The two bowed to each other, and Gu Chao felt as if he could see Wen Ze’s eyes filled with cunning, playful mirth beneath the bright red bridal veil. He was so convinced that his imagination was correct.
And, indeed, it was.
To conduct a wedding in the human manner was a rare and novel experience for Wen Ze, even if it were only acting. This was equivalent to a kind of lifelong commitment, wasn’t it? Wen Ze imperceptibly turned his head, casting a glance at the cloudless, clear sky. Although the human world was currently in an era of declining magic, it was still bound by the laws of Heaven. A bow such as this could likely be counted as a kind of contract and vow.
It was just as well; they were both willing and overjoyed.
After the couple bowed to each other, it was time for the “nuptial chamber.” The veil was lifted by a pair of trembling hands. Wen Ze lowered his gaze, perfectly embodying the shy, bashful bride. His fingertips, as delicate as white jade scallions, emerged from the folds of the crimson wedding robe; compared to the jade wine cup, it was hard to say which was more mesmerizing.
In truth, the production team had used props it was only water yet the two acted as if they had both consumed a glass of strong spirits, a faint, rosy flush spreading across their faces. Under the dim, amber light, they were breathtakingly beautiful.
The scene had already played out, yet the director did not call “cut,” and no one else dared to remind him. Perhaps it wasn’t just the two of them who were immersed in the scene.
Gu Chao’s slender frame leaned down slowly, the crimson wedding robes overlapping. It wasn’t until the gauze curtains on the bed were pulled shut that the people around them snapped back to reality, as if startled from a dream.
The two were taken to the dressing room to change and touch up their makeup, while the director sat watching the footage, speechless for a long time.
“Are you sure these two aren’t professionally trained?” the director asked Director Li with a wry smile. “This sense of immersion, this infectivity it doesn’t look like anything a pair of newcomers could pull off!”
The assistant director provided a sharp assessment: “Newcomers probably couldn’t pull it off, but these two likely have something ‘real’ going on between them.”
The first part had been filmed across all four sets. Although Director Li was a variety show director, the fundamentals of directing were universal, so he walked around to check on every set. Little did he know that the moment he entered Wen Ze’s set, he would be completely unable to move. At that moment, the staff shared a unified sentiment: if there weren’t something real between them, one couldn’t possibly act out that feeling just by pretending.
“Ah, if that’s the case, then it’s not surprising.” The director felt a touch of regret. Often, on-screen couples are more irritating than real ones, but those usually rely on added effects. That these two could be so naturally sweet was a true talent.
Before arriving, the director had naturally looked into the guests’ backgrounds, which was why he felt even more regretful. Gu Chao could certainly never enter the entertainment industry to act a proper CEO of a massive company would have to be insane to do that. It was Wen Ze, however… it was truly a pity. Many people couldn’t even avoid looking stiff in front of a camera, let alone deliver such a natural and spirited performance.
It was a shame that such a talented child had been wasted for several years. He hadn’t worked with Zhou Zichen before, but compared to the trained acting skills of a seasoned veteran like Zhou, Wen Ze’s natural spiritual resonance left Zhou Zichen in the dust!
However, in this current era of idols, having acting skills was already quite good. The director had praised Zhou Zichen extensively in the past, but the higher the praise had been then, the greater the revulsion he felt now.
“Sigh, one can only say that people have different fates.” Director Li had been in the industry for a long time and had seen too much of this to feel anything but a slight sigh. “There are countless people buried by industry politics; if one had to save and regret every single one, we’d have no time for anything else.”
The director nodded, saying no more.
Inside the dressing room, the two had changed into a new set of clothes, their makeup now clean and simple. Both possessed “divine” faces; the makeup artist was practically at a loss for how to improve them, but with a few minor adjustments to the details, the result was stunning.
Wen Ze wore a set of cyan robes embroidered with patterns of pine, cypress, and cranes. The mole at the corner of his eye was delicately covered, and as he held a folding fan in his hand, he looked every bit the graceful, refined gentleman. Gu Chao was dressed in a dark-colored garment embroidered with a coiled dragon pattern; threads of gold were woven throughout, showing through faintly. Paired with his sharp and piercing features, he exuded a natural air of dominance.
The two looked at each other, both left momentarily stunned, as were the rest of the staff. After a moment, Wen Ze broke free from the spell of their appearance and couldn’t help but exclaim, “The sponsors are truly generous. With makeup and costumes like this, even a major production might not have them.”
Gu Chao smiled. “If you like them, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to buy them and take them home.”
Wen Ze laughed. “Why spend that unjust money? These props aren’t just for one sponsor’s use; who knows what far-flung corner of the earth these exquisite items were borrowed from. I couldn’t afford to buy them. Even if I could afford the clothes, I’d have no occasion to wear them normally, so they’d just gather dust better to let them add luster to someone else.”
“Since these clothes have already graced your body, I fear no one else will dare to touch them again.” Gu Chao shook his head, having already made up his mind.
“President Gu is far too kind; it’s not nearly that serious.”
Wen Ze noticed the heat on his face and quickly used his fan to hide it, appearing shy yet secretly delighted. There wasn’t a single succubus who wasn’t confident in their own beauty, but being praised by a beloved was always three parts more pleasing than usual.
“Have you two finished communicating?”
