Chapter 43 – What If I Can’t Act in Intimate Scenes?

Shen Fubai closed the script and grabbed a tissue, blowing his nose. “Why am I so damned unlucky! My death was so tragic!”

Xiao Lin’s expression was hard to describe. “You know the script by heart now. Do you really need to look this miserable every time you finish reading it?”

Shen Fubai whined. “So what if I know it by heart? Every time I read about Yu Tang’s fate, my heart still breaks. Isn’t it natural for me to empathize with him?”

“Sure, sure.” Xiao Lin conceded. “Then think about the three kissing scenes and one bedroom scene you have with Jiang Heng.”

Shen Fubai’s tears vanished in an instant. “I could die ten thousand more times, as long as there are plenty of these kinds of scenes.”

Xiao Lin had seen through this man’s facade.

When Shen Fubai first read the script and finished it, he had cried his eyes out, using half a pack of tissues, which had scared Xiao Lin.

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Lin asked repeatedly. “This is just a script, not a death notice.”

“How could there be such a torturous script? It’s making my liver, lungs, kidneys, everything hurt. Life isn’t worth living; I want to go back to heaven,” Shen Fubai wailed, his peach-petal eyes tinted red, evoking pity from others.

Xiao Lin couldn’t bear to see him like this and was about to comfort him with the reminder that it was all just acting when Shen Fubai suddenly burst out laughing between sobs. “But in this drama, I have three kissing scenes and one bedroom scene with Heng Heng… Hahahahaha…”

Xiao Lin thought coldly that if he felt sympathy for this person again, he would rename himself Formalde-

“If you’re so eager for more scenes, why don’t you talk to the director and ask the screenwriter to rewrite the script for you? Add another one hundred eight kissing scenes, pin us down on the bed, and let us get it all out at once,” Xiao Lin mocked.

Ever since becoming Shen Fubai’s assistant, Xiao Lin had been walking further and further down the path of losing his morals, engaging in daily mutual abuse with Shen Fubai.

Shen Fubai blushed. “That would be too embarrassing.”

Xiao Lin: “???”

It seemed like he had actually considered it.

Sitting in the makeup room’s swivel chair, with the script on his knees, Shen Fubai would flip it open with a swoosh, then close it with another swoosh, and then open it again.

He wasn’t tired, but watching him was exhausting for Xiao Lin.

“You’ve been staring at that page for an hour. You didn’t forget your lines, did you?” Xiao Lin thought it was unlikely. Brother Shen’s memory was pretty powerful.

Shen Fubai covered his face with the script, his voice muffled by the thick pages. “The director just called me over and said we’re shooting the bedroom scene between me and Heng Heng tomorrow. I’m nervous, so I need to review this section ten more times.”

There weren’t many intimate scenes in the drama, just a few in the fifty-episode length. When emotions ran high, they needed to escalate, which was all part of the natural progression.

Looking at the entire plot, there were only a few scenes that could be described as ambiguous. There was a kissing scene when Chu Yu returned from the province, then the story delved into their tumultuous love affair. Another kissing scene took place during New Year’s Eve after misunderstandings were cleared up, ushering in a sweet phase. And earlier on, there was the time when Chu Yu explained to Yu Tang that he wasn’t interested in Miss Zhang… That time, it wasn’t just a kiss; they ended up in bed.

It was stated quite bluntly, but Director Xu’s skilled filming techniques would undoubtedly capture the beauty of the moments, destined to become material for countless fanatics to scream over once the drama aired.

After video editing, the final broadcast would show only a few seconds of the scenes, quite restrained. However, during filming, the actors needed to perform the entire sequence.

Director Xu gave the two leads almost a month to build chemistry. Now that Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai were comfortable enough to call each other older brother, filming such scenes shouldn’t be too awkward, so the plan was set in motion. Shen Fubai had just been called by Director Xu to discuss this.

