Chapter 46 – The Coat

The night was still warm, with flickering lamplight casting shadows. The plain curtains fluttered in the wind, gently falling back to conceal the boundless spring scenery within.

The military coat dropped to the ground. The thin brocade quilt hung halfway off the bed, covering the smooth ankles. Shen Fubai leaned entirely against Jiang Heng’s chest, his forehead resting on it, hands on his shoulders, his body undulating slightly, occasionally emitting a muffled groan, biting his lip in a show of restraint.

His face was flushed like peach blossoms, his eyes drunk like spring water, sweat trickling down his brow.

There was no need for acting. He truly had a red face, and he truly was sweating.

It was too stimulating. In such a public setting—with a third party present—it was a psychological challenge for Shen Fubai.

But he performed admirably.

Jiang Heng wore a shirt, two buttons undone, separated from Shen Fubai by only a thin layer of fabric.

His task wasn’t particularly demanding; this scene didn’t focus on him. He just needed to sit there and act as a prop that could make sounds.

Jiang Heng looked down at the youth’s performance. He could see Shen Fubai’s soft hair and reddened eyes, his rose-petal lips clenched between his teeth, his enchanting appearance like that of a flower spirit.

It enticed one to taste his beauty.

Shen Fubai’s reaction was somewhat naive, but this naivety matched Yu Tang’s shyness perfectly, striking the right chord.

Each low sob that reached his ears made his heart ache and tremble. Jiang Heng couldn’t help but reach out to gently wipe away the tears at the corner of Shen Fubai’s eyes.

Shen Fubai was startled.

This action wasn’t in the script.

“Master…” Shen Fubai’s half-dry eyes reddened as he quickly picked up his lines, “I really like you.”

He had said these words too many times over the past few days.

Borrowing the lines from the play, speaking from the heart, sometimes Shen Fubai felt he was Yu Tang himself. Everyone else thought he was acting, but he knew how true it was. Every word was what he wanted to say to Jiang Heng personally.

But he dared not be reckless, only daring to express his feelings under the guise of acting.

And someone was also humbly hoping to take these words seriously, yet was afraid to ask.

Jiang Heng lowered his head, lightly lowering his brows, lifting Shen Fubai’s chin and kissing his lips.

Everyone on set held their breath, afraid of disturbing this moment.

Director Xu immediately zoomed in for a close-up.

Under the lens, their faces were exceptionally clear. The young man half-lay in the man’s arms, forced to tilt his head upward for a deep kiss, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, like butterfly wings.

This was their first on-screen kiss.

According to the script, after they kissed for a while, they could call cut, and the scene would end.

Shen Fubai tilted his head to receive Jiang Heng’s seemingly forceful kiss, which was the dominance the script required. It was Chu Yu’s possession of Yu Tang.

But Jiang Heng’s actual kiss was very gentle.

Mixed with a bit of caution.

Shen Fubai suddenly stiffened, his surprised eyes widening.

Heng Heng seemed…

No way…

Jiang Heng clearly noticed, pausing for a moment.

He abruptly released Shen Fubai, saying to Director Xu, “Sorry, Uncle Xu, my state isn’t right. Let’s do it again.”

Director Xu was slightly surprised; Jiang Heng had been performing well just now.

His gaze fell on the place where Jiang Heng and Shen Fubai were touching, suddenly understanding something, coughing lightly. “Take a half-hour break first.”

When filming such scenes, it was inevitable for actors to have some awkward reactions, which were all normal physiological phenomena. They were professionals and wouldn’t look at things with too much prejudice.

But having a reaction to a man… Director Xu glanced again at Shen Fubai’s face, beautiful like a peach blossom.

To think even a man could be so beautiful.

Once the director announced the break, several staff members inside hurried out for some air. The temperature inside had been too hot. Shen Fubai’s appearance would leave anyone feeling parched. They urgently needed the cool breeze to clear their heads.

Director Xu also turned and walked out.

The room instantly became quiet.