The director’s voice drifted over from afar. The two smiled at each other and walked out side-by-side. Whether it was because the wind was too strong or otherwise, the hem of the cyan robe met the dark satin surface, intertwining and blending seen from behind, there was a touch of lingering attachment to them.
As they appeared, silence fell both inside and outside the room. Such beauty was a truly rare sight.
【Who understands? Why am I eating dog food from two sets of clothes?】 【…The user above has a truly eccentric focus.】 【Those two outfits really are scene-stealers, hahahaha.】 【But they can’t steal the show from the two people wearing them, ahhhhh! I always knew they were good-looking, but I didn’t expect them to be this good-looking. They’re like characters plucked straight from an ancient book!】 【This appearance makes all the previous historical drama leads look like trash.】 【’A graceful gentleman, unparalleled in the world’—today, I’ve finally witnessed it. Dialing in for Wen Ze!】 【How about it, is our President Gu not worthy?】 【Worthy, of course he’s worthy, but President Gu will definitely never enter the entertainment industry. It’s useless for everyone to be excited—better to grasp what you can grasp.】 【For example?】 【Prevent Wen Ze from retiring from the industry.】 【User above hit the nail on the head, hahahaha.】 【Since they’ve let us see such divine beauty, if we let him retire from the industry, it would be the dereliction of duty of everyone present!】
Regardless of the storm brewing among the viewers, the two had already entered their second scene. The sunlight rippled, and Wen Ze sat in a pavilion by the lake, brewing tea. A breeze stirred, bringing the scent of the entire pond of lotuses a truly blissful scene. There weren’t many props only the pavilion and the tea set were real but Wen Ze’s acting was incredibly convincing.
Gu Chao arrived from afar, slowly entering the frame. Wen Ze looked up, not standing, but saying perfunctorily: “Greetings, Your Highness.”
For a wife to a husband, this was a somewhat rude gesture, but Gu Chao didn’t say much, simply sitting down opposite him: “I never knew Young Master Wen possessed such skills.”
To make it easier for them to enter the scene, the production team simply used the actors’ real names in place of the characters’, though it was hard to tell if this made it easier to enter the scene or more jarringly out of character.
Wen Ze let out a cold hum. “Your Highness has long been in the military, so naturally, you would scorn these refined, minor arts.”
A trace of tension flared between them, one that even the scent of the light tea couldn’t smooth over. Although the current dynasty didn’t forbid same-sex relationships, they were never brought into the light; in the rules, it was a shameful matter. The newly ascended emperor couldn’t be called mediocre he was, in fact, somewhat cowardly. At court, the Wen Prime Minister’s family held absolute power, leading the civil officials, while in the military, Prince Su held glorious battle merits, leading the military officials.
No one knew whose terrible idea it was, but the emperor had actually bestowed the talented eldest son of the Wen Prime Minister onto Prince Su as his consort it was hard to say whether he wanted to humiliate the two or if he felt the dragon throne beneath him was too stable. The Wen Prime Minister, formerly the Emperor’s teacher, was the most orthodox of the scholarly elite; even when faced with such an insult, he had swallowed it through gritted teeth. Prince Su was even more blindly loyal, and so this absurd marriage came to pass.
But who had ever asked Wen Ze, the person involved?
If this had not happened, he would have taken the top honors in the imperial examinations that spring. But now, he was reduced to this so-called “consort,” with his past hard studies and ambitious aspirations all destined to vanish like mist, trapped for a lifetime within the confines of the back garden!
Gu Chao remained silent for a long time. “I have failed you.”
“What is the point of saying such things now?” Wen Ze suppressed his full-faced resentment, saying only, “We agreed yesterday: I will not socialize on your behalf, nor will I cause you to lose face, only choosing to remain in this isolated corner. I also hope Your Highness will not disturb me; let us simply live our own lives in peace.”
Gu Chao said anxiously, “We are married now; even if we have not consummated our union, we still bear the name of husband and wife!”
“And what of it!”
Wen Ze raised his hand and smashed the teapot of fragrant tea about to finish brewing onto the ground; the set of Four Seasons cups did not escape, either. Sharp fragments and scalding tea splashed out, leaving an indelible mark on his cyan robes, just like the mark left on Wen Ze himself.
“Do you want me to bear your children or bow to your concubines?” Wen Ze flicked his sleeves and walked away coldly. “It is broad daylight, I advise Your Highness not to daydream.”
“Cut!”
At the director’s word, both stopped moving, and Wen Ze turned around and walked back.
“You truly entered into the emotions well,” the director smiled. “When Wen Ze got angry, I almost didn’t dare to speak.”
Wen Ze smiled shyly. “Thank you, Director, for the praise; I was merely following the script.”
“This is why I say you have a natural talent others simply can’t learn this.”
The set was happy and harmonious, and they were just about to change clothes for the third scene when a loud sound came from outside, followed by ear-splitting screams.
Wen Ze listened, finding the voice extremely familiar. What happened?
The group exchanged glances and rushed outside. They saw the door to the adjacent second set flung wide open; the staff were in chaos, and someone was already calling an ambulance. Shen Ruan was in the middle of the room, lying on the ground, covering his eyes and screaming in agony. Zhou Zichen stood blankly to the side, holding an empty cup; judging by the liquid residue at the bottom, it was identical to what was sliding down Shen Ruan’s face.