“They’re all men, don’t take it too seriously. It’s all for art,” Director Xu patted his shoulder. “If it’s really too much, we can use stand-ins…”

“No,” Shen Fubai said solemnly. “Sacrificing oneself for art is necessary.”

Director Xu was pleased. “Both you and Little Jiang are great actors, with a high level of awareness. Little Jiang said the same thing earlier.”

Shen Fubai nodded with a smile.

Then he came back and went crazy.

“I know you’re going to shoot a bedroom scene with Jiang the Movie King. You’ve mentioned it thirty times in the past hour. On average, you emphasize it every two minutes,” Xiao Lin said emotionlessly.

Shen Fubai continued to hide his face behind the script. “I’m just nervous, okay?”

Xiao Lin: “Don’t be nervous, I hope you get it right in one take.”

Shen Fubai instantly put down the script. “How could you say something so malicious?”

Xiao Lin: ??? Wasn’t that supposed to be a blessing?

Xiao Lin ventured, “Then… how about I wish you multiple NGs?”

Shen Fubai was delighted. “I accept your blessing.”

Xiao Lin: “…”

Where were his boundaries? Where was his dedication to the craft?

Shen Fubai: What, I can’t even think about it?

In the lounge, Jiang Heng was pacing back and forth.

Xiao Zhang: “You’re making my eyes hurt.”

Jiang Heng: “Shut up.”

Xiao Zhang: “I understand your feelings, after all, you’re about to sleep with your idol…”

Jiang Heng suddenly stopped, his eyes sharp, but his tone uncertain. “What are you talking about?”

Xiao Zhang chuckled. “Do you need me to repeat how stupid you looked when you found out that Yu Tang would be played by the famous Shen Fubai?”

Jiang Heng’s studio had access to top-tier resources, with countless great scripts waiting for him to choose. ‘Pear Blossoms’ was picked by Jiang Heng himself.

Perhaps it was destiny. Among a pile of scripts, Jiang Heng picked it out immediately. At that time, the role of Yu Tang hadn’t been decided yet, and Jiang Heng didn’t care much about who his co-star would be, only feeling that this script struck a chord deep within him.

On the day the casting for Yu Tang was confirmed, Jiang Heng was holed up in his room reading the script, oblivious to the outside world. Probably moved by a particular section, Jiang Heng’s expression was especially sorrowful that day. Huddled in his chair, his brows furrowed, leaning against the curtains, he was a tall, handsome man, cool and aloof.

Xiao Zhang walked in and saw Jiang Heng’s expression, knowing that he was deeply immersed in the script.

In this state, whatever he said, Brother Jiang wouldn’t hear him.

“Reading the script, Brother Jiang.”

Jiang Heng didn’t respond, focused on the script.

Just as expected, he was completely absorbed.

Xiao Zhang approached. “Is the plot very heart-wrenching? You look troubled.”

Jiang Heng didn’t react, engrossed in the script.

Xiao Zhang said calmly for the third time, “The casting for Yu Tang has been decided. Shen Fubai.”

Rustle rustle.

The script fell.

Jiang Heng raised his eyes and said slowly, “You said—what?”

Brother Jiang clearly had a conditioned response to Big Star Shen Fubai. Xiao Zhang patiently repeated, “I said the casting for Yu Tang has been decided. Shen Fubai.”

Jiang Heng picked up the script from the floor and continued reading. “Oh.”

Xiao Zhang was speechless.

Was it possible? This script was so good that it made Brother Jiang indifferent to anything related to Big Star Shen? What happened to the number one fanboy?

Then Xiao Zhang saw Jiang Heng quickly flipping through the script, a strange smile spreading across his face. “So in this drama, I have three kissing scenes and one bedroom scene with Fubai. What a wonderful script. Come, let me share these beautiful lines with you—under the flickering red candlelight, Yu Tang’s fingertips dig into Chu Yu’s shoulders, biting his lips as he pants softly, and after a moment, he tells Chu Yu, Young Master, I…”

As he delivered the lines with emotion, a gust of wind blew the curtain onto Jiang Heng’s face.

