FLME Ch70

Although it was the other person who called him that by mistake, it indirectly showed that Yu Wen had finally reached a day where he could be called a senior.

Time flew by. At first, he only wanted to make a living.

The first scene was indoors, out of reach of the media’s cameras, while fans outside anxiously waited. Yi Ming and the male lead walked side by side out of the house.

The fans outside the fence cheered, only quieting down when reminded by the crew. Silence returned, but countless eyes and cameras remained focused on them with keen anticipation.

Yu Wen stood on the second floor, lowering his gaze to look down.

When the director shouted “action,” Yi Ming, as the female lead Gao Qin, and Fu Mingshen stood in front of the car, talking. Suddenly, Fu Mingshen, as if sensing something, looked up and locked eyes with Song Mingzhu, hidden behind the curtain.

Song Mingzhu was already dressed neatly, with glasses perched on his nose. Sunlight refracted through the glass panels, casting colorful spots on his cheeks.

The two locked eyes.

Song Mingzhu usually smiled, with a quiet, gentle look that made people warm to him. But this time, he wore a rare, blank expression. The light softened his outline, making him resemble a lifeless, beautiful painting hanging on a wall.

He seemed to be angry. This odd thought surfaced in Fu Mingshen’s mind.

It was strange because Song Mingzhu was known for his gentle nature, always on the receiving end of mistreatment. Even on her deathbed, Fu’s first wife had worried about him, fearing that one day he would return to the Song family and be bullied to the point of having no bones left.

At this moment, the Song Mingzhu reflected in Fu Mingshen’s eyes subtly lifted the corner of his mouth, almost in a challenging way.

A small glasses chain hung by his cheek, with a snow-white pearl at the end. As he tilted his head slightly with a faint smirk, the pearl swayed along.

Dazzlingly beautiful, his face was absolutely stunning.

Fu Mingshen took in this entire scene, then calmly looked away.

Outside the fence, fans and media also recorded this moment faithfully on their cameras.

“So beautiful…”

This scene was not long, but all three leads appeared in it. After shooting wrapped, Yu Wen went downstairs to greet fans during a break.

Before nightfall, the sneak peeks of Yu Wen’s scene had spread widely. A small, white villa, half-concealed curtains, a young master with lowered eyes, still and serene like a beautiful doll locked behind glass.

But in the next second, the doll came to life. He raised his eyebrows, tilted his head slightly, and smirked leisurely, with a round pearl swaying elegantly by his cheek.

The fan-taken photos even included a short segment after the director called “cut,” where Yu Wen, with his back to the window, spoke to the crew by the door and occasionally glanced outside. This side-profile shot had an even stronger atmosphere, with the swaying pearl and a tear mole—a scene of breathtaking beauty.

Even though Moon Harbor wasn’t finished filming, these photos alone had set high expectations. Hearing that the show was an adaptation of a novel, netizens couldn’t wait to read the original, and after doing so, they looked forward to it even more—especially to Song Mingzhu’s character, who was, without a doubt, a gorgeous, twisted beauty.

—“He’s so beautiful… just beautiful. Teacher Guo used to give off a pure vibe, but now, it’s like I’m stunned.”

—“The costume design is impressive. No variety show can compare to the richness and atmosphere this movie production brings.”

In the novel, Song Mingzhu was a twisted beauty, and with the expanded content, his background and psychological development were thoroughly fleshed out, making him a complete character. Director Miao was delighted with the fan enthusiasm and even released a character sketch of Song Mingzhu on Weibo that night.

—“A little monster from the villa basement… stirring up certain tastes.”

—“Mingzhu, my baby, perfect for redemption stories…”

—“Someone needs to love him! Damn it! Mingzhu doesn’t need pity; he needs love! Can’t you see?”

The next day, Yu Wen flew back to S City for another engagement, checking Weibo midway, where netizens were still raving about his looks.

Yi Ming was on the same itinerary, so they were on the same flight. Onboard, Yi Ming chatted with him about what kind of farewell post he should make when Battle Royale ended.

Battle Royale was a ten-episode show that had finished recording, though only eight episodes had aired. They had pushed through recording four or five episodes back-to-back, which was why Yu Wen had been so busy recently. But it had paid off—in the end, they had managed to score ten points, and the revival of the Hero Squad seemed just around the corner.

They had made mistakes along the way, and one episode saw them fail to escape. When the results came out, fans were devastated for a while, but in the final stretch, the production team mercifully left a loophole, allowing them to pick up where they left off.

Fans hadn’t heard this yet, so when that episode aired, it would likely surprise them.

Today, Yu Wen and Yi Ming were rushing back to S City to film the ending.

“Depends on the production team’s arrangement,” Yu Wen replied, pressing his lips. “I’m not good with words.”

