RSDH CH45

In Cheng Duzhou’s memory, there were voices in elementary school saying he was Duan Xingye’s follower.

Because he ate and lived at Duan Xingye’s house but wasn’t a relative, and his father was the driver for the Kan family. So whenever he got a bit close to Duan Xingye, annoying voices would appear, saying his closeness to Duan Xingye was a form of ingratiating, pleasing Duan Xingye so he could continue attending school with the rich young masters.

Therefore, Cheng Duzhou in his student days always had a bit of aloofness. He and Duan Xingye had different circles. His kindness to Duan Xingye was also extra careful, always somewhat ambiguous and secretive, terrified that being seen would be labeled as having ulterior motives.

But all in all, thousands of rumors from the outside world were not as hurtful as Duan Xingye’s single sentence: “Instead, you got an opportunity to be the male lead.”

Cheng Duzhou never thought that in Duan Xingye’s eyes, he was also that kind of person with ulterior motives.

Cheng Duzhou lowered his eyes. Because of suppressing complex emotions, a thin layer of red inevitably appeared on his handsome face, but his voice remained steady, explaining clearly: “Before your grandfather talked to me, I was already the male lead… Although your grandfather hoped I could take care of you, he never thought you were lacking anywhere, so there was no need to give me benefits. I also never thought of asking for any resources from your grandfather. You might have misunderstood.”

Duan Xingye didn’t know what to say for a moment. The stubborn opinion of the past two years was overturned, his thoughts chaotic as if swept by a gale.

The energy of refusing to admit defeat he always held back became meaningless at this moment. The valve in his heart spun rapidly, the stream of emotions flowing out along the edges.

He bit his lip, mustering up momentum: “Can you blame me? The timing of Zhao Ge’s announcement was so coincidental; what did you expect me to think?”

Cheng Duzhou lifted his eyelids to look at him, slightly surprised: “I didn’t blame you. Why do you always think I will blame you… This kind of thing is fine as long as it’s cleared up.”

But Duan Xingye still felt guilty and his face was a bit hot. Looking elsewhere, he wanted to turn the page: “Are you leaving or not?”

Cheng Duzhou, however, walked two steps to the side under a willow tree and squatted down. Hanging his head and rubbing his eyes, face flushed red, he said, “You go first. I’m a bit sad, can’t walk anymore.”

“…”

Duan Xingye almost choked.

Here we go again, here we go again!

Every time he saw Cheng Duzhou’s worthless local dog appearance, he went crazy!

“What do you want?” Duan Xingye shuffled a step forward, looking at the person squatting on the ground. “I just thought so, didn’t do anything to you. See, did I ever use this to make a fuss before?”

Cheng Duzhou looked like he really couldn’t walk anymore, his back having to lean against the old tree trunk to avoid sliding down. Head lowered, he mumbled indistinctly: “Since childhood, have I ever asked you for anything? In elementary school, watching you eat Mofashi (crispy noodle snack), I drooled but never asked you for any.”

“…”

Where did this come from!

Duan Xingye squatted in front of Cheng Duzhou, hesitated for a long time, face red: “You didn’t ask me for things, okay?”

Cheng Duzhou looked up, eyes teary: “Then on what grounds do you think I coveted your family’s wealth and glory to marry you? I’m clearly a potential stock, not a Phoenix man (man from humble background relying on wife).”

“…………”

Duan Xingye was speechless. Didn’t expect a misunderstanding could break Cheng Duzhou’s defense like this; he didn’t think about character at all.

Duan Xingye took out a tissue from his pocket and handed it over, softening his tone: “My fault, didn’t think that much. Wipe it.”

Local dog.

Cheng Duzhou didn’t take his tissue, lowering his head to rest on Duan Xingye’s shoulder.

Duan Xingye had to straighten his back to avoid falling backward. Also at this moment, the valve at the bottom of his heart completely burst open, water rushing out scrambling to be first.

“Do you look down on me?”

“I don’t…”

A staff member ran halfway along the riverbank, braked, and hid behind a willow tree to peek.

“Director Li, I saw them,” he said into the walkie-talkie.

Li Lin was on the film set: “Okay, hurry up and call them over.”

The staff member watched from afar the two people leaning against each other squatting under the willow tree.

“I’m not sure if I should go over now.”

“Why?”

” Teacher Little Duan seems to have made President Cheng cry.”

“???”

