Pei Shaocheng called out that name etched deep in his bones again and again. The moment Wen Yuhan tilted his neck back, he lowered his head and sucked on that sensitive and fragile Adam's apple, arousing an even more intense tremor in the other party.
During this time, Wen Yuhan saw the butterflies again. They hovered above them, scattering countless fluorescent pollen grains. Some of it landed in his eyes, stinging them and causing tears to stream down his face. He trembled and wept, but when Pei Shaocheng worriedly tried to stop, he shook his head frantically and urged him to continue.
“Pei Shaocheng, do you know…” he murmured, looking at Pei Shaocheng with a dazed expression, “When you asked me to recall the first time I met Andrew, all I saw was your face…”
Those lives, blooming or about to wither, on this night waiting for the wind to rise, cast everything aside.
Let go of all yesterday's pain and tomorrow's unknowns; now, only you and I remain.
...
Wen Yuhan doesn't remember how he lost consciousness in the repeated sinking. When he woke up again, it was still dark.
He felt waves of unbearable soreness all over his body, but it was clear that he had been thoroughly and carefully cleaned.
The person beside him was breathing evenly, and even in their sleep, they were still holding him tightly. Wen Yuhan looked at the dim, dark blue sky outside the window and woke up for a while. Then, he gently moved the other person's arm away, and his legs felt weak as he got out of bed and walked towards the study.
He held the Montblanc pen in his hand again after a long time. He listened to the rustling of the leaves outside the window and thought to himself that the wind had indeed picked up today.
A few drops of red wine stained the paper, thankfully not where there were words. He rested his chin on his pen and lit another cigarette.
In the increasingly bright light, a few words were added to the original title of the script.
—Second draft of "Sarcastic Love Talk".
...
A note from the author:
I'm posting two chapters again today, sob sob.
Chapter 86
The weather has been getting warmer lately, and I even heard the chirping of cicadas a few times in the evening.
Wen Yuhan is physically cold and usually quite afraid of the cold, but once she gets into her creative work, she becomes completely immersed in her own world and often forgets to turn off the air conditioner.
As soon as Pei Shaocheng pushed open the study door, his face darkened instantly at the icy temperature inside.
He turned off the air conditioner and walked to Wen Yuhan's side. He was about to reprimand her, but when he saw how focused she was, he couldn't bear to disturb her. So he turned around and found a thin blanket to drape over Wen Yuhan's shoulders.
"I don't want this." Wen Yuhan pushed the blanket away. He was currently rehearsing a line of dialogue, a long ash accumulated on the cigarette butt between his fingers. Pei Shaocheng opened the window to let the warm air flow into the room and stood behind Wen Yuhan, gently massaging his shoulders.
After his previously sore neck and shoulders were gently massaged, Wen Yuhan let out a comfortable sigh. After finally finishing writing another scene that he was fairly satisfied with, he belatedly shivered: "It's so cold, where's the air conditioner remote?"
"I threw it downstairs." Pei Shaocheng pinched the soft flesh on the back of his neck as punishment. "Don't just sit there, shall we go for a walk?"
“Let’s not go any further. Let’s go back to school.” Wen Yuhan said, tidying up the script in her hands. “Have someone inform Xiaochun and the others to try out the newly revised play again tonight. Oh, and you should take a look at it first too.”
Pei Shaocheng took the script from Wen Yuhan and scanned the words line by line. His gaze gradually shifted from secret amazement to a hint of panic. Finally, he turned his head slightly and coughed, his ears even turning slightly red.
Looking at the various expressions on the other person's face, Wen Yuhan raised an eyebrow, puzzled: "Do you think there's a problem?"
“No.” Pei Shaocheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He licked his lips, reached for the cigarette case on the table, lit a cigarette, and smoked for a long time before whispering, “This design is ingenious, and also… bold.”
Wen Yuhan narrowed his eyes, looking Pei Shaocheng up and down, a hint of surprise in his eyes: "Don't tell me you're shy."
Pei Shaocheng felt a sudden panic, and the ash from his cigarette drifted lightly onto the table.
This passage describes how Andrew, who plays the character in the film, and Han, who plays the character in real life, meet for the first time, breaking through the barriers of time and space, using a mirror that has been stored away in a dilapidated prop room as a medium.
The two initially performed the same actions, admiring themselves in the mirror, until later they saw each other in the reflection. The dialogue is also highly rhythmic, gradually overlapping and unifying from their individual monologues.
As Han fell into a state of mental confusion, he saw Andrew emerge from the mirror. The two embraced, caressed, and kissed each other, releasing their passion and desire in the cramped space filled with dust and clutter, becoming one. However, the truth was that Han had always been alone in the prop room, comforting himself in front of the mirror in the dim light with the pen that had created Andrew.
Pei Shaocheng regretted turning off the air conditioner earlier, feeling extremely hot all over.
