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Chapter 24
After raining all night, the temperature outside dropped noticeably.
Wen Yuhan wore a black turtleneck sweater, which made his skin appear even paler.
It was supposed to be a fitted style, but it still looked a bit too big on him.
Seeing that Teacher Wen looked like she hadn't rested well, Xiao Yang called a private car. However, the driver was wearing a sweet perfume, which made Wen Yuhan's already dizzy head feel even worse.
Under the overpass some distance from Zhonghao Media, Wen Yuhan finally couldn't take it anymore and asked the driver to stop. He then leaned against a tree and vomited. He hadn't eaten anything, and after vomiting for a while, nothing came out. Instead, his eyes turned red from the stomach acid.
Xiao Yang hurriedly went to the convenience store and bought him a bottle of mineral water. Wen Yuhan took it, unscrewed the cap, rinsed his mouth, and handed it back to Xiao Yang. Then he took out a cigarette pack from his pocket, wanting to smoke one to relieve his nausea.
Before he could even take out his lighter, a black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of him and Xiao Yang. Wen Yuhan and Xiao Yang both recognized it as Pei Shaocheng's car. Xiao Yang instinctively took a step forward, blocking Wen Yuhan's path.
The driver's side window rolled down, and Pei Shaocheng's driver, Xiao Wu, appeared and greeted Wen Yuhan, "Teacher Wen, Mr. Pei wants you to come up. Let's go together!"
Seeing that Wen Yuhan did not move, after a moment, the back window of the car finally rolled down.
"Get in the car."
Pei Shaocheng remained expressionless, and his tone betrayed no emotion.
Through the car window, Wen Yuhan saw that besides Pei Shaocheng, there was another person sitting in the back seat: Yi Li.
Upon seeing Wen Yuhan, Yi Li waved to him warmly: "Senior Wen, come on up quickly, it's too cold outside."
Wen Yuhan's eyes flickered slightly. He recognized the shirt Yi Li was wearing; it was the same shirt Pei Shaocheng had worn when he and Pei Shaocheng met again at Zhong Hao's place.
The oversized clothes draped over Yi Li's slender frame unexpectedly created a languid look. Like a little lamb burrowing into its master's clothes, it appeared obedient and adorable.
We were together last night...
Wen Yuhan pursed her lips.
"Senior Brother Wen?" Yi Li called out again.
Wen Yuhan looked away, lit her lighter, turned her head to light the cigarette in her hand, and then gestured with her chin toward Pei Shaocheng and Yi Li in the direction of Zhong Hao: "No, it's not far, let's take a walk."
“You’re wasting my time.” Pei Shaocheng stared directly at Wen Yuhan.
“We won’t waste any time!” Before Wen Yuhan could reply, Xiao Yang said first, “It’s rush hour now, walking will be faster than driving.”
Pei Shaocheng narrowed his eyes, and the coldness in them made Xiao Yang's heart tighten.
But he still bravely met Pei Shaocheng's gaze and tugged at Wen Yuhan's sleeve: "Teacher, let's go."
Wen Yuhan nodded to Yi Li and was pulled across the road by Xiao Yang's arm.
He smiled helplessly and said, "What are you angry about now, kid?"
Xiao Yang stared ahead and said angrily, "So what if you have a car? Who are you trying to sullenly look at!"
Little did they know how glaringly their backs were to Pei Shaocheng. Blood rushed to his brain, stimulating his nerves, every single nerve screaming and accusing him.
Anger, jealousy, resentment, and a possessive desire to tear someone apart and devour them constantly battled against the remaining rationality, gradually gaining the upper hand.
Pei Shaocheng pursed his lips and silently raised the glass, shutting out the two figures. But the back of his hand, which was supporting the car rim, still involuntarily revealed blue veins.
Even though he repeatedly warned himself not to be controlled by this person anymore, and not to pour any emotions into him other than revenge, every time Pei Shaocheng saw those eyes, those so-called self-numbing and hypnotic thoughts would instantly crumble.
If there were a past life, he really didn't know what he owed Wen Yuhan in his previous life!