“…If you’re not good with words, what does that make me? A mute?” Yi Ming asked incredulously.

Yu Wen smiled innocently.

After filming variety shows for so long, they had formed bonds, and the deeper these bonds grew, the harder it was to express them. The daily joking around was just light banter; it couldn’t compare to heartfelt moments.

At the destination, Yu Wen immediately spotted a black-and-white photo on the wall and wanted to turn and leave.

He said, “I kind of understand Jian Heng now.”

The recording location was the same castle from the first episode, looking exactly as it did when they had finished filming. Coming back, Yu Wen felt a bit nostalgic. He looked up, seeing the glass dome, which had shattered into pieces upon his success, but the mural of the dragon was still there.

Seeing the dragon’s closed eyes, Yu Wen’s gaze lingered for a moment.

The director came out, holding a script to discuss the sequence with them. Yi Ming pointed to the giant black-and-white photo, asking, “Do we really have to shoot like this?”

This photo had been taken by the Bard during the first episode, capturing the only group photo of the Hero Squad. At the time, the Bard’s task was to take the photo for the Demon King’s verification, searching for those the Demon King “loathed.”

Yu Wen had wondered why this task had suddenly appeared back then, but now he understood.

It was all for this photo.

The black-and-white photo symbolized the deceased.

It was just a coincidence that Jian Heng’s one photo captured four dead people.

When the photo was taken, the guests still didn’t know how the story would unfold, so they were laughing carefreely. The people in the photo appeared cheerful, and the happier they looked, the more striking the image became in black and white.

The director even had this black-and-white photo made into a large projection-like backdrop that hung right at the front of the banquet hall, so it was the first thing you saw upon entering!

“It’s not some sad twist; what are you guys thinking?” the director said, half amused and half exasperated.

The director wanted to portray the resurrection of the souls by turning the black-and-white photo back into color, paired with a touch of memories and an awakening after reminiscing, to end with a happy ending.

“Oh,” Yu Wen breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good, then.”

“But, Xiao Yu, you’ll need to shoot one more scene—” The director’s tone shifted as he pointed at the backdrop, “Among the five people, only you are alive, so you’ll need to stand in front of this photo and give a lingering, reflective gaze. The photo is in black and white, but you’ll be in color…”

Yu Wen: “…”

Yi Ming stepped back a bit and silently made a cheering gesture at him.

Before filming started, the guests needed to quickly recall the entire story, so their emotions weren’t fragmented but rather very immersed. After filming, Yu Wen propped up his chin, feeling a sense of loss, and around him he heard the sounds of people sniffling.

He felt both moved and saddened… but, was everyone crying a bit too much?

Looking to his left, Daniel Li and Fan Xiangyang were wiping each other’s tears, so choked up they couldn’t speak. On his right, Yi Ming held Tong Li’s hand and said, “Sister, even though my personality isn’t very elf-like, I really love this girl. Sister, do you understand me? Sister…”

If that wasn’t enough, after filming, everyone arranged to go to karaoke, where Yu Wen sat in the booth and listened to another round of crying.

As he sipped on his floral tea, he felt his tiny bit of melancholy completely washed away by the wailing.

Yi Ming ordered some drinks; usually, the entertainers have strict weight management, but since filming had wrapped, and chances to gather would be rare in the future, even Yi Ming’s manager let her relax and indulge, declaring tonight as a night without restrictions.

Yu Wen didn’t drink much, not enough to feel even slightly dizzy, and nestled into the booth with a laugh, watching Yi Ming and Tong Li sing to each other with heartfelt passion.

Before drinking, he’d checked in with Xie Heyu, who had told him he could drink but wasn’t allowed to run off afterward and had to wait for him to come pick him up.

Yu Wen boasted about being a heavyweight, saying he’d stayed completely clear-headed the last time, even after drinking a lot.

Xie Heyu: “Clear-headed? When you were tugging on my sleeve and asking for a kiss, was that clear-headed?”

Yu Wen: “…”

Thinking back on it, that was truly embarrassing.

Yu Wen suspected Xie Heyu was bringing it up deliberately, knowing it would embarrass him.

No, he couldn’t lose so easily.

Yu Wen: “Have you considered that maybe I wasn’t drunk at all? Maybe I just wanted to kiss you.”

After sending that, even he felt a bit shy.

This ought to make Xie Heyu swoon!

Xie Heyu: “I see.”

…That’s it?

Yu Wen: “After the kiss, I knew I liked you because it felt really good.”

Yu Wen! You’re a seasoned man now; with your experience, you’re leagues ahead of this shy little novice, Xie Heyu!

Xie Heyu didn’t reply, so Yu Wen figured he was probably feeling shy and, buoyed by this, sent a few more messages in quick succession.

About half an hour later, Xie Heyu pushed open the private room door, ready to take Yu Wen home.