It took a long time for Cheng Duzhou to calm down.

He asked Duan Xingye, “Why didn’t you say it at the time? Should have said it when the official announcement came out.”

Cheng Duzhou wasn’t just sad for himself. Such a misunderstanding hurt not only him. Duan Xingye, holding the idea that he was just an accessory to an exchange of interests, might not have felt good inside, moreover enduring it for two years.

Thinking this, he held Duan Xingye’s hand again, his heart feeling a bit sour and soft.

“What’s there to say?” Duan Xingye said, “Grandpa asked you to take care of me, and pushed the boat with the current to help you get the role. Reasonable and logical.”

He lowered his eyes, glancing at Cheng Duzhou holding his hand, shook his wrist, amused: “It was a marriage to deal with parents to begin with. You didn’t think I cared, did you?”

“…” Cheng Duzhou made no sound, releasing his hand.

Duan Xingye definitely cared, but couldn’t say exactly what he cared about. He only knew that after understanding the truth, his mood became unprecedentedly relaxed.

At that time, he was deep in contract termination lawsuits and public condemnation. Cheng Duzhou marrying him had to bear the risk of reputation damage. Based on this, if Grandpa fought for a leading role for Cheng Duzhou, it would be understandable. But the fact was Cheng Duzhou didn’t do it for fame or profit, asked for nothing, and agreed to the marriage directly. It seemed he sincerely wanted to help him.

It seemed even after being separated for many years, Cheng Duzhou still had feelings for him. In an instant, the pure and familiar feeling of their lifelong interaction returned.

Duan Xingye suppressed a smile at the corner of his lips, looking at Cheng Duzhou’s reddened ear, and said, “Can you walk now?”

Cheng Duzhou wiggled on his shoulder: “I might need a little strength to stand up.”

Duan Xingye asked, “What?”

Cheng Duzhou whispered, “Want a kiss…”

“…”

Duan Xingye sobered up.

After all, they were married people; how could it be as pure as childhood.

“Stay paralyzed then.”

Duan Xingye was about to push the person away.

A voice interjected: “Two teachers… if you’re ready, the set is waiting.”

Holy shit.

Cheng Duzhou turned his face to the other side.

Duan Xingye raised his hand to hug his head as cover, looking at the staff member not far away, saying: “Understood. This person… got a leg cramp. Coming immediately.”

The staff member stepped forward worriedly: “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Duan Xingye prevented him from getting close. “A kiss will make him stand up.”

“…”

“…”

Wind blew the willows on the bank; the atmosphere was very quiet.

Duan Xingye looked up at the sky, sighing long.

Blame the local dog for making his brain short-circuit.

The couple entered the set-up library.

Li Lin cared about Cheng Duzhou: “Leg okay?”

Cheng Duzhou shook his head, walking away slightly awkwardly.

Their scene was meeting again after the first encounter, a very clichéd plot.

Cheng Duzhou flipped through a book between the library shelves, seeing Duan Xingye through the gap. Duan Xingye glanced at him, ignored him, turned to sit in the study area. Cheng Duzhou dawdled and deliberately sat opposite Duan Xingye. Ostensibly reading, actually checking out the opposite side from time to time, then suddenly caught staring, blushing furiously.

Being peeked at, Duan Xingye lay on the table slightly displeased, standing the book up to block his face completely, not letting him look.

But after a while, he put the book down again, raising dark moist eyes to look at Cheng Duzhou.

Camera 1 gave a symmetrically composed long shot.

Above a bright window hung ivy, water droplets hanging at the tips of green leaves. Across a study table, one lay, one sat, both somewhat backlit, leaving extremely exquisite and beautiful silhouettes.

The director didn’t call cut, so Duan Xingye maintained his posture. Seeing Cheng Duzhou blush, he doubted again whether actors could control the degree of facial congestion.

Right at this moment, he sensed Cheng Duzhou’s gaze moving down, and then his lips felt as if scalded by that look.

What is the pervert thinking.

Almost subconsciously, the rose-colored full lips pursed slightly. Coincidentally, the water droplet on the green leaf outside the window fell.

Duan Xingye also blushed quietly.

“Cut!”

Li Lin’s voice was obviously very satisfied.

Another one-take pass.

Li Lin watched the replay on the computer, full of praise: “Xiao Duan, you are absolutely a genius in acting. The final micro-expression was handled too wonderfully. Duzhou looked at you, and you actually gave a response, instantly highlighting the sexual tension between characters. This is love at first sight, adoration at second sight. How did you think of it at the time?”