Yi Li carefully observed Pei Shaocheng. He had to admit that Pei Shaocheng was too shrewd and seemed unable to express his emotions to anyone.
Besides Wen Yuhan.
In fact, back when he was studying at the drama academy, Yi Li had heard about Pei Shaocheng and Wen Yuhan, but he didn't tell Pei Shaocheng.
By then, Wen Yuhan had already graduated and seemed to be involved in a lawsuit with someone, reportedly owing a lot of money.
To help him, Pei Shaocheng would rush off to do various part-time jobs every day after class, and it seems he even missed the big film crew's casting call at the school. At that time, Yi Li couldn't help but wonder, what kind of scoundrel was constantly dragging Pei Shaocheng down, yet still managed to make him so willingly do it?
It wasn't until he actually met this person in the bar that Yi Li suddenly understood everything.
Wen Yuhan was truly unique; the sense of vulnerability hidden behind her smile was like that of a siren who bewitched sailors with her song, possessing a fatal attraction.
Yi Li glanced at Pei Shaocheng without showing any emotion, his fingers clenched into fists hidden in his long sleeves.
Pei Shaocheng was unaware that he had already fallen for him the moment he saw him in the theater.
On stage, Pei Shaocheng was so dazzling that he shone into his world like a holy light during his darkest days.
He would never tell Pei Shaocheng how many nights he had repeatedly played his videos, watching them frame by frame without end, as if only in this way could he regain the courage to face tomorrow.
Now, he finally has the ability to catch up with Pei Shaocheng.
This time, he will never let go!
...
"Easy rites".
Pei Shaocheng's deep voice interrupted Yi Li's thoughts, and he quickly looked up at Pei Shaocheng:
"What's wrong, senior brother?"
Pei Shaocheng lowered his eyes to meet Yi Li's gaze. The deep, dark background seemed to be able to see right through a person's thoughts, silently bringing Yi Li a sense of oppression.
Yi Li leaned back against the seat, his eyes trying to look away but not daring to.
"Why didn't you bring an umbrella when you came to see me this morning?" Pei Shaocheng asked.
The tone wasn't harsh, but it still made Yi Li panic.
He licked his lips and whispered, "When I left, the rain had stopped..." He then sighed and looked at Pei Shaocheng again, saying helplessly, "Director Tian called me early this morning and asked me to bring you her newly revised script... I thought we could rehearse together, so I came over, but it started raining again on the way."
Pei Shaocheng didn't speak, he just looked at him silently.
Yi Li gave Pei Shaocheng an apologetic smile and said, "I got so excited that I forgot to make an appointment with you beforehand, Senior Brother. I promise I won't do it again next time!"
The congested roads finally started to return to normal, but cars still couldn't move fast while stuck in the middle of the road.
It seems Wen Yuhan's assistant really overstated things.
Pei Shaocheng leaned back in his seat, looked out the window at the gloomy sky, and said to Yi Li without turning his head, "It's okay, we can rehearse next time. I'll have Emily contact you."
After saying that, he briefly instructed Xiao Wu, who was driving, "After you drop me off at Zhong Hao's place, you can then drop off Mr. Yi."
Xiao Wu: "Okay, boss."
...
A note from the author:
I...I...I know I've gotten shorter again! (Head on a pot lid)
But I'll be longer tomorrow!! Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2022-04-30 00:00:00 and 2022-05-01 17:55:32!
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 25
When they were one block away from Zhonghao Media, Tian Wen called Pei Shaocheng and asked if he was free to go to Yancheng Theater later to rehearse.
Pei Shaocheng didn't mind that Tian Wen hadn't made an appointment with Emily beforehand. After all, Director Tian was a meticulous researcher of drama, didn't mingle in the industry, and spent most of her time quietly creating at home, so she naturally didn't understand the intricacies of the industry.
Pei Shaocheng glanced at his watch and agreed. Tian Wen then said she would contact Yi Li again. Pei Shaocheng silently glanced at Yi Li beside him and said to Tian Wen, "I'm with him."
Tian Wen immediately realized: "Is Xiao Li going to deliver the script to you? That's a great kid. I told him to deliver it today, but I didn't expect him to come to see you so early. He's very proactive."
