long time since I felt this relaxed leaning on you.”

Xie Heyu let out a soft hum, his voice low and pleased. As he held Yu Wen, it was as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. That unsettled feeling finally dissipated. His thin lips kept kissing or rubbing against the side of Yu Wen’s face and hair, his small gestures filled with contentment.

He said, “Now I can hug you all I want. After all, I’m your boyfriend.”

Yu Wen said, “We haven’t even held hands yet. I tried to hold your hand just now, but I missed.”

Xie Heyu said, “We’ll hold hands tonight when we get home.”

Yu Wen said, “No, today is for hugs. I want to hug you tonight too.”

Xie Heyu said, “Then tomorrow we’ll hold hands.”

Yu Wen thought that sounded fair and smiled, “Okay.”