Deep in the Act: Chapter 49

Qin Xun’er returned to the set.

She had cut her hair short and changed her style. Her whole person was glowing with energy. The girls all guessed whether she had gotten a younger boyfriend.

The makeup artist was doing her styling. Zhen Xin stayed far away, smoking by the doorway. This was his first day separated from Zhang Zhun into different groups. He couldn’t say what he felt, just that his whole person was sickly and weak. “I say,” he went to bother Chen Zhengsen, flicking ash toward his pants. “For the kiss scene in a bit, can we use camera angles?”

Chen Zhengsen was busy revising the storyboard script and didn’t want to deal with him. Hearing him say “camera angles,” he looked up and glared at him. “Male male scenes are shot for real, and you’re telling me camera angles for a male female scene?” He sneered. “Great Film Emperor Zhen, this is a movie, not a TV drama OK?”

How could Zhen Xin not understand, he was just annoyed. “That side…” he was referring to Zhang Zhun’s B team. “Is Zhou Zheng leading the shoot?”

“Zhou Zheng is fine for picking people and leading groups, but his sense for shots really isn’t good. After handling you guys I still have to go clean up his mess,” Chen Zhengsen put down his pen and paper, clapping his hands. “Alright everyone to your positions, ready to roll!”

Qin Xun’er wore a long wig and a dress, earth toned eyeshadow, milk tea colored nails, sweet feminine charm, walking gracefully toward Zhen Xin. “Teacher Zhen, long time no see.”

Zhen Xin nodded his head, that counted as a greeting. He stubbed out his cigarette and was about to get into position when his phone vibrated in his pants pocket. He hurriedly pulled it out. A WeChat notification, sure enough from Zhang Zhun. He opened it to look. It was a fresh selfie, makeup done, sandalwood colored suit, a cashmere coat draped diagonally over his shoulder, a pin in the shape of Orion on the coat lapel.

Very warm, he also sent a line of text: Today’s look.

Zhen Xin’s heart burned up. He zoomed the photo to maximum, looking again and again at those smiling brows and eyes. He sent back: Can you wear it back?

Almost immediately, the other side sent over a hammer emoji. Zhen Xin laughed, the kind of laugh he couldn’t hold back but didn’t want people to see, crinkling one corner of his mouth. Qin Xun’er suddenly said, “Teacher Zhen you’ve changed.”

Zhen Xin glanced at her. She smoothed her wig. “You used to look down on everyone, now you’re much more likable.”

“What, I’ve become slick?”

“No, you look like someone who’s not getting enough, quite cute,” she looked at him with deeper meaning, slowly, leaning toward him. “Been with men too long, can’t take it?”

Zhen Xin raised one eyebrow looking at her. He indeed was not getting enough. “You can tell?”

“Mmm, like your whole body is about to catch fire,” Qin Xun’er drew close, her long nails lightly pinching his cheek. “Come find me tonight? Since your girlfriend’s broken up with you anyway.”

Zhen Xin laughed unbearably, thinking to himself I’ve got business to attend to tonight, brushing away her hand. “No, thanks.”

The director called action. Zuo Linlin forcibly kissed Fang Chi, no camera angles, big close up. Both of their performances were on point. Qin Xun’er was passionately unable to contain herself, Zhen Xin panicked and dodged. Done in one take. When Chen Zhengsen took off his headphones he said with deep feeling, “You two, finally gave me a break for once!”

Zhen Xin wanted to go to the B team with him. Chen Zhengsen wouldn’t let him, saying the production crew had booked a room at Cashbox to welcome Qin Xun’er back to the team. Zhen Xin didn’t want to go. Chen Zhengsen put his arm around his shoulder. “Go represent me. In a bit…” He was about to say something when the assistant director urgently called him away. He patted Zhen Xin’s back. “Old buddy, I’m counting on you!”

What else could Zhen Xin say. He went downstairs and got in the same car as Qin Xun’er. In the car, she touched up her makeup while shaking her head. “You definitely have somewhere to sneak off to,” she flicked her short hair, pressing her bright red lips together. “Otherwise you’d have bitten my straight hook long ago.”

Zhen Xin gave her a sideways glance, helplessly rubbing his temples. “Save it, I beg you.”

When they arrived, the server led them to a medium private room in a secluded spot. Just seven or eight people. Qin Xun’er didn’t fuss, grabbing the microphone and singing. From “All Things Born” to “Three Thousand Years Later,” from “Riding a White Horse” to “Mahoraga.” When she’d sung enough she pushed the mic to Zhen Xin. Zhen Xin wouldn’t take it. She said, “Not a single song you want to sing your heart out on?”

These words were somewhat provocative. So Zhen Xin picked “Almost Lover.” He had always wanted to sing this song, but didn’t dare. Your fingertips across my skin, The palm trees swaying in the wind, Images.

