Hotel Lobby.
Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu were rehearsing their scene. The two receptionists had been called over by Liu Zhongran, who was teaching them to memorize their lines.
For the hotel check-in scene, aside from a few subtle expressions, Qiao Shu didn’t have many lines.
Qiao Shu glanced at Jiang Tu. The man lowered his gaze, focused on the script. His black overcoat accentuated his tall, slender figure. His profile was elegant and handsome, his complexion fair.
Qiao Shu lowered her eyes. This was truly a case of talent being spoon-fed by heaven. No wonder he had achieved his current success.
Everything was ready.
“Action!”
In the camera frame, Jiang Tu held Qiao Shu’s hand as they entered a five-star hotel.
Seeing them, the receptionist’s eyes flashed with admiration. “Welcome, you two!”
Chi Ye took out his ID card from his pocket, his voice magnetic and deep. “Hello, we’d like two rooms.”
The receptionist wore an apologetic expression. “Sir, I’m sorry, but we only have one room left.”
“Originally there were two, but one was just taken. Now there’s only one king bed room left.”
Yu Shujia’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Following the receptionist’s gaze, she saw a couple entering the elevator.
Chi Ye asked Yu Shujia, “This is the only hotel nearby. Should we stay?”
Yu Shujia nodded shyly, a visible blush spreading across her bright, captivating cheeks.
Jiang Tu was momentarily stunned. Her acting was really good.
“Sir, here is your room key.”
“Thank you!” Chi Ye took the key card, glanced sideways at the girl beside him, and led her toward the elevator.
“Cut! Change of scene.”
Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu simultaneously let go of each other’s hand. They glanced at each other, then just as tacitly looked away.
Scene change to the hotel suite.
The crew set up the shooting location while Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu rehearsed with their scripts. This scene was not easy to shoot.
Seeing the long string of lines in the script gave Qiao Shu a headache. She gritted her teeth and asked, “Teacher Jiang, can I ask you a question?”
A flicker of surprise passed through Jiang Tu’s deep, peach-blossom eyes. These past few days, aside from rehearsing, they had hardly spoken.
Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Qiao Shu bit her lip and asked, “Can you share some tips for memorizing lines?”
“Your memory is pretty good, right?”
Qiao Shu nodded. “Yes.”
“Actually, it’s very simple. Don’t just memorize mechanically. You need to immerse yourself in the character, into the situation.”
Qiao Shu: “!!”
It felt like he said something without really saying anything, but his words did make sense. She needed to imagine herself as Yu Shujia, immerse herself in her life, and fall in love with Chi Ye.
“Okay, I understand. Thank you, Teacher Jiang.”
A faint, pleasing curve lifted the corner of Jiang Tu’s lips. His gaze swept casually around before turning back to Qiao Shu.
The girl was half-closing her eyes as she read the script. The hand holding the script was fair and slender, her pink nails without excessive decoration, trimmed neatly and beautifully.
Qiao Shu read the lines several times, imagining the scene in her mind. This method was indeed effective.
“Action!”
Chi Ye swiped the room card. With a “beep,” the door opened, and the two entered the hotel suite.
With a “click,” the lights turned on.
Before their eyes was an ultra-luxurious couple’s suite. On the large bed, rose petals were arranged in the shape of a heart. Towels were folded into a pair of kissing swans.
Yu Shujia’s cheeks burned. She didn’t dare look too closely.
Chi Ye led Yu Shujia by the hand to the sofa and sat down. As soon as they sat, they simultaneously let go of each other’s hand.
A moment of silence passed. Neither spoke.
Yu Shujia gritted her teeth, breaking the silence. “Chi Ye, what do you usually do at this time? What do you normally do at school?”
A faint smile played on Chi Ye’s thin lips. “Read at home, occasionally play games. At school, I usually go for night runs on the track.”
Chi Ye asked her, “What about you?”
“I usually watch dramas with my mom at home. At school, I also watch dramas and read novels.”
“What kind of dramas do you like?”
Yu Shujia paused for a few seconds, seemingly a bit embarrassed to say. “I like watching crime and mystery dramas.”
A flicker of surprise passed through Chi Ye’s deep eyes. “I wouldn’t have guessed. A young girl like you enjoys watching those.”
A trace of awkwardness flashed across Yu Shujia’s bright and charming face. “What about you? What do you like to watch?”
“I don’t really like watching TV dramas.”
“Don’t you guys like watching those super intense anime? Like Douluo Dalu.”
“Not really. I don’t like it.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Chi Ye turned his head to look at her. “How did you know? Do you have a younger or older brother who likes watching it?”
Yu Shujia’s pink lips curved slightly. “My younger brother likes watching it.”
The conversation suddenly opened up, and the two began sharing their family backgrounds with each other.
“Are you an only child?”
“Yes.”
Chi Ye asked in return, “Why?”
Qiao Shu paused. “Nothing, nothing.”
Chi Ye glanced at his wristwatch. “It’s still early. Want to watch a drama? Or maybe a movie?”
Yu Shujia nodded. “Sure.”
“Cut! Thank you both for your hard work.”
Qiao Shu let out a sigh of relief and turned to look at Jiang Tu, whispering, “I didn’t mess up my lines, did I?”
Jiang Tu paused. “No.”
Qiao Shu signaled Chu Xin with her eyes. Understanding, Chu Xin took the script from her bag and handed it to her.
The next scene was the male and female leads watching a movie together—a somewhat ambiguous film. The atmosphere was just right, and the two leads almost crossed the line.
Once everything was ready, the director’s voice rang in Qiao Shu’s ears: “Action!”
Chi Ye flipped through the movie genres and asked the girl beside him, “Shujia, what kind of movie do you want to watch?”
“I’m fine with anything.”
“How about a crime and mystery film?”
Yu Shujia’s pupils contracted slightly. “No, not at night. I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep after watching it.”
Chi Ye suddenly laughed.
A look of surprise flashed across Yu Shujia’s pretty face, and she chided, “Chi Ye, stop laughing!”
“Shujia, you’re really too adorable.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Chi Ye took the girl’s hand, intertwining their fingers. “I’ll play this one. I hope you’ll like it.”
Yu Shujia blushed shyly. The movie Chi Ye played was a youthful romance film, and the leads were quite good-looking.
Yu Shujia was engrossed in the film, while the man beside her was watching her, his gaze deep and gentle.
At an intense moment in the movie, a hint of shyness flashed across Yu Shujia’s pretty face, and she turned to look at Chi Ye.
Finding the man staring intently at her, she stiffened. “Why are you looking at me?”
Before he could speak, Qiao Shu asked again, “Watch the movie. Isn’t it good?”
“It’s alright.”
“The male lead confessed to the female lead,” Chi Ye said softly, his words immediately diverting the girl’s attention.
In the movie, after the male lead received the female lead’s confession, he happily kissed her.
Instantly, the atmosphere turned ambiguous. Yu Shujia’s hand, hanging by her side, involuntarily tightened around the hem of her clothes.
Chi Ye tilted his head to look at her. On screen, the male and female leads were kissing ambiguously, their mingled breaths audible.
Yu Shujia turned her head slightly, and in that instant, her gaze met Chi Ye’s affectionate peach-blossom eyes.
Their eyes locked, neither speaking.
Suddenly, Chi Ye released her hand, cupped the back of her head with one hand, and leaned in closer.