RSDH CH42

The next morning, Duan Xingye didn’t have to go to the company. The All the Way With You production team picked him up directly from Vanke Metropolis.

As for Matchmaker the cat, since she arrived at this home, the housekeeper came twice a day, so there was no need to worry about her being unattended.

After Duan Xingye got in the car, he didn’t see Old Xu or any camera.

“Old Xu has already set off for the film set. President Cheng also knows there’s an interview today, but he doesn’t know you’ll be coming. He still thinks it’s a secret interview targeting him personally,” the staff member explained. “After arriving, Teacher Duan, you need to change costumes and blend in with the extras first to see when President Cheng can discover you.”

Xiao Dai followed along today. As a loyal fan of All the Way With You, seeing the filming process up close for the first time, he clapped excitedly: “So exciting.”

Duan Xingye looked down at the script, twirling a strand of hair with one hand, and said, “Not realistic.”

The staff member was confused: “Teacher Duan, you mean…”

Duan Xingye had a clear understanding of himself, speaking unhurriedly: “I have a natural protagonist face. Even mixed with extras, I’ll be recognized at a glance.”

Staff: “…”

Xiao Dai propped his chin, nodding thoughtfully: “Mn~ indeed.”

The staff member turned his head to wipe sweat: “Just try it, it’s to increase the program effect.”

Changlong Film Base was around Shanghai. Its scale couldn’t compare to Hengdian, but it possessed the most mature and complete period sets and architectural complexes.

It was nearly noon, break time at the Hunting filming set. In front of old French-style buildings, among street vendors, and in teahouses, people dressed in long gowns, cheongsams, western dresses, and suits gathered in groups of three or five.

Under a century-old banyan tree at the street corner, in the cool shade, a low table was set up. Director Li Lin, Cheng Duzhou, and Old Xu carrying a camera sat around it.

All the Way With You came for this interview with the crew’s consent. The explanation given to Cheng Duzhou was to film the actors’ life on set and chat about some topics, so he didn’t need to mind the camera’s presence.

Sitting on a small chair, Cheng Duzhou had to hunch his back, his long bent legs propped forward, holding the script to familiarize himself with the lines for the later scenes.

Based on questions compiled by the scriptwriting team, Old Xu said from behind the camera: “The audience has always been curious why President Cheng never films intimate scenes. Five years since debut, you still keep your first screen kiss. It can be said that besides actors who started as child stars, you are the first. Is it because the scripts you accept don’t arrange such scenes?”

Cheng Duzhou looked up at the camera, then lowered his eyes to continue reading the script. “The dramas I accept basically have no romance lines, no need to show character relationships through intimate scenes.”

Old Xu said, “But I heard that in Hunting, the character you play has a lover who played a crucial role in character development. Are there no intimate scenes in this drama either?”

“There were.” Cheng Duzhou said without looking up. “But because the lover exists in memories, I discussed with Director Li and cut the relevant scenes. Personally, I don’t like large-scale performances either. In the end, those are gimmicks to attract the audience. A movie won’t become better just because of an extra kiss scene or bed scene.”

Old Xu pointed the camera at Li Lin: “Director Li, do you agree with this view?”

Li Lin smiled bitterly and waved his hand: “I don’t agree.”

In the script of Hunting, Cheng Duzhou played a spy during the Republic of China era. Before throwing himself into the arduous cause of the War of Resistance, he had a lover, a young master who returned from studying abroad. However, when the young master went to Macau, his ship was sunk by enemy fire. Thus, intertwined with love, family feud, and national hatred, such a tragic lone hero image was born.

The movie wouldn’t use superfluous shots to depict the protagonist’s love story. The lover only existed in memories, flashing back when the protagonist was frustrated, lonely, and hesitant. But even memory kills needed to be filmed.

The lover’s role didn’t need to show his face, mostly back views, side views, or blurred processing, creating an effect like a midnight dream.

In Li Lin’s original arrangement, there were scenes of holding hands, hugging, walking, and kissing, but Cheng Duzhou rejected them before signing the contract.

So the crew had to delete all scenes between the protagonist and the lover, filming memory shots related to the lover separately.