You sang me Spanish lullabies, The sweetest sadness in your eyes, Clever trick…

Too sentimental lyrics. With Zhang Zhun around he absolutely wouldn’t dare sing. The voice flowed from between his lips and teeth, somewhat restrained, still fairly gentle, just that every line went a bit off key at the end. Qin Xun’er covered her mouth snickering, laughing at his tone deaf kind of cuteness.

Too sentimental lyrics. With Zhang Zhun around he absolutely wouldn’t dare sing. The voice flowed from between his lips and teeth, somewhat restrained, still fairly gentle, just that every line went a bit off key at the end. Qin Xun’er covered her mouth snickering, laughing at his tone deaf kind of cuteness.

Goodbye, my almost lover,

Goodbye, my hopeless dream, I’m trying not to think about you, Can’t you just let me be?

So long, my luckless romance, My back is turned on you, Should’ve known you’d bring me heartache, Almost lovers always do…

Singing to the climax, maybe because he put too much of Fang Chi’s emotion into it, just like Qin Xun’er said, he really did have a bit of a singing his heart out flavor. Just that the pitch got more and more off. Singing to the emotional parts, he was completely off key. The staff members who had been gritting their teeth cheering him on were now looking at each other in dismay, only able to force themselves to hold back from laughing out loud.

Right at this awkward moment, the private room door opened. Xiao Wang led someone in. Originally no one paid attention. That person took off his hat and sunglasses, and only then did everyone discover in surprise, it was Wu Rong.

Zhen Xin immediately stopped singing. The private room exploded with noise. Whether genuine or fake, everyone crowded around calling out warmly “Brother Wu.” The moment he entered the door Wu Rong saw Zhen Xin, putting on airs and singing some English song. He deliberately sat far away, cursing and complaining. “Damn that Chen Zhengsen guy, said he’d welcome me back, and he runs off without a trace!”

Qin Xun’er glanced over, didn’t go over, leaning against Zhen Xin and saying, “Come on, drink one, consider it my apology.”

Zhen Xin was very annoyed, remembering the unfinished words Chen Zhengsen said when they parted, it should be about Wu Rong’s matter. “What for?”

Qin Xun’er held her glass, bursting out with a laugh. “I’ll never force you to sing again, my bad!” Saying this, she laughed heartily, her branches and flowers trembling as she fell into Zhen Xin’s arms.

From far away, Wu Rong saw this. He wasn’t familiar with Qin Xun’er, but had heard rumors about her. He couldn’t say what mindset he was in. He grabbed a bottle of wine and went over, inserting himself between her and Zhen Xin, determined to sit there.

Qin Xun’er more or less held out against him for a stretch, but couldn’t resist, squeezed aside by his butt plopping down. Zhen Xin didn’t know what he was up to, frowning in confusion. The two of them couldn’t stand the sight of each other. Now with arms pressed against arms and faces facing faces, both were awkward. “On the way here,” Wu Rong coughed, raising his wine. “I saw that interview of yours,” because of anger, or some indescribable emotion, his features twisted. “Could you be any more shameless?”

Zhen Xin understood, he had come looking for trouble. So he crossed his arms and leaned back, planning to comfortably listen to what he had to say.

“A piece of fuzz on someone’s leg, did you need to pick it off for them, why are your hands so itchy!”

Zhen Xin couldn’t quite understand his words, but the displeasure in them he understood. Copying Wu Rong’s speaking tone, he said, “Nothing more to say, drink,” randomly grabbing a bottle from the table and clinking with Wu Rong. “Let’s see who falls down, you or me.”

He drank first as a sign of respect. KTV bottles were small, finished in 10 seconds. The empty bottle was set down on the marble tabletop with a clink. His face wasn’t red, his heart wasn’t racing. “Don’t like beer, hard liquor is fine too, hard liquor is my strong suit.”

Fighting, drinking, on these two matters Wu Rong couldn’t lose. Grabbing a bottle, he also started chugging. Zhen Xin didn’t wait for him to finish, pulling over a new bottle and continuing to drink. After less than ten minutes of this contest, the staff members were already calling the server for more wine.

This wasn’t normal, everyone knew it. But in this industry, abnormal things happened too often. They drank for over an hour, pure drinking. Empty bottles filled two tables. Zhen Xin and Wu Rong stubbornly held on without falling down, but both were drinking themselves silly. Xiao Wang settled the bill. The staff members helped them out while busily taking photos with the heart shaped piles of bottles.

Xiao Wang helped Zhen Xin to 3815. The room lights weren’t on. Chen Zhengsen was pulling an all nighter editing. Looking at Zhen Xin like mud, he said to Xiao Wang, “Leave him here, you go take a walk.”

The computer was playing today’s B team footage, almost finished editing. Zhang Zhun wearing that cashmere coat with the pin, looked heartbreakingly beautiful on camera. No external audio, couldn’t hear the sound. Ambiguously, he and a man exchanged looks. Zhen Xin stared dead at the screen, watching that man undo his belt, then, Zhang Zhun kneeling down before him. The camera pushed in, close up on the man’s entranced face.