Shen Fubai hurriedly climbed off Jiang Heng, barefooted, his face still burning. “That… why don’t you go to the bathroom?”

Jiang Heng calmly said, “Put your shoes on.”

“…Oh.” Shen Fubai obediently put on his shoes.

Jiang Heng stepped off the bed, picked up the fallen military coat, shook it clean, and draped it over Shen Fubai.

He lowered his eyes. “Let’s go out.”

It was indeed hot inside.

Shen Fubai slipped both arms into the coat, buttoning it himself, and followed out.

Jiang Heng didn’t go to the bathroom; instead, he went outside and grabbed a bottle of ice water, drinking it in one gulp.

If it weren’t for the fact that they still had to continue filming later, he would have poured the entire bottle of ice water over his head.

Shen Fubai had just broken a sweat, and the makeup artist was retouching his makeup.

“Hmm, this outfit…” The makeup artist also served as a stylist and immediately recognized that the coat Shen Fubai wore belonged to Jiang Heng, “It’s Mr. Jiang’s, isn’t it.”

Looking at the reflection in the mirror, Shen Fubai replied, “Yes.” He was only wearing one piece of clothing at the moment.

Jiang Heng’s size was a little big for Shen Fubai, but not too much. Shen Fubai was after all a man who stood at 1.8 meters tall, not frail.

Wearing this, he looked rather heroic.

“Mr. Jiang is quite considerate. He’s really good to his co-stars,” the makeup artist chatted casually with Shen Fubai. Now that it was summer, it was quite cold outside, and not wearing anything would lead to a cold.

Shen Fubai smiled and said, “Yes.”

The makeup artist pursed her lips and giggled secretly. “Like stealing your boyfriend’s clothes to wear.”

Shen Fubai: “It’s… not!!!”

The makeup artist had become familiar with Shen Fubai over the past few days and wasn’t the least bit reserved. “Was I wrong? Yu Tang wearing Chu Yu’s clothes is like wearing his boyfriend’s clothes. Why are you reacting so strongly? What are you thinking about?”

Shen Fubai: “I’m not.”

“Yes, yes, you’re not.” The makeup artist girl continued, “This light is a bit dim. I’ll turn on the other one.”

The makeup artist went to turn on the other light, and the room instantly brightened like daylight.

Only then did Shen Fubai get a clear view of himself in the mirror.

His face was beautiful.

The military uniform was handsome.

His mouth was…

Red…

Shen Fubai had beautiful lips, neither too thick nor too thin, with a pale pink color, like the petals of a morning-blooming rose.

Now they had been kissed into the color of rose petals.

“Oh, your lips,” the makeup artist exclaimed, “You don’t even need lipstick.”

Shen Fubai gave a cold expression. “Shut up.” Didn’t she know what kind of scene he had just filmed?!

The makeup artist suppressed her laughter. “It’s fine, I’ll cover it up for you.”

As she covered up Shen Fubai, she gossiped, “It was Mr. Jiang’s first time filming a kiss scene. He didn’t know how to control his strength. If it had been any more intense, you wouldn’t have been able to film tomorrow’s scenes.”

Shen Fubai said slowly, “If I can’t film, then I can’t film.”

The makeup artist: “Those aren’t the words you’d usually say.”

After a month of working together, everyone in the crew knew that Shen Fubai was quite dedicated.

Shen Fubai: No, I would-

Jiang Heng finished the entire bottle of water before he felt the temperature drop slightly.

Director Xu walked over and joked, “Rare to see you needing a retake. How come, was Little Shen so beautiful that you were moved?”

It was well-known that Jiang Heng always got it right in one take when acting.

Jiang Heng wondered, what was being moved compared to?

His heart had stopped.

Jiang Heng gave a faint smile. “Uncle Xu, don’t tease me.”

“Young people, who doesn’t have moments of blood boiling? Normal. For your first time filming such a scene, you’ve already performed very well,” Director Xu never hid his affection for Jiang Heng. “In that segment just now, you and Little Shen worked well together. But there’s a small issue.”