Li Lin said, “Intimate scenes within limits are to increase the audience’s sense of substitution. He simply isn’t willing himself.”

Old Xu said, “Is President Cheng considering Teacher Duan’s feelings?”

Cheng Duzhou gave a forced smile, didn’t answer, and picked up the tea cup beside him to drink water as a cover. When he looked up, his gaze fixed on the crowd in the distance.

Just a moment ago, he seemed to see a clear, handsome, and otherworldly figure flash past in the crowd, entering the corridor of the school. In the residual visual memory, he remembered him wearing a linen gray suit, his snow-white profile like pear blossom petals.

Li Lin noticed his distraction, followed his gaze back, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Cheng Duzhou withdrew his gaze, shook his head, put down the tea cup, and flipped through the script with lowered lashes: “Nothing.”

But his expression was obviously downcast.

Cheng Duzhou didn’t know what illness he had. Before, when separated from Duan Xingye for too long, it was fine not seeing him. But since participating in the romance variety show, spending more time together, he gradually became addicted to Duan Xingye. Missing him day and night when separated, feeling anxious due to lack of contact. Now entering the late stage of symptoms, starting to hallucinate, thinking every extra looked like him.

Li Lin said good-temperedly, “Just say it if something’s up.”

Cheng Duzhou thought for a moment and said, “I’m filming early morning scenes for three consecutive days. You should approve leave for the afternoon, let me go home.”

Li Lin teased, “Going home to visit relatives? Missing your husband, aren’t you?”

Cheng Duzhou said, “Not to that extent.”

Li Lin’s expression added a flavor of scheming: “If you agree to film that kiss scene, I’ll let you go home this afternoon.”

Cheng Duzhou turned a page of the script and said, “I choose to stick to my post.”

Li Lin laughed loudly.

Old Xu had already seen his colleague hiding by the street not far away, knowing Duan Xingye had arrived at the scene. His voice was tinged with excitement: “Has Teacher Duan ever visited the set?”

Cheng Duzhou answered, “We don’t have the habit of visiting each other’s sets.”

Old Xu: “Then do you expect him to show up?”

Cheng Duzhou pursed his lips lightly and shook his head.

Duan Xingye found it strenuous even to reply to a message; impossible to visit the set.

Duan Xingye wasn’t interested in his life, so he wouldn’t hold expectations for impossible things.

Old Xu was astonished. He never expected to get a negative answer. If President Cheng didn’t expect it, could they still film his surprised reaction later?

Duan Xingye leaned back against the red brick corridor pillar, thinking he was discovered. Looking back, he saw Cheng Duzhou continuing to read the script.

Duan Xingye had already attracted the attention of surrounding extras. Everyone looked at him; some recognized his identity, some were still guessing which lead actor this was, his outfit losing to neither the male lead nor the second male lead.

But a staff member nearby made a “shh” gesture, asking everyone to cooperate and not speak.

He turned to remind Duan Xingye: “Teacher Duan, President Cheng probably didn’t see. You have to get closer.”

Duan Xingye adjusted his exquisite suit. His shiny leather shoes stepped down the stairs, walking toward the three people under the banyan tree.

Li Lin had his back to Duan Xingye, unable to see the person coming.

Old Xu had already noticed him.

And Cheng Duzhou, facing Duan Xingye’s direction, didn’t sense anything unusual at all. When flipping through the script, he didn’t even look up.

Feeling ignored, Duan Xingye was inexplicably a bit unhappy, walking straight to the table.

Li Lin looked up, the tea bowl in his hand shaking, surprise flashing in his eyes, immediately recognizing the person in front as Duzhou’s husband.

However, what concerned him more was that Duzhou’s husband looked exactly like the young master returned from studying abroad who walked out of the script, even more vivid than the character image in his imagination.

Duan Xingye wore a sharp and intricate suit. That snow-clean face, slender figure, and impeccable posture were top-notch figures that could only be nurtured in old high-class mansions. When he cast a cold glance downward, there was arrogance and an unworldly innocence. Exactly the kind of white moonlight in the story who, if passed away young, would leave permanent pain in people’s hearts, worth the protagonist remembering for a lifetime.