Like it was real. His spine went cold with a whoosh, his stomach nauseous. Zhen Xin’s alcohol suddenly sobered up, like someone had stabbed him in the chest, even breathing hurt.

“Saw Wu Rong?” Chen Zhengsen asked.

Zhen Xin nodded drunkenly. Chen Zhengsen took off his headphones. “You two, have a few scenes together, hadn’t shot them before, you also know why,” he sighed. “Great Teacher Zhen, you became famous young, you can have a temper, but you can’t be on bad terms with everyone right,” he lit two cigarettes, passing one to Zhen Xin. “Now that your relationship with Zhang Zhun is relatively cold, that’s also a good thing.”

Hearing him say the relationship was cold, to cover his guilt, Zhen Xin defended. “I’m annoyed with Wu Rong, but it doesn’t affect filming…”

“Doesn’t affect?” Chen Zhengsen sneered. “With so many drivers in the crew, nobody’s gossiped to you?” He flicked away ash. “That bed scene with Wu Rong before, he slammed the table at me, said if you were there he wouldn’t act.”

Zhen Xin suddenly looked up. “So…”

“So that’s why I arranged for you to go to the interview,” Chen Zhengsen said lightly. “Including your breakup drama during filming, your scandal rumors on set, the production crew can carry all that for you. My thinking is just one thing, get the filming done well.”

Zhen Xin felt ashamed, not making a sound.

“Why I’m telling you this,” Chen Zhengsen ground out his cigarette on the tabletop. “You and Wu Rong’s next scene together, the physical conflict is quite intense. I hope you can control yourself.”

Zhen Xin nodded. Chen Zhengsen pressed further. “Can you do it?”

Zhen Xin said weakly. “I can.”

Before returning to 3705, Zhen Xin was listless. Didn’t know what happened, the moment he pressed the doorbell, hearing that familiar footsteps through the door, his whole person got excited. His fingers lightly scratched at the door, unable to wait.

The door opened, lights off, a warm embrace caught him. “Why did you drink so much…” somewhat complaining, somewhat heartbroken. The room light turned on, Zhen Xin saw him, bare shoulders, hair loose, a face still sleepy eyed.

He excitedly hugged him, wanting to kiss his mouth. Zhang Zhun dodged a bit. “Hey wait…” he almost broke free from his embrace. “Let me first go check on Shige.”

“He got me drinking him under the table,” Zhen Xin lied nonsense. He didn’t want him to leave, spinning around to pull him back into his arms, eyes sweeping down, seeing a pair of white sneakers on the floor. “Your shoes?”

He had never seen them before. Zhang Zhun followed his gaze. “Ah, tomorrow’s prop.”

A surge of jealousy suddenly shot to his brain. Zhen Xin hoarsened his voice, both hands reaching into Zhang Zhun’s big shorts. “Put them on, let me see.”

“What for?” Zhang Zhun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, shyly pulling his hands.

“Put them on, I just want one look.” Zhen Xin was really drunk, speaking in a cloying hometown accent, acting spoiled without any concerns. Zhang Zhun couldn’t resist him, picking up the shoes and sitting at the edge of the bed, putting one on his bare foot. Brand new pearlescent white, a slender ankle, following the sexy ankle bone looking upward, was a bare calf. Zhen Xin squatted down with straight eyes, grabbing that foot, holding it firmly in his hand.

Zhang Zhun thought he was drunk. Though he found it strange, he didn’t think much of it. Very slowly, very slowly, Zhen Xin pulled his shoelaces, pulling them open and holding his heel to take the shoe off, then cupping the foot, licking into the sensitive gaps between his toes.

Too strange a sensation. Zhang Zhun cried out, going numb from the soles of his feet to the insides of his thighs. He lay back desperately shrinking away. Zhen Xin held him tight, sucking on those innocent toes.

Zhang Zhun was licked until tears came out, squinting to avoid the overhead light. “You…” he didn’t know how to ask. “Is it that kind… liking feet…”

“Foot fetish?” Zhen Xin spat out his toes, crawling up along his thigh, relaxing his whole body to press down on him. “I’m in love with you, your feet, your hands, nose, eyes, mouth,” he sucked on his chin, sucking that small patch of skin red. “I want them all.”

Nakedly emotional words. Zhang Zhun heard someone say this for the first time. “Don’t treat me like a woman to trick…” he was so shy he didn’t know what to do, nervously clenching his fists. Just then Zhen Xin unexpectedly pinched his waist. “That stud waist, show it to me?”

“Wha…” Zhang Zhun heard that word clearly, but didn’t have the courage to repeat it. The other party’s obscene teasing made him so ashamed he wished he could disappear. “Get off me!”

Zhen Xin was shameless, pulling down his shorts. “Your butt… is it better?”

Zhang Zhun finally lifting his leg to kick him. “What do you think about all day!”

“Thinking of you,” Zhen Xin said foolishly, looking honestly into his eyes. “Wanting to do it with you again.”