Jiang Heng asked, “What issue?”

“Chu Yu’s love for Yu Tang is bold, passionate, unmasked. Love is hard to act out. Without an emotional foundation, actors find it difficult to portray. But I saw it in your eyes. I saw it in both of your eyes,” Director Xu was gratified. “You were able to convey love, which is remarkable. But you weren’t open enough. You seemed to be hiding something, your eyes always evading. What are you worried about? What are you afraid of? Chu Yu is such a free-spirited person, a general, how could he be so shy?”

Jiang Heng lowered his eyes. “Then what should I… do?”

Director Xu earnestly discussed the scene. “Love must be bold, unrestrained, spoken aloud. Chu Yu and Yu Tang have already confessed their feelings to each other, but you two acted as if you were secretly in love, not daring to break the windowpane. “

Secret love.

Caught off guard by the hit to his thoughts, Jiang Heng’s fingers curled slightly.

“I understand,” Jiang Heng nodded. “I’ll pay attention next time.”

“Not only you have this problem, Little Shen does too,” Director Xu said. “He should be in the dressing room. I’ll go talk to him as well. You should think about it some more.”

“Oh, right.” Director Xu took a few steps and turned back. “The parts of the scene before were performed well. When we resume filming, we’ll start from the kiss scene.”

Jiang Heng nodded, lost in thought.

Half an hour later, they started again.

Shen Fubai’s makeup had been touched up, but his eyes still had a hint of redness. He had to maintain the appearance of having cried. After taking a half-hour break, there was no moisture left in his eyes, so he had to ask the kitchen for two onions to maintain this effect.

Shen Fubai returned the coat to Jiang Heng, watching him put it back on, suddenly feeling a sense of happiness that they had worn the same coat.

Director Xu had also given him a lecture on acting, saying that he performed well for a newcomer in his first TV drama, but there was something missing. He said that Shen Fubai was too reserved and introverted, not bold enough.

Shen Fubai thought to himself that he had already stripped down and panted in front of everyone, what more boldness did he need?

Director Xu had subtly indicated that it wasn’t that kind of boldness, but emotion, eye contact.

However, Director Xu didn’t elaborate too much. In the kiss scene, Yu Tang’s eyes were half-closed, and most of the shots were of the back. The close-ups here would be given to Jiang Heng.

Everyone took a half-hour break, cooling down as necessary, and resumed their positions.

Starting from the kiss scene, there was no dialogue.

This time, no dialogue was needed; just a kiss was enough.

Shen Fubai was kissed almost to the point of breathlessness, emitting a few soft nasal sounds, seductive and pleasant.

He felt he couldn’t act too passively. Director Xu had said to be unrestrained.

Shen Fubai’s left hand pressed against Jiang Heng’s collar, wanting to undo the remaining buttons, but was unexpectedly caught by Jiang Heng by the wrist.

Shen Fubai’s hand trembled, and he was a bit timid.

Jiang Heng held Shen Fubai’s hand, flipping him over to pin him beneath him, supporting himself with one hand. His star-like, moon-like eyes gazed at him with absolute clarity.

This was another part not written in the script.

Director Xu didn’t call cut.

Jiang Heng had added scenes on the spot in the past, and each time they became the highlight of the scene. Director Xu was curious about what ideas Jiang Heng had this time.

This time, Jiang Heng… didn’t have any ideas.

He just had a bit of selfishness.

Shen Fubai adapted quickly and wasn’t stunned on the spot by this sudden turn of events. He merely froze for a second before softly calling out, “…Master?”

Jiang Heng’s fingers interlocked with his, their fingers tightly clasped together, pressed against the edge of the bed.

“…Fubai.”

This voice was extremely soft. If Shen Fubai hadn’t been right below him, so close, he might not have heard the call at all.

Jiang Heng looked at him, his eyes filled with stars.

He bent down, lightly placing a kiss on Shen Fubai’s forehead.

“I like you too.”