Chapter 5

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Two days after Xia Xingcheng joined the crew, filming for the movie ‘Gradual Distance’ officially commenced.

Most of the movie’s scenes were shot in a studio. When Xia Xingcheng saw the appearance of a three-storey building from a distance, his mind flipped through many scenes in the script of its own accord.

In the summer of his freshman year of university, a third floor room in Fang Jianyuan’s building welcomed a tenant, Yu Haiyang, a handsome man in his thirties.

After a simple opening ceremony, the first scene that would be shot that day was the first intimate scene between Fang Jianyuan and Yu Haiyang.

At the shooting location, people wandered about, making preparations for the shoot. He Zheng, with a script in his hand, talked to Yang Youming and Xia Xingcheng.

He Zheng told Xia Xingcheng, “This is Fang Jinyuan’s first time. His heart is very reluctant, but his body subconsciously surrenders to it.”

Xia Xingcheng nodded, almost crushing the script in his hand. It was crumpled with sweat.

He didn’t have many lines in this scene, though it should be said that he didn’t exactly have that many lines in the entire movie either. However, this only served to make him even more nervous. He knew that what He Zheng wanted wasn’t the feelings expressed by long lines, but the emotions connected by the details of one scene after another, which may be in the form of a silent expression, or a subtle action.

Xia Xingcheng had seen every single movie that He Zheng made, from the start of his career up until now. What He Zheng’s films were most adept at was the delicate expression of camera language, even in commercial films–not to mention that this film was a literary and artistic piece in the first place.

That way, if the film were to show good results, the acting level that was required from the actors was indeed very high.

Among young actors, Xia Xingcheng had always been praised for his good acting skills. In any case, in relatively rough and straightforward idol dramas, it was enough for him to use his existing skills to express his emotions. However, he understood that there was still a long way to go before he could meet He Zheng’s standards.

This made him instinctively nervous. When he poured over the script last night, he repeatedly wondered, did He Zheng ask him to act in this movie just because he resembled Fang Jianyuan’s image? If so, how were they similar? Was it his face or his character? He wanted to ask He Zheng what else he needed to do to make himself better suited for the role, but he lacked the courage to do so.

Uneasy, Xia Xingcheng stole a glance at Yang Youming.

Yang Youming bowed his head and listened to He Zheng while looking at the script. When He Zheng talked about his parts in the scene, Yang Youming would nod his head calmly in response.

Today, Yang Youming was dressed like Yu Haiyang in the scene, donning black suit pants and a white shirt that was tucked in, which in turn displayed his narrow waist and long legs. His hair was initially combed back, but a few strands of hair fell down messily. Coupled with an unbuttoned open collar, it made him appear less serious.

Seeming to have noticed Xia Xingcheng’s line of sight, Yang Youming looked up from the script and glanced at Xia Xingcheng, a casual smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

Xia Xingcheng was momentarily stunned, and the blurry image of Yu Haiyang in Xia Xingcheng’s mind clearly emerged in Yang Youming.

Yang Youming was trying to figure out the role while listening to the description of the scene. He didn’t need to transition or be carried by the other actor, and was able to effortlessly immerse himself in a scene and become his character.

He zheng let them run through the scene first.

Xia Xingcheng took a deep breath and passed the script to his assistant.

In this scene, Fang Jianyuan had just entered the building, and he met Yu Haiyang when he went up the stairs. Yu Haiyang grabbed him and pushed him against the wall, kissed and touched him all over, and finally took him into his room and pushed him down on the bed.

Xia Xingcheng came up the stairs, and when He Zheng shouted “Hurry up!” he adjusted his pace, ran up, and saw Yang Youming, who was standing at the top of the stairs. When he tried to walk past him, Yang Youming grabbed his arm and pushed him against the wall.

Xia Xingcheng was startled. It wasn’t an act–he was genuinely startled, because Yang Youming had used a lot of strength, and his entire body was crushed against him.

Yang Youming asked him in a low voice, “Did you go out to play?”

Xia Xingcheng didn’t answer, as he didn’t need to answer here.

Yang Youming raised his hand and swept away the hair on his forehead, saying, “Did you go out with your classmates? Look, you’re sweating.”

Xia Xingcheng stiffly raised his hand and tried to push Yang Youming away.

As a result, Yang Youming leaned in. At that moment, Xia Xingcheng thought that Yang Youming was going to kiss him, but Yang Youming only pretended to; their faces were close together, but their lips weren’t touching. He quickly moved away and pulled on his T-shirt, pretending to kiss Xia Xingcheng’s neck.

Xia Xingcheng was stiff throughout the fake kiss, until Yang Youming started to push him into the room.

He Zheng said, “OK.” With that, he put his hand on Yang Youming’s shoulder. “Properly kiss him later, don’t fake it like that.”

Yang Youming nodded.

From start to finish, Xia Xingcheng had been spurred on by Yang Youming that even his stiffness ended up playing a necessary part. At that time, his cheeks and lips were slightly flushed, and there was a layer of sweat on his forehead. He didn’t know whether it was caused by heat or tension.

He Zheng asked him, “Are you fine with that?”

Xia Xingcheng didn’t react immediately. A moment later he realised that He Zheng was talking about the real kiss that was going to happen. He hurriedly replied, “No problem.” If he wasn’t psychologically prepared for this scene, he wouldn’t be able to act.

He Zheng nodded and left to direct the lights.

Yang Youming suddenly asked Xia Xingcheng, “Are you nervous?”

Stunned, Xia Xingcheng looked at Yang Youming, not knowing how to answer.

Yang Youming didn’t seem to be expecting an answer either. He lowered his head to tidy up the buttons on his sleeves and said blandly, “He Zheng wants you to be nervous right now. It doesn’t matter.”

With that, Yang Youming left, and Xia Xingcheng went to a lone corner where Huang Jixin was chatting with a pretty makeup artist.

The makeup artist saw him coming over, and hurriedly came forward to touch up Xiao Xingcheng’s makeup and whispered, “Xiao Xing ge is sweating a lot.”

This make-up artist has worked with him before. At that time, everyone in that crew had called him ‘Xiao Xing ge’, but now when he met with a new crew, many people also called him ‘Xiao Xing ge’.

Huang Jixin bumped his arm. “Not bad. You didn’t shy away from acting opposite Yang Youming for the first time. I think He Zheng is fairly satisfied.”

Xia Xingcheng was at a loss for words. He waited for his makeup to be fixed, and lifted his head to move his stiff neck.

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