“So soon? Going home already?” Yi Ming slurred, clearly having drunk quite a bit. “Well, take Xiao Yu back and have his boyfriend make him some honey water. They must be living together by now…”

Xie Heyu was taken aback and looked at Yu Wen in surprise.

Yu Wen scratched his head, thinking, Did I go public? When did that happen? I wasn’t aware of it.

Tong Li chuckled, “Your second senior sister is drunk and babbling nonsense. Yi Ming! No more nonsense; Xiao Yu is still young.”

Yi Ming: “I’m not talking nonsense! This is a juicy tidbit I’ve been savoring alone… Hehehe…”

Yu Wen looked puzzled, while Xie Heyu’s gaze lingered on his face for a moment, realizing that it might have been an accidental slip and that going public was far from the truth.

Xie Heyu politely said goodbye to the others in the booth and started pulling Yu Wen to leave, but Yi Ming suddenly spoke up again.

She said, “Xiao Yu, wait a second. Listen to your big sister. This boyfriend of yours… doesn’t love you enough.”

Yu Wen: “Huh?”

Yi Ming, with the tone of someone who’d been through it all, grasped his hand and said earnestly, “I’ve been watching for a long time. Ever since you joined the cast, he hasn’t visited you even once! What does that tell you? It means he’s not fully invested; he doesn’t miss you… Couples truly in love can’t bear to be apart like this. They want to see each other, can’t stand even a little separation, can’t stop themselves from wanting to kiss and hug at the slightest provocation…”

“Really?” Yu Wen pondered thoughtfully.

Come to think of it, Xie Heyu was a bit on the calm side.

They’d started dating just before going long-distance, but Xie Heyu never seemed particularly distressed; he was always calm during calls, not clingy at all… but Yu Wen, the moment he started talking to Xie Heyu, couldn’t help but act sweet.

“Of course! Your boyfriend… he’s not even as attentive as your manager! At least your manager visits you often,” Yi Ming remarked.

Yu Wen turned to look at Xie Heyu.

Xie Heyu, shocked by these unfounded accusations, stood there looking baffled.

Yi Ming continued, “In books, when the seme sees the uke, just a glance and he’s immediately arou—mmm, mmmph…”

Tong Li, unable to take it anymore, came over to cover Yi Ming’s mouth, afraid she might say something else inappropriate. Smiling at Yu Wen, she said, “Go home with your manager, and don’t pay attention to your sister—she’s just talking nonsense because she’s drunk.”

Though Yi Ming hadn’t finished her words, they still left a deep impression on Yu Wen.

Just one look and he… rises up? What kind of book is that? He thought to himself; none of the books he’d read ever described things that way.

Xie Heyu asked, “What are you thinking about?”

Yu Wen almost blurted out “rises up,” but luckily he held back and replied, “Mm… just thinking it’s been a while since we saw each other.”

Xie Heyu would come to see him, but since he was mostly with the crew, they only met briefly, and Xie Heyu often had other things to do, so he couldn’t stay for long.

Xie Heyu said, “I have no schedule tomorrow; I can take a day off.”

Yu Wen nodded absentmindedly, still mulling over Yi Ming’s book.

What kind of book could it be? It didn’t make any sense—how could just a glance… No, he’d have to send a message to ask about it.

Xie Heyu glanced at him briefly before turning his gaze forward again.

Chu Han and Xi Su were both away filming recently, so the villa was dark.

After Yu Wen entered, Xie Heyu followed. As his manager, he often came and went from the dorm, so Yu Wen didn’t think much of it. He poured two glasses of water, drank his, and then collapsed onto the couch like a beached fish.

Xie Heyu came over and ran his hand through Yu Wen’s hair.

Yu Wen, enjoying the touch, lay there with his head on Xie Heyu’s lap, watching TV. After a while, he thought about taking a shower.

He went upstairs to find some clothes, and before long, Xie Heyu came up.

Standing at the door, Xie Heyu asked casually, “Do you have any plans tomorrow?”

“Nope.”

Yu Wen, holding two sets of clothes, wondered, “Did you come up just to ask this? I was about to go down, or you could’ve asked just now and…”

He trailed off, sensing a subtle shift in the atmosphere.

Xie Heyu tapped his fingers on the door handle twice, murmured “Mm” softly, and walked in.

The lights were off in the room, and as the door slowly closed, the hallway light narrowed and faded…

Click.

The light disappeared.

Yu Wen’s breath hitched for a moment.

The cool moonlight crept onto the windowsill, and Yu Wen adjusted his vision to the dimness, with only moonlight left. Xie Heyu stood leaning against the door, head slightly lowered, his Adam’s apple moving up and down.

“Wanna kiss?” he asked.

