Chapter 49 – First in the Server

Lin Xiao and Zhang Xiao sat in the dining room, silent and looking at each other.

Zhang Xiao: “Are you sure they slept in the same room last night?”

Lin Xiao took a vicious bite out of his bread. “I’m not blind. Their clothes weren’t the same ones from yesterday. I glanced over quickly and saw their clothes from yesterday thrown on the couch…”

—To be used as a blanket for Xiong Heng Heng.

Zhang Xiao sucked down a mouthful of soy milk. “Let me have a moment.”

The two assistants were both a little flustered.

Although they had known that their boss was interested in the other party, it was still too fast that they ended up in bed together after just a month of knowing each other.

Lin Xiao: “I’m considering whether to tell Sister Li.” As an artist’s private life, the agent also has the right to know. Otherwise, if the media exposed it first one day, there wouldn’t be enough time for public relations work.

Zhang Xiao: “I’m also thinking about whether to give Sister Wen a call.”

“But… let’s keep it a secret for now,” Lin Xiao said, not daring to imagine Li Man’s expression upon hearing this news. “Let them tell their agents themselves? Hey, what kind of situation is this? Do you think it could be a one-night stand? After filming those scenes yesterday, it would be quite normal for them to act on impulse…”

“What one-night stand?” A voice suddenly interjected.

“Holy shit!” Lin Xiao and Zhang Xiao were startled. This kind of private matter shouldn’t be heard by others.

They turned around and saw Lu Yunqian biting on a straw while looking at them. His young and handsome face was pleasing to the eye.

Lin Xiao and Zhang Xiao felt a chill.

Lin Xiao said seriously, “You didn’t hear anything.”

Lu Yunqian made an “ah” sound, somewhat puzzled. “What made you think that lowering your voices would prevent others from hearing? I’m less than half a meter away from you.”

Their tables were next to each other, separated only by a partition, with a decorative vase just covering Lu Yunqian’s head. At such a close distance, pretending to be deaf was impossible.

Zhang Xiao looked around, making sure no one else was paying attention. It seemed only Lu Yunqian had heard.

“I must warn you, you can’t say anything about this,” Zhang Xiao whispered to Lu Yunqian. “Starting now, forget everything you heard. Enjoy your meal; a new day is beautiful.”

“Oh.” Lu Yunqian finished his milk and then said, “But sleeping in the same room for a night doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a one-night stand.” For instance, he had spent a month in the same room with President Mu, purely telling stories.

President Mu had initially checked into this hotel for business matters, but even after the formalities were done, he continued to stay for another month.

Just to listen to Lu Yunqian’s boring bedtime stories.

Muran Jinhuan had a nickname for Lu Yunqian—Master Hypnotist.

Muran Jinhuan had considered hiring Lu Yunqian to hypnotize him at home, but Lu Yunqian refused due to the distance from the set. Muran Jinhuan offered to drive him, but Lu Yunqian said, “President Mu, I’m staying in your house, being chauffeured by you, and receiving a fixed sum of money every month. Although I know it’s a normal salary, I always feel like I’m being kept. And it causes too much misunderstanding, so let’s not do it.”

Muran Jinhuan gave up, waving his hand generously and booking a suite in this expensive hotel for two months straight.

Lin Xiao: “What are you trying to say?”

If it wasn’t a one-night stand, then it was a month of pampering.

We know you’re being doted on by a domineering president, but did you have to put it that way?

Everyone knew that Lu Yunqian often went to Muran Jinhuan’s room at night.

Lu Yunqian got to the point. “I’ve been telling him stories for a month, and I’m running out of material. Do you have any fairy tales you’ve read that you can recommend to me?”

Lin Xiao: “…What?”

Zhang Xiao: “You spent a month with him and only told stories, nothing else?”

Lu Yunqian: “What else?”

Lin Xiao: “He definitely couldn’t handle it.”

Zhang Xiao: “He definitely couldn’t handle it.”

Muran Jinhuan, who was absent, was speechless.

In the future, please call him Mu Jinpan.

No, wait, his surname is Mu.

There were too many people calling him Mu, which sometimes left President Mu confused about his own surname.

How tragic—

Lu Yunqian’s case couldn’t explain much. The atmosphere on today’s nanny van was a bit strange.

The two who had just confessed their feelings and become a couple sat in the back row. Although they were mindful of the others on the van and didn’t do anything too outrageous, their interaction style was clearly different from before.

