“Mm! Happy to work with you!” At the film emperor’s affirmation, the kid’s deer-like eyes instantly lit up, his small palm-sized face flushing slightly with excitement.
Fang Ye had been nestled in Ruan Zhuyin’s hands listening to the whole thing, and now knew that this kid was the one taking over his role as the little painter. Honestly, he really liked that character. Back then he hadn’t known that the officer role Old Xie had picked for him would go to Song Zhuchen, if he had known, he might not have agreed at all.
Liking the role was one thing, but if doing the movie meant working alongside someone who hated him for months or even half a year, Fang Ye figured his life mattered more than art.
After all, the Song family’s little prince, you couldn’t afford to provoke him, but you could still steer clear. The entertainment industry was big enough; there was no need to make things unpleasant for both sides. Fang Ye had always held to this attitude with Song Zhuchen. If Song Zhuchen was coming to an event, Fang Ye wouldn’t show up; if Song Zhuchen arrived unexpectedly, Fang Ye would find an excuse to leave first; and if avoidance was truly impossible, he’d keep his distance as much as he could. After all, that falling-out they’d had was a real, genuine fight not a single drop of pretense in it.
Who knew if Old Man Xie was playing both sides telling him over here to play the little painter, then turning around and telling Song Zhuchen over there to play the officer. At this moment, Fang Ye even felt a little grateful that he was dead. Thank goodness he’d already croaked; otherwise, tonight the two of them would have been sitting at the same table staring each other down, and, hey, they’d probably both have been so awkward they could have dug out an entire Disney dream castle on the spot.
“What a pity about Fang Ye,” Director Xie sighed. “So young, and my character…”
But Director Xie was an old fox; he immediately cut himself off and changed tack: “Zhuchen, I went through so much trouble picking this little painter for you. He has to look clean, clever, and pretty all at once, people like that aren’t easy to find!”
Fang Ye’s ears perked up. Huh? Director Xie wrote this role for me so isn’t that a compliment? Let me take a look at what this other clean, clever, pretty person like me looks like.
The little cat had been purring comfortably under the soft hands scratching him, and now he took the opportunity to flip over with a meow, lying belly-up on Ruan Zhuyin’s lap, his fluffy round tummy turned skyward, four little short legs curled gently, blinking his round sapphire-blue eyes, his tail curling in contentment as he gazed up at the face of the person before him with utter innocence.
Old Man Xie really hadn’t changed his ways at all. The kid looked somewhat like him, and would probably look even more alike after makeup. It was supposedly a role tailor-made for him, and now that he was dead, Xie had gone and found a near-identical replacement. Fang Ye was almost moved to tears by Old Man Xie, and secretly resolved that if Old Man Xie ever needed a cat actor, he would step up without hesitation, no fee required!
But then again, since that bastard Song Zhuchen hated him so much, now there’d be someone who looked so much like him dangling in front of Song Zhuchen every day. Just imagining Song Zhuchen’s daily frustration was almost too delightful!
“Zhuchen? Zhuchen?” Director Xie called Song Zhuchen’s name several times. “You’re so absorbed in watching the cat. When did you ever like cats this much before?”
Song Zhuchen’s eyes never left the cat on Ruan Zhuyin’s lap. It was the one who insisted on following me, so why does it only show its belly to someone else? Why does it only meow so sweetly for someone else?
For some reason, Song Zhuchen just couldn’t stand how this little dirty cat treated him with indifference. The livelier it played with others, the more unbearable it became.
“It’s a stray cat. It’s dirty,” Song Zhuchen said, and before Ruan Zhuyin could even speak, he plucked Fang Ye away.
Fang Ye had been having a great time with Ruan Zhuyin. The kid was gentle and good-looking, miles better than that certain Song who couldn’t even pet a cat properly! Fang Ye was squinting his eyes, enjoying an emperor-grade chin-scratch service, when that sinful big hand reached over again and snatched him right out of Xiao Ruan’s gentle palms, like a villain abducting a maiden. Fang Ye let out a loud “Awoo” of protest.
Weren’t you disgusted by how dirty I am? Song Zhuchen, oh Song Zhuchen, who knew someone with such big pretty eyes would be all “mouth says no, body says yes”! Huh? Huh? Why are you gripping so tight?! I’m breaking, I’m breaking, you’re going to snap my spine in half, bro! Fang Ye furiously shoved at Song Zhuchen’s hand with his paws. To no avail.
Song Zhuchen simply had no idea how to win a little kitty’s favor!
Ruan Zhuyin watched from the side with a pained expression, but didn’t dare teach a senior how to raise a cat, so he could only look apologetically at Fang Ye, helpless to intervene.
Fang Ye: Ah, this kid’s got a good heart. Someone worth knowing. If Song Zhuchen ever bullies you on set, bro’s got your back, I’ll slap him for you!
After dinner they returned home, Fang Ye clearly hadn’t gotten a single bite of the private-kitchen food and Qi Yan had already bought everything needed for cat care, even a cat tree the size of an entire wall, with platforms high and low, all kinds of obstacles.
Fang Ye: Tch. Childish!
The next second, Qi Yan watched fondly as the little cat scaled the cat tree like a parkour master, and said to Song Zhuchen with immense pride, “See? I knew it would like it. This is the most feature-packed cat tree on the market, it satisfies all of a kitty’s play needs!”
Fang Ye: Whoa, so cool, I can’t believe I can jump this high! Oh, I know qinggong now! Ahhh help, I’m going too fast, I’m getting carsick, ah! Huh? I fell from this height and I’m fine?
“Not bad.” Song Zhuchen, ever the Best Actor, was as economical with words as ever. “It’ll help it train its coordination.”
Fang Ye: ?
“Of course. I’m a professional cat dad, okay? Play with it for now, I’ve got things to do, I’ll come by tomorrow.” Qi Yan checked his watch, explained the use of everything he’d bought to Song Zhuchen, and hurried off.
Once the door closed, the house sank back into an indescribable quiet. Song Zhuchen stood in front of the cat tree, watching the little cat whose leaps were slowing down, and suddenly reached out a hand toward it.
Hm? What’s he trying to do? Fang Ye stared at that beautiful hand and tilted his head.
“Come here,” Song Zhuchen said.
Fang Ye stood atop the cat tree, looking down on Song Zhuchen from on high. At home, Song Zhuchen wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, stripped of the Best Actor’s outward arrogance and polish, looking more like a refined scholar.
Bye-bye, Best Actor Song. Hello, Doctor Song.
At this moment, the scholar Doctor Song was gazing at Fang Ye with sincere eyes, his voice gentle and low. He had already removed the cufflinks from his shirt and rolled up the sleeves, revealing fair, firm forearms. Song Zhuchen extended toward him a hand wearing a ring, as if begging for mercy.
Sure, Best Actor Song was absolutely despicable, but the Doctor Song before him seemed utterly dependable. And since you bowed your head first, then I’ll…
The kitten’s fluffy tail shot straight up.
Reluctantly…
The kitten’s round little head lifted high.
Fine, I’ll agree to it.
The fluffy paw retracted its claws and gently settled into that warm, broad hand.
The next second, Fang Ye was pressed firmly by that big hand, and after a dizzying whirl, found himself carried into a spacious, clean bathroom.
“Splash!” It wasn’t until the sound of water filling the basin rang out that Fang Ye finally came to his senses.
Song, that bastard, was going to give him a bath!
Ah! A bath!! Help!!
Song, you trash, be a decent human being!