Pei Shaocheng: "What time will you arrive at the theater?"
Tian Wen: "I booked with the theater manager for 4 pm. They have another performance at noon... By the way, Shao Cheng, Xiao Li's house is just in the opposite direction from the theater. If you two are together, why don't you come over together? I'm afraid he'll have to go through traffic again."
Pei Shaocheng closed his eyes, rubbed his temples, and leaned back in his seat: "Mm."
After hanging up the phone, Yi Li already knew it was Tian Wen, and obediently waited for Pei Shaocheng to speak.
Pei Shaocheng was silent for a moment, then opened his eyes: "Come with me to Zhonghao for a meeting later. It's not far from Yancheng Theater, we'll go together later." He paused and then asked, "Do you have other plans for today..."
Yi Li quickly replied, "No, that's not true."
Pei Shaocheng nodded and said nothing more. After Xiao Wu parked the car, the two took the elevator from the underground parking garage to the top floor of Zhonghao.
Just as Xiao Yang had said, Wen Yuhan and the others arrived ten minutes earlier than Pei Shaocheng.
Feng Yuan went to the site today, and only the director team and a few writers from the company attended the meeting. The young female writer blushed when she saw Yi Li, but was too embarrassed to ask who he was.
Yi Li was very polite, and during the meeting, he thoughtfully went to buy coffee for everyone, earning him a lot of goodwill. Cheng Liang even asked Yi Li if he planned to focus solely on the stage and consider developing a career in film and television.
While everyone was exchanging pleasantries, Wen Yuhan simply rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window, her expression serenely detached from the noise, lost in thought.
When Yi Li finished chatting with Cheng Liang and turned to look at Pei Shaocheng, he noticed that Pei Shaocheng's dark gaze was also fixed on Wen Yuhan across from him. Yi Li's eyes flickered, and he lowered his head to fiddle with the buttons on his shirt.
Cheng Liang cleared his throat and cautiously explained to Pei Shaocheng, "I'm sorry, Shaocheng. I know you're busy, and I definitely wouldn't have bothered you if the creative meeting didn't require your presence. It's just that in the new script Yuhan submitted, there's a scene involving the main character that needs to be rehearsed on set so we can make adjustments. Don't worry, it won't take long!"
“It’s alright.” Pei Shaocheng fiddled with the metal lighter in his hand, glanced at Wen Yuhan, and said to Cheng Liang, “Director Cheng and the screenwriter are doing this for the good of the character, and I’m very grateful.”
Cheng Liang finally breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "Okay! Let's increase our efficiency!"
This scene primarily involved only one actor, Pei Shaocheng. Cheng Liang planned to use fixed cameras throughout filming, simulating a one-man show in a stage play. There would be no editing or background music in post-production; everything would rely solely on the actor's performance and dialogue. It can be said that this scene was highly experimental and demanded a very high level of skill from the actor, essentially requiring Pei Shaocheng to carry the entire performance alone.
Wen Yuhan initially had reservations when writing this scene, and even deleted it from the previous version. However, after rehearsing the scene with Pei Shaocheng, he went back and added it back to the script.
The plot revolves around an assassin who, on the night before deciding to betray the painter, sneaks into the painter's studio while he is asleep—a place he has never been allowed to enter.
There he saw an unfinished self-portrait by a painter, dressed in a semi-transparent white robe, sitting upright like a god, gazing ahead.
The assassin slashed his own palm with a knife, mixed his blood with paint, and, with a frenzied adoration and adoration, smeared the paint onto the portrait. With his caresses, the vibrant red spread to every corner of the portrait's body.
The assassin held the painting frame in his arms, kissed the person in the painting, then used a knife to stab the painting, leaving bloody gashes, and finally plunged the knife into the person's eyes.
There were no picture frames on site, so Pei Shaocheng planned to perform without props. Yi Li raised his hand, looked at Pei Shaocheng, and said softly, "Senior brother, let me help you set it up."
Wen Yuhan paused subtly in her hand as she lit her cigarette, then continued to reach for her lighter.
Cheng Liang nodded happily and smiled, "That's perfect!"