The cicada outside the window continued its incessant, ear-piercing incessant chirping, utterly irritating him. He had to admit, Wen Yuhan's acting always resonated deeply with him; like now, his mind was filled with the image of Wen Yuhan facing a tarnished mirror, pen in hand, toying with his reflection…
“Nijinsky designed a scene in his ballet ‘The Afternoon of a Faun’ where Paine uses the scarf left by a nymph to masturbate, which was highly controversial at the time.” Wen Yuhan toyed with the black Montblanc on the table, letting it dance nimbly between her fingers, and said in a gentle tone, “But without a doubt, this play later became an insurmountable classic. Do you call it vulgar? Of course not, it precisely conveys Paine’s state of mind, which is also Nijinsky’s state of mind throughout his life.”
Wen Yuhan paused abruptly, then looked up at Pei Shaocheng: "What are you thinking about?"
Pei Shaocheng was startled by the other party's sudden question, and quickly tried to remain calm, saying, "I was wondering if a newcomer like Xiaochun could accurately express this state. After all, the biggest challenge he needs to overcome is getting rid of his inner obstacles."
Wen Yuhan rested her chin on her hand holding the pen, half-closed her eyes, and curled her lips slightly: "Lying."
Pei Shaocheng's back stiffened; even his excellent professional demeanor couldn't hide the panic in his heart. His eyes inadvertently drifted to the pen in Wen Yuhan's hand, and his ears turned even redder.
Just as he was about to explain himself again, Wen Yuhan suddenly lowered her head and let out a soft chuckle. Pei Shaocheng was stunned for a moment before realizing that the other party was obviously playing him on purpose.
Pei Shaocheng shook his head and chuckled bitterly. Wen Yuhan stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "Let's go. Don't underestimate these young people. They might bring us a lot of surprises."
He turned and walked out of the study, paused, closed his eyes and chuckled softly: "As for what you're thinking... I'll show you when I have the chance."
Pei Shaocheng's pupils trembled, and his mind exploded.
...
⚹
As expected, Xiaochun was both excited and troubled after receiving the script. Her face flushed red and then turned pale, and she wrung her hands as she paced around on stage.
Acting classes include courses that specifically require actors to unleash their natural instincts, so everyone is more relaxed when it comes to anything related to the play. However, since it's done in front of a full audience, unlike filming where montage techniques can be used, inexperienced students inevitably show some nervousness.
Wen Yuhan tried to guide Xiaochun for a long time, but seeing that Xiaochun was still very reserved, she could only discuss with Pei Shaocheng about arranging the other parts first.
During halftime, Pei Shaocheng sat down next to Wen Yuhan. Seeing his worried expression, he couldn't help but reach out and ruffle Wen Yuhan's hair, asking softly, "Are you tired?"
Wen Yuhan rested her chin on her pen and sighed softly: "I'm thinking that if all else fails, I'll have to change the play, since the performance is next month... but I can't think of a better way to express the character's state than we have now."
"Don't rush, there's still time." Pei Shaocheng softened his tone. "Didn't you advise me before to trust young people?"
Wen Yuhan nodded, lit a cigarette, smoked it for a while, then turned and said, "Why don't you go help him again?"
Pei Shaocheng chuckled upon hearing this: "How do you expect me to help with this?"
Wen Yuhan was stunned for a moment, then blew a puff of smoke in Pei Shaocheng's face and said with a smile, "Mr. Pei, what are you thinking? I asked you to help him find the right emotions for the role. After all, it's not convincing for someone like me, a lousy writer, to keep pointing fingers here."
Pei Shaocheng chuckled softly, "Let's see who dares to disagree." He then leaned close to Wen Yuhan's ear, "Although I can't help him, if Teacher Wen needs my help, I'd be happy to lend a hand."
Wen Yuhan, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, raised an eyebrow and said, "I won't trouble Actor Pei. I have hands and feet, and a belly full of tricks and wicked thoughts. I'm more than capable of handling my own affairs."
Afterwards, the two exchanged a few more jokes, and Wen Yuhan's mood improved slightly.
"I'm going to the restroom, you guys continue." He stood up, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and slowly walked towards the restroom. Pei Shaocheng watched him walk away, his eyes filled with deep affection.
He composed himself, regained his usual seriousness, and gestured to the staff present to continue the rehearsal.
The restrooms in the small theater are backstage, and there's a small door nearby that connects to the outside.
The small door, usually locked and rarely used, was now slightly ajar, letting in the cold light of the streetlamp and making the corner even darker.
In the dim light, a figure could be seen leaning against the wall in the darkness, the red glow of a cigarette between his fingers flickering as the tobacco burned.
After Wen Yuhan came out of the restroom, the person in the corner let out a sinister laugh and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, right? This is our first time meeting."
Wen Yuhan's back paused slightly, and his eyes turned cold.
He had actually seen the person who came earlier, but he pretended not to see them.
The other person stepped out of the darkness, a gleaming key dangling from their index finger. They shook it and said, "President Pei's bodyguards are really annoying. They guard the gate so well that not even a fly can get in. What, are you so afraid that my brother will steal your wife away?"
