Chapter 36 – Release of the Makeup Photos

A spoon clattered onto the table, making a loud thud that echoed in the room. It jolted Jiang Heng back to reality.

What was he saying just now?

He had actually told Shen Fubai, “You’re pretty O, ah.”

Jiang Heng wasn’t gay before, but since he suspected he might have fallen for a certain young man, he had delved into a lot of research – including reading various BL novels.

This opened up a new world for him.

Some people may seem aloof and elegant on the surface, but behind closed doors, they know more than anyone else. Things like male pregnancies, rich husbands running away with their babies, or interstellar ABO dynamics… Compared to him, even President Mu, who had only read overbearing CEO novels, was an amateur.

Jiang Heng read a lot, but he still had his pet peeves and favorite tropes. Out of some inexplicable yet well-known reason, Jiang Heng was particularly fond of entertainment circle stories involving a movie star x idol pairing.

This secret desire was crystal clear.

But no matter how obvious it was, Jiang Heng was still the cool and detached movie star in public.

Using the spoon to hide his face, Jiang Heng discreetly observed Shen Fubai’s surprised expression, guessing that Shen Fubai probably didn’t understand what he was talking about.

Good, his image was safe.

Little did he know, Shen Fubai had completely understood his meaning and was even secretly suspecting whether Jiang Heng was a fellow fan.

Shen Fubai was still pondering when he heard Jiang Heng correct himself, “I left out a k earlier, you’re pretty ok.”

Shen Fubai tilted his head, blinking his bright eyes.

Jiang Heng felt like he could drown in this head tilt.

Too cute!

Jiang Heng said earnestly, “You’re great.”

Shen Fubai thought about it and realized.

Heng was just reciting lines with him.

In the script of “Pear Blossoms,” there was a scene where Chu Yu and Yu Tang’s feelings for each other started to blossom.

Chu Yu had studied abroad and was straightforward and open-minded. He was direct in his speech, but all his restraint and carefulness were reserved for Yu Tang.

Yu Tang had been repressed and restrained his entire life. The only time he dared to let loose was in his love for Chu Yu, a moth drawn to a flame, burning fiercely.

At the beginning of their mutual affection, after removing his makeup, Yu Tang walked out from backstage bare-faced and asked Chu Yu, “Is this not pretty?”

On stage, he was a delicate beauty, but behind the scenes, he was a man. He was afraid. Afraid that the world wouldn’t accept a man falling in love with another man. More than that, he feared that Chu Yu would despise him.

Chu Yu replied tactfully, “You’re pretty ok.”

Confused, Yu Tang paused and asked, “Oh what?”

Chu Yu was embarrassed to repeat himself.

After hesitating for a long time, he shyly blurted out five words, “I said you’re great.”

Once spoken, it wasn’t as embarrassing. He felt that the person in front of him was indeed great, nothing to hide.

Chu Yu looked up, gazing at him seriously, his eyes bright, enunciating each word, “You’re great.”

Shen Fubai remembered. Jiang Heng had mentioned coming to his dressing room to go over lines with Yang Yingying. It was natural for him to suddenly start reciting lines.

Don’t ask if it was awkward. Actors had to say embarrassing lines surrounded by a bunch of people while filming. If they couldn’t handle a little embarrassment, they shouldn’t be actors.

Shen Fubai wondered if he should continue acting. But the dialogue Jiang Heng had recited ended here, and it was time for a scene change. He had no lines to respond with.

One thing was certain, he had definitely overthought it. How could Heng possibly understand ABO? Not everyone was a fan of BL. Celebrities were so busy, they might not even have time to read novels, let alone… BL novels.

Shen Fubai felt like he was unique. [Not really]

Life, truly lonely like snow.

Jiang Heng hadn’t eaten the watermelon. Observing that Fubai liked this fruit, he simply gave it all to him.

Shen Fubai picked up the spoon again, scooping the watermelon aimlessly, using the watermelon hat to pretend to block his view as he closely observed Jiang Heng’s face.

Even though he had spent the entire week with Jiang Heng, an idol’s face was something he could never get enough of.

Jiang Heng was engrossed in his phone, his slender hand holding it, his wrist thin and beautiful. His profile was flawless, with a straight nose bridge and beautifully shaped lips. His long eyelashes fluttered occasionally, light and graceful like butterfly wings.

Shen Fubai secretly sized him up for a while and decided that Heng was quite O.

Those wrists so slender, they must be quite vigorous when gripping the sheets…

Ah! What a sin. It was his own dirty mind, he needed to reflect.

Shen Fubai pushed away this dangerous thought and quickly took a bite of watermelon to calm down.

Suddenly, Jiang Heng said, “You’re trending.”

“Cough, cough, cough.” Shen Fubai, who had just been daydreaming about Jiang Heng, was startled by Jiang Heng’s voice and choked on the watermelon.

Jiang Heng rushed over and gently patted his back. “Slow down, your throat is so delicate, you can choke on anything.” His tone was half exasperated, half worried, mixed with a bit of amusement.

Shen Fubai wasn’t seriously choked, it was just a sudden scare. With Jiang Heng’s pat, he was fine. Having finished most of the watermelon, he had even gnawed clean the rind. Shen Fubai tried to maintain his composure as he wrapped it up and threw it in the trash before turning around to ask, “What kind of trend am I on now?”

Shen Fubai was used to it. He was a frequent visitor to the trending topics, nothing surprising. But these days, he had been staying in the crew, so he really didn’t know how he could trend.

Could it be that his silly appearance wearing a mascot costume, tiptoeing and eavesdropping in the corner, had been captured?

