TSBDRA 9: He’s a Lot Like You Back Then

After wrapping up that scene, Chi Siyuan remained in the classroom to continue filming with the extras.

His character, Xia Qinglang, had initially tried to understand Yu Xiang through what the other students said about him but he quickly realized that the real Yu Xiang was nothing like the rumors. His curiosity only grew, and he began actively seeking out opportunities to interact with Yu Xiang and understand him on a deeper level.

While Chi Siyuan continued shooting, Xu Xishuang changed locations and headed over to a nearby alley the crew had temporarily borrowed to prepare for his scenes opposite the veteran actor.

The veteran actor’s surname was Zhang, and as usual, Xu Xishuang respectfully addressed him as Zhang-ge. In the film, Zhang-ge played Yu Xiang’s father—a complete scumbag. 

Ever since Yu Xiang’s mother passed away, the man had been drinking, smoking, gambling, and using Yu Xiang as his personal punching bag, unleashing all his emotions on him.

The terrible scar on the back of Yu Xiang’s neck came from one such drunken rampage—his father had stormed out of the kitchen with a pot of boiling water and poured it straight down Yu Xiang’s neck.

Yu Xiang’s entire personality had been shaped by this man. The kids in town all knew what kind of father he had, so no one would stick up for him. That’s why they dared to bully him so brazenly—at home, at school, everywhere he went, Yu Xiang lived in deep and unrelenting misery.

Yu Xiang had grown up being beaten. He knew he couldn’t fight back, so whenever his father got drunk and violent, he would find the best way to hide and avoid confrontation.

Facing an industry veteran with years of experience, Xu Xishuang naturally felt pressure but it still didn’t compare to the pressure from Yan Yushan—because he realized that instead of staying to supervise Chi Siyuan’s shoot, Yan Yushan had come over to monitor his.

Sure, Xu Xishuang knew his scene was more demanding, so it made sense that Yan Yushan would be there. Yet today, his stare felt especially intense. Xu Xishuang could practically feel his back burning under that gaze. Even Zhang-ge joked, telling Director Yan to stop glaring at his “son” or he would scare him off.

Only then did Yan Yushan finally ease his expression slightly. Xu Xishuang seized the chance to throw himself into character and begin filming.

Yu Xiang was in his room trying to do his homework. His workbook was torn, crumpled, stomped on—a piece he had salvaged from the trash and taped back together as best he could.

He barely got a few words down before he heard his father’s heavy footsteps in the stairwell. Instantly, Yu Xiang froze. He rushed to hide his homework, turned off his lamp, locked the door, and curled up under his blanket.

Moments later, the door to his bedroom was slammed hard, the wooden panels thudding loudly with every hit. Each bang made Yu Xiang, curled up under the blanket, flinch all over.

Listening to the curses flying from outside the door, a single tear slipped down his cheek but he quickly wiped it away, shut his eyes with a blank expression, and forced himself to sleep. Tomorrow at school, he would just get bullied again.

Eventually, Yu Xiang’s father seemed to run out of steam. Grumbling and cursing, he slumped into a chair in the living room. He reached for his phone to order food only to find his account empty. After a moment of thought, he staggered into a side room, stared blearily at a locked cabinet, then stumbled off to his own room to drag out a hammer and smashed the lock open.

He pulled out a wad of cash, laughed drunkenly, and staggered out again—off to drink.

Hearing all this, Yu Xiang realized his father had left. He crept out of his room, stood in the living room for a moment, then ran into the side room, eyes widening as he stared at the now-empty cabinet.

His father had taken his living expenses for the month!

Before passing away, Yu Xiang’s grandparents had worried most about their underage grandson. They knew their son was hopeless, so they secretly gave all their savings to Yu Xiang. He kept the money with Grandma Liu next door and only withdrew enough each month for basic needs, stashing a portion at home.

Yu Xiang’s father had tried causing trouble at Grandma Liu’s place before, but her two strapping sons had always driven him off. Eventually, he gave up and just took his frustration out on Yu Xiang, trying to force him to hand over the money.

Yu Xiang never expected that just one moment of carelessness would give his father the opening to steal this month’s money.

He pressed his lips tightly together. His grandparents’ money wouldn’t last much longer. He had to make it stretch until he turned eighteen. What was he supposed to do now?

“Cut. Good,” Yan Yushan signaled.

Xu Xishuang didn’t move right away. He stayed in place, slowly letting go of the character before stepping aside to rest.

That scene had drained him emotionally. He sat and watched some silly videos to unwind and remembered Dr. Xu’s advice. Stay in a good mood, take vitamin C, and increase his activity level.

His assistant Xiao Wang had made him a bowl of homemade ice jelly. Xu Xishuang gave him a thumbs-up and was about to ask for seconds when Xiao Wang stopped him.

Yan Yushan called him over to reshoot a few close-ups and Xu Xishuang obliged. While he was filming, Zhang-ge smiled and said to Yan Yushan, “This kid reminds me a lot of you back in the day.”

“I remember you started tackling heavy roles at about this age too,” Zhang-ge added. “Xiao Xu isn’t even twenty yet. He’s got a bright future ahead.”

Yan Yushan watched Xu Xishuang through the monitor. The boy was like an unpolished gem, radiant and dazzling. It made people want to shape him, lift him up, show him to the world—yet also possess him to keep all that brilliance for themselves.

When Xu Xishuang finished, Chi Siyuan was just wrapping up too. On their way back to the hotel, Chi Siyuan practically ran over to catch up with him, breathless as he asked, “Senior, can I still come by your room tonight?”

Xu Xishuang nodded. “Yeah.”

Behind them, Yan Yushan slowly furrowed his brows.