Duan Xingye wouldn’t admit he was stimulated by Cheng Duzhou’s gaze, saying: “Genius inspiration, no one can explain clearly.”

Li Lin: “…Indeed.”

After the couple finished filming the scene of walking hand in hand, they returned to the corridor between teaching buildings, waiting to film the kiss scene that kept failing to pass.

Li Lin was afraid they couldn’t find the state, so he specially cleared the scene, giving the two time to brew emotions, while he went elsewhere to drink tea first.

Xiao Dai stayed with Old Xu and the others the whole time. At this moment, everyone was waiting outside the set.

Old Xu glanced at his phone and said, “The director posted the preview for the day after tomorrow’s program.”

Xiao Dai hurriedly opened Weibo; sure enough, a post refreshed.

All the Way With You V:

#AllTheWayWithYou# Season 2.

Visiting President Cheng at the “Hunting” set today, saw President Cheng filming a kiss scene oh. Family members can guess who the first screen kiss is with~ The answer will be revealed in the live broadcast on Saturday, see you there [doge]

Just posted not long ago, but the data soared. As an insider, Xiao Dai opened the comments section with great anticipation, only to be shocked.

” All the Way With You leading the shipping of a cult CP? Are you okay?”

“I don’t care who the first screen kiss is with; this is the movie side’s business. You, a romance variety show, fanning the flames here, do you respect Teacher Duan?”

“Toxic, right? Using President Cheng’s first screen kiss as a gimmick? As a CP fan, feels like eating a fly.”

“Adding a dog head (emoji) think you can save your life?”

“I was shipping the CP happily, you insist on reminding that President Cheng gave his first screen kiss. Then I’ll say it straight: if it’s not Teacher Duan, I don’t agree.”

“Speaking of which, could it be Teacher Duan?”

“Teacher Duan didn’t participate in Hunting! Impossible to be Teacher Duan!”

“Why does this program break up the official couple? If not for Lü Ye Shu Huai, I would definitely drop it.”

Seeing netizens misunderstand one after another, the misunderstanding getting deeper and deeper, Xiao Dai was dying of anxiety but couldn’t reply to comments directly. He hurriedly said to Old Xu: “Quickly tell the director to stop keeping everyone in suspense, just reveal it! CP fans are about to explode!”

Old Xu also didn’t expect this and hurriedly called the chief director.

Lü Ye Shu Huai was the hottest CP recently; fans loved crazily. With the current comment feedback, the official blog might be raided.

…

The two parties involved didn’t know what a mess the internet had become, sitting in the quiet corridor where time seemed still.

Just that the staff had all withdrawn, and knowing they were about to film a kiss scene, the quiet atmosphere was slightly awkward.

Duan Xingye looked around, cleared his throat, and said, “Are you ready?”

Cheng Duzhou put the mineral water a bit further away and asked, “Want to try?”

Trying in advance to find the feeling was good, avoiding mistakes during official filming.

Duan Xingye turned sideways.

Cheng Duzhou also turned around.

The two looked at each other, then looked away simultaneously.

Strange. Having done the most impure things, thinking of a first kiss, both felt a bit awkward inside.

Cheng Duzhou raised both hands.

Duan Xingye pointed at his hands alertly, reminding: “No touching randomly!”

“…” It was Cheng Duzhou’s first time filming a kiss scene, no experience, and the partner was Duan Xingye. That was an uncontrollable action when emotions surged. Now guarded against by Duan Xingye, his face was slightly hot, feigning impatience: “Not touching randomly, just asking you to come closer.”

Duan Xingye lowered his head, scooting forward along the bench.

From Cheng Duzhou’s angle, he saw Duan Xingye’s thick long lashes casting light shadows on his lower eyelids. Nose straight and elegant, a small mole on the side, face bright as the moon. When young, facial proportions hadn’t opened up, cute as a dumpling. Grown up, it was a first love face, the same for so many years.

Watching him, the tight muscles in Cheng Duzhou’s neck and back gradually relaxed, not so nervous anymore.

Duan Xingye was still worried, lifting his eyes to look at him: “Are you sure you can do it?”

If this failed again, he would get PTSD from kissing.

