Su Leyan could tell that Pei Youting was in a terrible mood today.
Pei had summoned him to the villa to help tidy up. Su Leyan knocked on the door, but he waited for a long time before Pei Youting finally answered, reeking of alcohol.
“Mr. Pei,” Su Leyan greeted him submissively.
At that moment, Pei Youting was holding a red wine bottle. His hair, usually groomed neatly back, was messy and falling over his forehead. He looked disheveled and somehow forlorn.
Su Leyan did not know that Pei Youting had stood by the door, staring at him intently for a moment. Su Leyan keenly sensed that the expectation in Pei’s eyes when he first opened the door had turned into disappointment, yet Pei still stepped aside to let him in.
Several empty wine bottles littered the coffee table. Su Leyan cleaned them up and was about to leave when Pei Youting grabbed his wrist.
Su Leyan’s eyes widened in surprise because he realized that Pei Youting was kissing him.
Pei Youting never took the initiative to be intimate; usually, it was Su Leyan who had to fawn over him. But now, Pei’s movements were fervent and urgent, as if he were desperate to prove something.
Sensing this was a good opportunity, Su Leyan regained his composure and wrapped his arms around him, reciprocating the kiss. However, when his fingers trailed lower, he froze.
There was no response.
How was that possible? For a moment, he felt bewildered, but Pei Youting pushed him away almost immediately. Pei clutched his forehead, looking irritable and pained. He waved a hand and said, “Leave.”
Su Leyan stood rooted to the spot, silent for a moment, but he could not let it go just yet. “Mr. Pei, it is raining outside,” he said.
Pei Youting looked at him, his gaze icy. “Call a designated driver, or take my car. I want to be alone right now.”
Even a kept lover could not stand being treated as someone to be summoned and dismissed at whim. Su Leyan rarely showed temper, but he was smart enough not to vent it on Pei Youting. With a hoarse voice, he asked, “You promised to visit the film set tomorrow. Are you still coming?”
Pei Youting did not really want to go, but he remembered the scene he had accidentally witnessed on the street a few hours ago. An inexplicable frustration grew within him, so he replied, “I will.”
He had seen his previous lovers with new financiers or even their spouses before, and he had always just laughed it off, even graciously offering his blessings. But when he saw Jiang Zui and Xu Xizhe hugging, he had only wanted to rush over, tear them apart, and punch Xu Xizhe in the face.
“Fuck,” he leaned against the wall, burying his head in his arms, and slowly slumped to the floor.
“Cut!” Xu Xizhe shouted into the megaphone. He frowned and looked at Peng Siyuan. “That is wrong.”
“Did you forget what I told you? The emotion in your eyes should be desire, but your actions need to be restrained.” He took a deep breath. “Why are your eyes wide open? Jiang Zui is playing a fox spirit, not Godzilla!”
Peng Siyuan could not help it and let out a snort of laughter.
“Still laughing? What is so funny?” Xu Xizhe glared at him. “I told you to study the script. Did you study it inside the trash bin? Huh?”
Xu Xizhe was known for his formidable and intimidating presence when lecturing. Terrified, Peng Siyuan stood still like a trembling grandson, not daring to move or smirk.
The scene currently being filmed was a climax of the movie and a highlight for Jiang Zui’s character.
The Prince had blood on his hands; consumed by guilt and fear, he told the fox spirit he wanted to end it all.
The fox spirit, naturally refusing, used his body to bewitch and seduce the Prince. It was a subtle, erotic scene that required impeccable chemistry and a deep understanding of the characters.
However, Peng Siyuan was a straightforward, pure-blooded man. Whenever Jiang Zui got close, he did not know where to put his hands or feet, and at his worst, he would even forget his lines.
Peng Siyuan looked like he was about to cry. “I am sorry, Teacher Jiang. I really am not used to intimate contact with the same sex. Please let me prepare myself mentally.”
“I only wanted the Taoist Priest role because I did not want to do this scene. Who knew I would not be able to avoid it?” he complained aggrievedly to Jiang Zui.
“This part is indeed difficult. I had to practice in private several times to find the feeling,” Jiang Zui smiled, patting the younger actor on the shoulder. “It is fine. Take your time to prepare.”
Xu Xizhe rolled his eyes. “Prepare my ass. How much more time does he need?”
He shoved the script into the assistant director’s hands, walked onto the set, and said sternly to Peng Siyuan, “I will demonstrate it for you. Watch closely, and do not waste my time again. Do you hear me?”
Peng Siyuan nodded frantically. “Yes, yes.”
[The Prince, sword in hand, eyes bloodshot, burst through the screen and pointed the blade at the figure amidst the steaming mist of the hot spring. “Come out. Come out now!”
Seeming enraged, he kicked over a fruit tray by the pool. With a loud clatter, a white porcelain wine cup struck the blue stone and shattered.
A purple grape rolled into the water, only to be caught by a pale, slender hand the moment it touched the surface. The mist over the pool gradually dissipated.
The country-toppling fox spirit stood there, black hair cascading down his back, thin, snow-white gauze clinging to his skin, with two red beads faintly visible.
He raised his hand, his bright red tongue darting out to lick the purple grape before deftly rolling it into his mouth. He then stuck his tongue out toward the furious Prince. “Ate it.”
The Prince’s sword pointed straight at his throat. “You demonic creature.”
The fox spirit’s gaze fell lightly upon him, carrying an endless charm. He seemed puzzled. “Why are you angry?”
Ignoring the threat of the blade, he brushed past the tip of the sword, gradually closing the distance to the Prince, and then touched his face with infinite tenderness. “I thought this is what you wanted.”
“Why did you not spare even Princess Yongle?” His chest heaved violently. “She is not even seven years old!”
The fox spirit furrowed his delicate brows. “You said so.”
“You wanted all your father’s favor, you wanted to sit on the most noble throne, you wanted everyone in the world to bow before you. Do you regret it?”
“Or are you afraid?” The fox spirit surged toward him, damp lips brushing against his temple, fingers tracing circles on his chest. “You knew it all along, did you not?”
“People always have to die in this palace.” His warm breath brushed against the Prince’s neck as he wrapped his arms around the Prince’s waist. “I am helping you.”
“I am helping you.” He pressed his heated body against the Prince, his jade-white legs emerging from the gauze to rub slowly against the Prince’s thigh. “Do you not want it?”
“Status, power. Immortality.”
The Prince’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The anger in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by confusion and an unconscious, intense desire as he looked at the fox spirit.
“You are helping me?” he asked softly.
The fox spirit laughed, his eyes gazing at him with tender affection. “I love you.”
“In this deep palace, who else would love you besides me?” the fox spirit whispered.
Visibly, the Prince’s gaze deepened. The fox spirit lowered his eyes, feigning coyness: “Put the sword down. You are scaring me.”
Thud.
It was the sound of the sword hitting the ground, followed by a violent splash of water, mixed with a man’s heavy breathing and the fox spirit’s laughter.]
It ended abruptly there.
Jiang Zui held his forehead and sat up in the pool with some difficulty. He looked at Xu Xizhe and smiled. “Brilliant, Director Xu.”
Xu Xizhe looked back at him, his gaze deep. “Yes. Brilliant, he says.”
Jiang Zui smiled again, wrapped himself in the coat handed over by his assistant, Xiao Lin, and walked barefoot out of the pool. He wanted to go to the studio to see the footage, but just as he looked up, he saw a familiar face.
It was Pei Youting.
The smile that had been lingering on Jiang Zui’s face vanished instantly.