Jiang Heng’s determined voice echoed from behind the curtain. “…I like you so much.”

Past memories were best forgotten.

This was Jiang Heng’s first time filming an intimate scene. In his previous films, he had always played ambitious lead roles, with hardly any romantic subplots. In this aspect, Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai were equally inexperienced.

Not to mention, his first collaboration was with Shen Fubai, his dream idol.

How could he not be nervous?

Although the set would be cleared during the official shooting the next day, there would still be relevant personnel watching. Shen Fubai was genuinely afraid he might make a mistake, especially when facing Jiang Heng. His intelligence usually didn’t function well in those situations.

That night, after returning to the hotel, Shen Fubai washed up and lay in bed, studying the script for a long time, pondering how to act tomorrow.

It wasn’t working. Practicing alone didn’t feel right.

It lacked soul.

After much thought, Shen Fubai, dressed in a Pikachu pajamas and slippers, knocked on the door of Room 608 opposite his.

In good conscience, he was extremely dedicated. He truly knocked on the door with the intention of humbly seeking guidance from a senior actor.

At least that was the case when he knocked on the door.

Jiang Heng’s door opened quickly. Jiang Heng had probably just taken a shower, and his body was filled with the scent of shower gel.

He wore a robe and shorts, his model-like physique ratio enviable.

Shen Fubai was momentarily speechless.

Jiang Heng’s eyes were gentle. “Is there something you need?”

“Ah… yes. Director Xu talked to you today, right? About the scene for tomorrow…” Shen Fubai felt embarrassed. “It’s my first time filming something like this, and I don’t know much, so I wanted to come and ask you, learn from your experience.”

Jiang Heng: To be honest, it’s my first time filming this kind of scene too. I can’t teach you much. Please leave.

Such a straightforward answer could never come from Jiang Heng’s mouth.

Jiang Heng said, “Okay.”

Even if he had no substantial knowledge to offer, he wouldn’t miss any opportunity to interact with his idol.

Shen Fubai entered Room 608, and the door closed.

If it had been a female actress coming to her male co-star’s room late at night, claiming to have questions about a scene she didn’t understand, and the scene in question was a bedroom scene… the underlying meaning would be, “I want to sleep with you.” With such an obvious message, could one expect the other party not to read too much into it?

However, there was no such concern between the two of them, both being grown men.

Shen Fubai genuinely sought guidance.

Of course, if one wanted to find a hidden motive… who wouldn’t want to spend more time with their idol?

“Sit down,” Jiang Heng gestured for Shen Fubai to sit, taking a seat beside him. “What don’t you understand?”

Shen Fubai opened the script. “I’m not sure about what it says here, about making some noise… Is it, is it the sound I’m thinking of?”

In modern dramas, dubbing was generally used, but Director Xu had high standards. Unless the environment was excessively noisy, he required on-set audio recordings.

Jiang Heng: “What sound are you thinking of?”

Shen Fubai: “You know, that sort of thing.”

Jiang Heng: “What sort of thing?”

Shen Fubai: “Never mind, let’s move on to the next topic.”

What else could it be! Moans! Soft, passionate moans!

Shen Fubai: “It also says here that Yu Tang should sit on Chu Yu’s lap… How do I sit? Cross-legged? Facing forward? Diagonally? And what actions… what actions should I do?”

Jiang Heng summarized succinctly. “Sit on him and move yourself?”

This awkward conversation.

They spent a long time discussing it, but lacking experience, they couldn’t explain it clearly.

Shen Fubai was disheartened. “Forget it…”

I’ll go back and figure it out myself.

“Forget it.” Jiang Heng sighed in agreement, slowly unbuttoning his robe. “We might as well practice it ourselves.”

Shen Fubai was shocked. “What are you doing?”

Let’s talk this out! Don’t take off your clothes!

Jiang Heng said, “Practice makes perfect.”