Wen Yuhan turned around and calmly looked at the other person's handsome yet wicked face, then nodded and said, "President Lu."
Lu Yanchen feigned surprise: "Oh, sister-in-law actually knows me, what an honor." As he spoke, he reached out to Wen Yuhan, but seeing that he was unmoved, he took Wen Yuhan's hand and shook it. "I've always wanted to see you in person. You really are a beauty. No wonder my brother is so infatuated with you that he's neglecting his business."
Wen Yuhan withdrew his hand without showing any emotion: "Mr. Lu, you're here to watch the rehearsal today, right?" He figured Lu Yanchen wouldn't do anything too outrageous in this situation, and said with a faint smile, "Next time you want to come, please call Shao Cheng in advance. It's too much of a hassle for you to come through the side door... Oh, and Yanheng and I are very good friends, so please be mindful of how you address me, Mr. Lu."
"Tsk." Lu Yanchen slapped his forehead and clicked his tongue. "I'm sorry for being so abrupt. I'll still call you Teacher Wen then... Teacher Wen is really something. My brother and President Pei are both vying to keep you in their hearts."
As Lu Yanchen spoke, he took a step toward Wen Yuhan, bowing with an ambiguous smile, and said, "I wonder if you can make room for me next to you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall shadow blocked his view of Wen Yuhan, and an extremely oppressive aura stood between the two of them.
"President Lu, you didn't even say you were coming." Pei Shaocheng narrowed his eyes and said coldly, word by word, "Isn't that too formal?"
Just now, Pei Shaocheng noticed that Wen Yuhan hadn't come out of the restroom for a long time, so he went backstage to look for her and ended up seeing Lu Yanchen, this uninvited guest.
He didn't hear the conversation between the two people in front of him, but just seeing Lu Yanchen talking to Wen Yuhan at such close range made him want to kill him.
"President Pei, it's been a long time!" Lu Yanchen laughed heartily when he saw Pei Shaocheng. "I heard you've been rehearsing here lately, so I came to check it out. Oh, I brought a lot of local specialties and left them in the car. I'll have someone unload them for you later."
"You're too kind." Pei Shaocheng reached out and pulled Wen Yuhan behind him again, speaking slowly, "I believe everyone knows why President Lu came. However, this isn't a business meeting, and I'll be quite busy afterwards, so I'll be frank." His smile faded: "Anyone with eyes can see who wrote this script. President Lu doesn't care about the truth; it's your choice to cooperate with the imposter. But every industry has its rules, and I hope President Lu can compete head-on. Of course, if you insist on using those methods, I'm happy to play along to the end..."
At this point, Pei Shaocheng's voice turned serious: "Just one thing, don't touch my people."
As Lu Yanchen watched Pei Shaocheng frown, he felt a chill creep up his spine.
"Otherwise, I guarantee you'll pay a price you absolutely cannot afford."
...
A note from the author:
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 87
Lu Yanchen narrowed his eyes, a barely perceptible hint of gloom flashing across them.
He was a seasoned businessman who had seen his share of ups and downs, but he couldn't help but feel secretly alarmed by Pei Shaocheng's direct threat.
He understood that Pei Shaocheng's words were not an exaggeration. Although he had never directly confronted him, he had heard many rumors about the man from other sources. He could only say that it was fortunate Pei Shaocheng had shown little interest or ambition in venturing into other fields over the years.
"Not at all, not at all. I will certainly keep President Pei's reminder in mind." Lu Yanchen smiled casually at Pei Shaocheng again, and tugged at his collar, saying, "So can I go to the front now? It's so stuffy backstage."
After saying that, he turned around and strode towards the front of the stage.
Wen Yuhan turned to look at Pei Shaocheng, who patted his shoulder and gave him a reassuring look. The two then returned to the stage, where they saw Lu Yanchen standing in front of Xiaochun, openly scrutinizing him with keen interest.
"Is this President Pei's new partner?" Lu Yanchen whistled loudly at Xiaochun. "Beautiful, really beautiful!" He then looked at Wen Yuhan beside him, his eyes darting back and forth between the two of them, and said with a playful tone, "Tsk...on closer inspection, she does look somewhat similar to Teacher Wen, especially those eyes, which are unforgettable."
Xiao Chun blushed deeply under the other man's gaze. He had seen Lu Yanchen on television before and knew he was the second young master of the Lu Group, a quintessential wealthy playboy. He had even remarked to his friends that it was a real shame Lu Yanchen wasn't in the entertainment industry. Now, seeing him in person standing before him, looking at him with such an ambiguous gaze, Xiao Chun's face instantly turned bright red, and he became completely flustered.
"What's your name, little student?" Lu Yanchen asked Xiaochun with a grin.
Xiao Chun stammered, "Um, Lin... Lin Chunjing. Young Master Lu, you can just call me Xiao Chun!"
Lu Yanchen pointed to himself: "Oh, you know me?"