Yu Wen stayed still, and since there was no response, Xie Heyu moved toward him, slowly and deliberately. In the dark, he found Yu Wen’s chin with precision, lowered his head, and his warm breath drew near as their lips met lightly.

A quick, dragonfly-like kiss that broke Yu Wen from his trance.

He tossed the clothes onto the bed and leaned in for another kiss, prompting Xie Heyu to grab the back of his head, kissing him deeply and possessively, stealing his breath.

After all… it had been over two weeks since they last saw each other.

Yu Wen had been busy on set every day, with no time for romance, and this kiss was like a hook, pulling up all sorts of physical memories.

As Xie Heyu’s tongue slipped in, Yu Wen felt tingling at the back of his head, his breathing quickened, and his hands, with nowhere to go, rested on Xie Heyu’s waist, brushing against the defined muscles there. Before he knew it, his hand had slipped under Xie Heyu’s shirt.

He didn’t know when they’d moved to the bed.

His jacket was off, his T-shirt lifted, and Yu Wen shivered, his water-clear, hazy eyes snapping into focus from the coolness.

“…Cold?” Xie Heyu asked.

His voice was especially low and hoarse—so hoarse that the restraint in it was clear. Yu Wen took in the sight of Xie Heyu’s shirtless, lean, muscular upper body exposed to the air.

“…No.” Yu Wen’s voice came out a bit off, sounding strange.

“Your hands are hot… but the room’s cold…”

Xie Heyu asked if he should turn on the air conditioning.

It wasn’t that cold, but Yu Wen remembered something else.

Stammering, he said, “I haven’t showered yet, and… there aren’t any condoms here…”

He’d already done his homework; this was common knowledge.

Xie Heyu said, “I have some in my pocket.”

Yu Wen: “… When did you prepare that?”

Xie Heyu: “When you sent me those flirty messages at the karaoke.”

Yu Wen: “…”

His face flushed instantly. At the time, he’d just thought he was being bold, but now, facing his boyfriend in person, he felt extremely embarrassed. He could never say those things face-to-face, but behind a screen, the alcohol had emboldened him, making him think Xie Heyu wouldn’t be able to do anything to him, so he’d said whatever he wanted.

Well, now here it was, time to pay the piper.

Yu Wen muttered, “You—you… you had it all planned and still asked if I had plans…”

Xie Heyu brushed his nose against Yu Wen’s and said, “I’ve never done this before. The books say it might hurt the first time, and the next day it might be hard to move around… so I asked if you had any plans.”

He reads books too?

Yu Wen thought this person was really annoying. No wonder everyone disliked those college top students who always ranked first in class. He didn’t like them either now.

“But still, I need to take a shower…” Yu Wen bit his lip and said, “I need to, um, expand, expand…”

Xie Heyu: “You can use a condom.”

Yu Wen: “…”

Damn it, his boyfriend seemed to know more than he did.

“Is that okay?” Xie Heyu leaned in again to kiss his lips. From his hurried breathing and awkward tone, Yu Wen could sense a bit of nervousness.

Yu Wen immediately forgave him.

Even the tentative kisses, almost like a test, seemed cute and obedient to Yu Wen.

“Ca—”

He was halfway through saying something when he suddenly remembered something, and his face changed.

Xie Heyu: “…What’s wrong?”

Yu Wen swiftly rolled over, opened his phone, double-checked a few times, and then looked like he was about to cry. “I promised Chu Han I would go to his movie roadshow tomorrow.”

Xie Heyu: “…”

It was a personal commitment; he rarely had time off, and when Chu Han asked, he agreed right away—it was just from a couple of days ago.

“It’s okay.” Yu Wen thought for a moment, then resolutely said, “The whole movie is going to be sitting. As long as I walk as little as possible, no one will notice my butt hurts.”

Xie Heyu laughed at him.

They had both sat up now, and Xie Heyu rested his forehead on Yu Wen’s shoulder, laughing non-stop. Yu Wen felt flustered from his laughter and muttered, “What’s so funny…”

Xie Heyu finally lifted his face, helplessly pinched his cheek, and said, “Stop looking like you’re going to martyr yourself. It’ll probably hurt, but if the stretching is done right… never mind.”

He stopped laughing, rubbed his nose against Yu Wen’s, but still wasn’t too confident in his technique since he hadn’t practiced before… He couldn’t let little Yu Wen go to the roadshow tomorrow while dragging a battered body.

Xie Heyu: “I’m going to the bathroom. Do you want to come?”

He stood up from the bed, straightened his posture, and the gray sweatpants were right in front of Yu Wen’s eyes… slightly impressive.

Yu Wen understood what he meant.

But Yu Wen felt that if he went into the bathroom, it probably wouldn’t be Xie Heyu helping him… it would be himself getting played by Xie Heyu.

“Thanks for the invite, but no.” He decisively said.