In the past, Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng had difficulty expressing their feelings, sitting stiffly and awkwardly. They even felt it was sacrilegious when they accidentally touched each other. Now, things were different. Boyfriends officially in a relationship, they had openly hugged and slept together last night. Why fear a little contact?

Zhang Xiao and Lin Xiao in the front seats observed the two in the back through the rearview mirror, then messaged each other via WeChat.

Lin Xiao: They’re sitting ten centimeters closer than before.

Zhang Xiao: Brother Jiang smiled at Big Star Shen.

Lin Xiao: Brother Shen blushed.

Zhang Xiao: They’re secretly holding hands!!!

Lin Xiao: I saw it, Emperor Jiang kissed the palm of Brother Shen’s hand.

Something was going on, absolutely something was going on.

Lin Xiao: If they didn’t sleep together, I’ll write my surname backward.

Zhang Xiao: Let’s agree, upside down or sideways?

Yesterday’s scenes were very sweet.

Today’s scenes were very cruel.

Yu Tang was brutally tortured for three days and three nights in Shen Nian’s dungeon, possibly the most physically torturous scene in the entire drama. While safety measures would indeed be taken for the actors, it was inevitable that they would still feel real pain.

Most importantly, this interrogation would come with a sense of humiliation.

Yu Tang had suffered half his life, with only the days he spent with Chu Yu being sweet. Other times, it was misery from childhood to adulthood.

All the childhood scenes were acted by Ye Ziran, and now Shen Fubai had to personally take over for the adult scenes.

Previously, there was a scene where Miss Zhang slapped Yu Tang, which was handled using misalignment. Shen Fubai was a good actor, able to create a realistic effect with misalignment. But today’s scene couldn’t be faked—Shen Nian had to step on Yu Tang’s face with his boot, and this had to be done for real, without even using a stunt double.

Shen Fubai hadn’t planned to use a stunt double either.

Jiang Heng had read the script and knew that Shen Fubai would be performing this scene today, his expression a bit unhappy.

As fellow actors, he understood the dedication required of an actor. Acting could involve encountering all sorts of scenes, some of which might involve trampling on someone’s dignity. For example, the simplest act of kneeling and kowtowing. Once, an old actor crawled back and forth for several dozen times to shoot a scene of being humiliated under someone’s crotch.

He knew that all these efforts were to present the most perfect performance, and he always advocated giving one’s all. If he had to do it himself, he could complete even the most arduous scenes, without uttering an extra word.

But when it came to Shen Fubai, he felt concerned.

Perhaps it was human nature to have double standards.

However, Jiang Heng wouldn’t advise Shen Fubai to use a stunt double or ask the director to cut some shots.

He could see Shen Fubai’s seriousness about acting, as he himself shared the same attitude.

So he understood, respected, and encouraged him.

…But this didn’t stop him from feeling unhappy.

Seeing Jiang Heng’s worried expression, Shen Fubai chuckled. “What’s wrong? It’s me who’s supposed to be acting, why do you look more scared than I am?”

Jiang Heng replied, “I’m afraid you’ll be in pain.”

Shen Fubai was carefree. “It’s alright, there’s something cushioning it.”

Jiang Heng was sullen. “They’ll splash cold water on you.”

Shen Fubai said, “It’s the middle of summer, consider it a free shower.”

Jiang Heng frowned. “But he’ll step on your face.”

Such a beautiful face, it shouldn’t be stepped on.

It should…be used for kissing.

“The boots are new, not dirty,” Shen Fubai reassured him. “Fu Hengcheng definitely won’t use full force.”

Fu Hengcheng played Shen Nian and was also a talented young actor. He had previously worked mainly in television dramas, having no overlap with movie star Jiang Heng and idol Shen Fubai.

Having spent so long in the crew, he had become familiar with Shen Fubai and Jiang Heng, and they could be considered nodding acquaintances.

Jiang Heng understood the logic.

But he still felt a sour taste in his heart.

“Shen Fubai, Jiang Heng,” Fu Hengcheng approached as he saw the two talking. “Good morning.”

Jiang Heng was usually aloof towards everyone except Shen Fubai. Shen Fubai had a lively and outgoing personality, getting along well with almost everyone in the crew.

From Fu Hengcheng’s choice of address, it was evident. He called Jiang Heng by his full name but addressed Shen Fubai by his given name.