Jiang Heng showed him the screen of his phone. “Your makeup photos have been released.”

Almost forgot about that.

It had been a week since the makeup photos were taken. In that week, they had been post-produced, and now it was time to release them.

Shen Fubai glanced at Jiang Heng’s phone screen. The top trending topic was Shen Fubai Yu Tang Makeup Photos, followed by a fire emoji indicating it was exploding.

Compared to being number one, Shen Fubai was more interested in the second topic.

The second trending topic was Yu Tang Chu Yu Poster.

Although it didn’t mention his and Jiang Heng’s names, it was still the two of them trending together. And unlike the awkward trend last week that made both of them uncomfortable.

This time, it was real. They were truly framed together.

Shen Fubai was excited, thrilled, almost fainting.

He immediately clicked on his phone.

Shen Fubai logged into his main Weibo account. According to the time stamp, the official Weibo account of “Pear Blossoms” had posted these posters an hour ago, specifically mentioning Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai.

“Pear Blossoms” Official Weibo: You’ve been waiting for Yu Tang. Shen Fubai Jiang Heng [Image][Image][Image]

The first image was Shen Fubai’s makeup photo.

A stunning beauty stood alone on a high platform, quietly waiting for the opera to end. A porcelain white hand gripped a cold, gleaming sword, so detailed that the skin texture and blue veins on the back of the hand could be seen clearly. He placed the sword across his vulnerable neck, the corners of his lips slightly curved, his gaze looking into the distance, distant and melancholic, as if looking through the air at someone, yet not looking at anyone. After a moment, his eyes lowered slightly, the ripples shimmering, evoking a shallow smile tinged with sorrow.

That look, filled with sorrow yet relieved, deep affection yet resentment. It made the audience dare not take another look, their hearts aching.

A static image came alive with motion. That meaningful gaze, without needing any words, naturally allowed people to imagine the whole drama.

The second and third images were promotional posters featuring Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai together.

A famous beauty, renowned for his beauty that toppled kingdoms, smiled softly and tilted his head up, the sword in his hand pressed against the neck of the man in military uniform, tears glistening in his eyes. The man looked down at him, his expression restrained, his gun pressed against the temple of the frail youth in his arms, his index finger not even on the trigger.

The color scheme of this image was hazy, unlike reality.

The most vividly colored was the third image.

The two stood against the backdrop of a European vintage study, presenting a confrontational posture. Chu Yu’s hand hung at his side, unconsciously clenched into a fist, while the other hand stretched out to point the black muzzle of a gun at the forehead of the youth opposite him.

The beautiful and fragile performer stood in the shadow, a folding fan half covering his lotus-like face. Even though he was being pointed at with a gun by his beloved, he still wore a half-smile, living up to the phrase “an actor always performs for the occasion,” heartless and unfeeling.

But it wasn’t like that.

He…was crying.

Under the golden folding fan adorned with a magnificent peony, a single tear fell, a fleeting sadness in the chaos of war.

“The greatest distance in the world is when I’m by your side, but you don’t know that I love you.”

Chu Yu, do you know?

Jiang Heng, do you know?

Just one hour after the post, the number of likes and retweets had reached a terrifying figure. The comment section was a large-scale prairie dog scream fest.

Netizen A: I can!!! [squeal] I’ve said these three words enough.

Netizen B: Why only three? Can the official Weibo account be any stingier? Please make a nine-grid collage, thank you!!!

Netizen C: I’ve already imagined a 100,000-word heartbreaking drama. Based on three images, I can imagine an entire fanfiction series. There’s exposition, development, climax, and resolution, just need a talented author to write it.

Netizen D: I didn’t expect much from Shen Fubai’s acting, but now I declare I’ll follow this drama. Just for the looks, perfectly fitting my vision of Yu Tang.

Netizen E: +1 for following.

Netizen F: Damn, I think these two are really well-matched. Seeing how pitiful Fubai looks, how could Heng bear to do this! I want to hug Fubai tightly. So pitiful, 555.

Netizen G: Upstairs, please don’t mix script relationships with real-life actors. These few photos of Shen Fubai are indeed very good-looking, but they also benefited from the makeup, styling, photography, and post-production. We don’t know how it will turn out in actual filming. Our Heng isn’t compatible with just anyone.

Netizen H: Oh my god, these few! How can Shen Fubai be so beautiful! As a bystander, I’m already drunk on Shen Fubai’s stunning beauty. The two camps fighting online should take a break. Look, your idols are doing well. This eye contact, this chemistry, it’s all love!

Netizen I: Which crazy fandom is upstairs pretending to be a bystander? No shipping. S: Jiang Heng’s acting fan. These few photos of Shen Fubai aren’t worth mocking, I won’t criticize them. Wait until the drama airs, then I’ll come back to complain.

…

Online comments were mixed, but overall, they leaned heavily in one direction. Any doubts were old criticisms about Shen Fubai’s acting, but there were hardly any doubts about his modeling skills.

The makeup photos and promotional posters were genuinely impressive.

The few regular trolls and drama queens were ignored by everyone.

This wasn’t the most important thing.

The key point was that Shen Fubai had discovered the super topic for him and Jiang Heng’s pairing!!!

The banner image was their second poster.

How fast were these netizens?

The drama hadn’t even started filming for long, but the pairing was already heating up. In just one hour, the super topic’s views had surpassed 100 million. It hadn’t escalated to real-life actors, 99% were attracted by their promotional photos.

“Pear Blossoms” was truly becoming popular before it was even broadcast.