Cheng Duzhou remembered the feelings of his youth. Countless moments wanting to kiss the person in front of his eyes, every time feeling his heart beat like thunder, extremely panicked. But that string tightened again and again, and collapsed again and again, leaving faint frustration. Hopefully no regrets this time.

He raised his hand to brush Duan Xingye’s hair and said, “I’m coming?”

Duan Xingye gave a mn, nodding.

Cheng Duzhou approached.

Duan Xingye felt Cheng Duzhou was no longer like when filming just now. An inexplicable restrained aggressiveness appeared in his eyes, making those usually cold black eyes have warmth, making his instinct want to shrink back.

But thinking of filming, he endured.

Duan Xingye remembered Director Li’s words: don’t wait to be guided. The character he played had to encourage Cheng Duzhou to take the initiative. So, intentionally or unintentionally, Duan Xingye’s gaze dropped, pausing briefly on Cheng Duzhou’s lips, then lifted again, crashing into his eyes.

This time, hard to say if it was for acting, everything progressed naturally.

The intensity of Cheng Duzhou’s kiss was gentle yet hooking the heart. Duan Xingye felt it was different from previous experiences. His face quickly burned up. At the same time, this uncontrollable feeling made him slightly irritable. Unknowingly wanting to take control again, but amidst hazy thoughts, he timely remembered the director’s words.

As a lover, he wasn’t there to win over Cheng Duzhou, but to accept and share.

Duan Xingye’s emotions eased. Relying on acting, he let himself immerse in the moment.

Unknown how long passed.

They separated, faces red and panting. Before recovering, they saw the director sitting in front, looking at the computer screen and smiling.

“!”

Both were startled.

Duan Xingye jumped up almost immediately, covered his mouth, lowered his head, and walked out, speaking a bit fast: “Is it starting? Wait for me, back immediately.”

Li Lin looked at him and smiled: “Don’t rush, this scene passed. That take of yours just now is usable.”

Duan Xingye was stunned, face even redder. Saying nothing, he went out.

Cheng Duzhou stood up and asked, “Passed?”

“Yes.” Li Lin said, “The camera was on the whole time. I checked; emotions were all in place. Can use after post-processing. So you see, when truly immersed, you won’t notice even if someone comes.”

Cheng Duzhou ignored the obvious teasing in his words, walking behind Li Lin to check the recording just now. After watching for a while, he frowned slightly and said, “I feel the performance was a bit casual; can see places where character broke.”

“Not at all.” Li Lin knew Cheng Duzhou was an actor with high demands on himself, happy to discuss with him. “The effect of this segment is brilliant. The places you say character broke are exactly the natural and delicate points. I appreciate them very much and will keep them in the movie.”

Cheng Duzhou licked his lips. After a while, he sat on a chair nearby, looking at the pothos hanging in the corridor ahead, quiet.

The four scenes were finished. The time acting with Duan Xingye was happy to the point of being short. Thinking he was leaving soon, Cheng Duzhou felt a bit lost inside, the whole person seeming to lose vitality.

“Keeping my word.” Li Lin said, “Kiss scene filmed; approving leave for you to go home this afternoon.”

Cheng Duzhou lowered his eyes, looking back ahead, not responding.

Li Lin strange: “What? Don’t want to go home?”

“No.” Cheng Duzhou looked at the clear sky above the teaching building, whispering, “I’m just curious. Would someone really remember a person for a lifetime just because of a heartbeat in youth? Thinking back, from meeting to holding hands, it was only a semester’s time.”

Li Lin understood.

This was still being in character, couldn’t come out for a while. Normal.

“This has nothing to do with the length of time spent together. Some people are just worth remembering for a lifetime.”

Cheng Duzhou narrowed his eyes slightly, shaking his head: “You didn’t understand what I meant.”

Li Lin asked, “What?”

Cheng Duzhou said, “Purely from the audience’s perspective, the kiss scene only shows the protagonist and lover confirmed the relationship. Stopping abruptly after establishing the relationship, will it be convincing?”

Li Lin thought about it and said, “What’s wrong with stopping abruptly? Can leave room for imagination for the audience… So according to you, I have to refine the lover’s image further?”

“Not necessarily.” Cheng Duzhou looked at him. “Wouldn’t adding a bed scene solve many problems?”

“…”

Duan Xingye just came back and heard Cheng Duzhou actively adding scenes, holding the door frame.

Local dog embarrassing me again.

__

Author’s Note:

Director Li: Young man, your abacus beads popped into my face.