The two had developed a friendship from playing games together a few times.

“Hengcheng, good morning,” Shen Fubai greeted.

Fu Hengcheng was tall and handsome, suitable for playing those explosively attractive villains. Jiang Heng’s appearance tended to be more refined and gentle.

But Fu Hengcheng always felt that Jiang Heng’s gaze on him wasn’t so gentle, icy and bone-chilling.

Upon closer inspection, Jiang Heng was still smiling faintly, showing no fault.

Fu Hengcheng thought he was imagining things and continued chatting with Shen Fubai. “I’m going to offend you in today’s scene, so let’s agree beforehand that what happens in the scene stays in the scene. Outside the scene, we’re still brothers.”

Shen Fubai responded cheerfully, “I know, I know. We’re actors, we won’t mind.”

“That’s good,” Fu Hengcheng said. He wanted to pat Shen Fubai’s shoulder to show brotherhood, but unexpectedly, Jiang Heng stepped forward, subtly blocking Shen Fubai.

“Has Mr. Fu eaten breakfast?” Jiang Heng smiled.

Fu Hengcheng: “Ah? I’ve eaten…”

“There’s still an extra portion in my break room. Since you haven’t eaten, you can have mine,” Jiang Heng had already had breakfast with Shen Fubai, leaving Zhang Xiao’s portion unused.

Fu Hengcheng: “I said I’ve eaten…” Too late…

“Regardless of Mr. Fu’s preferences, please accept it with a smile,” Jiang Heng maintained his smile.

Even if Fu Hengcheng was oblivious, he should have noticed by now that Jiang Heng had a murderous glint in his eyes.

“…Alright, I haven’t eaten, I’ll go eat now, thank you,” Fu Hengcheng silently corrected himself and tactfully left.

After Fu Hengcheng left, Shen Fubai looked at Jiang Heng. “Are you angry?”

Jiang Heng immediately turned his head. “How could I be?”

Three seconds later, he turned back, his voice softer. “…He’s going to bully you later, I don’t want to see him.”

Shen Fubai couldn’t help laughing and crying. “That’s just acting.”

“I know,” Jiang Heng looked aggrieved. “Why do you and he call each other by your given names? You used to only call me by my full name.”

Being colleagues in the same production team, why did he have to be addressed with both his given and family name, feeling unjustified.

Shen Fubai explained, “I treat him as a brother…we became familiar through gaming.”

As for you, because I liked you, I didn’t dare to address you casually. Besides, your name consists of only two characters, how else could I call you? By your single character, Heng?

…Isn’t that too mushy.

People were a hundred times more cautious and shy towards those they liked compared to those they disliked.

Jiang Heng said gloomily, “Don’t you consider me a brother?”

Shen Fubai blurted out, “I consider you my boyfriend.”

Jiang Heng’s mood suddenly improved in a second.

Right, he had already won at the starting line, no need to compete with others.

However…

“What game do you play?” Jiang Heng asked. “Can I play with you?”

Shen Fubai said, “It’s an online game called ‘Wandering Guests of the Martial World.’ I’ve only run instances with him a few times. He’s really quite skilled, ranked twenty-seventh in the server for his class.”

Shen Fubai would rather play games with Jiang Heng, but he didn’t mention it before due to shyness. In comparison, he had no qualms about playing with others. Fu Hengcheng was a straight man, as straight as steel. Shen Fubai got along well with him.

“Class rank twenty-seventh is nothing special,” Jiang Heng snorted lightly. “What’s your ID? I’ll carry you to victory, I’m first in the server.”

Shen Fubai: “…”

Shen Fubai couldn’t help but marvel, “Heng Heng, is there anything you can’t do?”

A 700-point college entrance exam god, a three-time film emperor, number one in the server for gaming.

What kind of divine boyfriend did he find.

Jiang Heng suddenly blushed. “You…what did you just call me?”

Shen Fubai called again, “Heng Heng?”

Jiang Heng’s ears turned red. “Sounds nice…call me again.”

“What do you want to hear? Heng Heng? Ah Heng? Boyfriend? Or—” Shen Fubai leaned closer to him, whispering against his reddened ear, “…husband?”

Damn.

Jiang Heng turned his head and kissed him.

“You, you person,” Jiang Heng gritted his teeth. “You’re asking for a kiss.”