Old Xu hurriedly winked at the director, then looked at Cheng Duzhou. As a result, the other party was still reading the script, making him so anxious he could hardly sit still.

Li Lin, being such a clever person, immediately understood this was a segment in the romance variety show. Pursing his lips to snicker, he didn’t reveal a single flaw.

Duan Xingye looked at Cheng Duzhou, feeling a bit angry inside again. To blend in with the extras, he spent half an hour styling, yet Cheng Duzhou turned a blind eye to him.

Last night on WeChat, Cheng Duzhou spoke nicely, saying he hoped Friday would come quickly. Duan Xingye didn’t follow up but understood he wanted to meet as soon as possible.

As a result, the person was standing right in front of him, and Cheng Duzhou didn’t notice at all. Indeed, only knew how to flirt.

Duan Xingye felt calling Cheng Duzhou to look at him like this would lose too much face.

Using a voice a few degrees lower than usual, he said to Li Lin, “Director, it’s not in the way if I sit here, right?”

Duan Xingye was a voice monster; from bass to soprano, he could switch freely.

Li Lin held back laughter, raising his hand to signal: “Sit sit sit, please sit.”

Old Xu shouldered the camera higher, laughter rolling in his stomach too, waiting for when Cheng Duzhou would discover Duan Xingye.

At this time, Cheng Duzhou turned his chair around, back to the direction of the visitor, eyes on the script, but one hand covered his ear and rubbed it.

Duan Xingye: “?”

Something obscure flashed in Cheng Duzhou’s eyes. He felt he might be dying.

Hearing other people’s voices sounded like Duan Xingye.

Duan Xingye pursed his lips in displeasure. Not sitting down immediately, he poured a cup of tea for Li Lin: “Director, please.”

Li Lin held it with both hands: “Okay.”

Duan Xingye poured another cup for Cheng Duzhou. This time he deliberately held it up and handed it over: “President Cheng.”

Cheng Duzhou only thought he was an extra, not giving an extra glance: “Thanks, put it down.”

Duan Xingye raised an eyebrow lightly, feeling Cheng Duzhou’s alienation and distinct sense of boundaries. When just married, this person was quite cold to him too, but definitely not to this extent.

It seemed Cheng Duzhou was quite well-behaved on set usually. Thought this pervert wouldn’t be able to move his eyes upon seeing someone well-dressed.

Duan Xingye hmphed twice in his heart, holding the cup without moving.

Cheng Duzhou glimpsed it from the corner of his eye and had to reach out to take it.

Intentionally or unintentionally, that person rubbed his finger with a fingertip.

A little water spilled from the tea cup.

Cheng Duzhou’s dark eyes carried no emotion. Putting down the cup and closing the script: “Director, I’m leaving first.”

Duan Xingye “tsk”-ed, feeling this person was impervious to oil and salt (stubborn), like the damn Jade Emperor. Angry that his charm had nowhere to land, he reached out and twisted Cheng Duzhou’s ear: “Will you die if you look at me once?”

Laughter erupted from the surrounding crowd in an instant.

“…” Cheng Duzhou turned his head following the direction his ear was pulled, showing a confused expression like a local dog. Seeing Duan Xingye standing behind him, gradually, he reacted.

He turned around on the chair, holding Duan Xingye’s hand pulling his ear, moving it to his cheek. Looking up at Duan Xingye, his pitch-black eyes were full of glittering broken light: “Why did you come?”

Li Lin clapped his hands.

This look, oh my! Went straight to the bottom of his heart.

Really wanted to film it into the movie right now.

Duan Xingye didn’t expect Cheng Duzhou to be this happy, happy as if about to wag a propeller tail.

Now he was embarrassed instead. His eyes dodged a bit. Thinking of so many people watching around, he wanted to withdraw his hand, but Cheng Duzhou fixed it, not letting it move, turned his face, and kissed his palm.

Duan Xingye only felt a ball of heat reach his heart directly, melting a small piece in a place frozen for a long time.

Author’s Note:

Director Li shipping CP: I’m not filming this drama without you two.