“But whether I can do it or not… don’t you want to know?”
A loud “bang” sounded from behind as Lin Shen was suddenly pressed against the wall.
Lu Jing held the back of Lin Shen’s head with one hand and supported his waist with the other. His breath drew close, his thin lips stopping just a hair’s breadth away from Lin Shen’s.
Lin Shen’s back stiffened, trapped within the shadow cast by Lu Jing’s approach, his eyelashes trembling faintly.
The air seemed to freeze, the narrow space filled only with the gradually quickening rhythm of their heartbeats.
After a long moment, Lu Jing retreated half an inch. “Do you have any other scenes today?”
“No.”
Another prolonged silence fell, neither speaking. Lu Jing lowered his gaze, staring at Lin Shen as if trying to see into his very soul.
An abrupt ringtone shattered the quiet—Lu Jing’s phone was ringing.
Releasing Lin Shen, Lu Jing took out his phone and answered.
A moment later, Lu Jing replied, “Wait a moment, I’ll be right there.”
The other side seemed to still be speaking, but Lu Jing hung up halfway through.
Putting his phone back in his pocket, Lu Jing reached out and grasped the back of Lin Shen’s neck, pulling him closer with a slight force.
At the same time, he leaned forward slightly and pressed a kiss onto Lin Shen’s forehead. “Take a good rest after your shower. I’ll be back once work is done.”
The kiss was brief, almost fleeting, yet Lin Shen still felt a warmth spreading from that spot, seeping into his bloodstream and flowing through his limbs.
The door beside them clicked open, then clicked shut again.
Leaning against the wall, Lin Shen’s mind was in a daze as he struggled to steady his chaotic breathing and heartbeat.
Was Lu Jing angry… or jealous?
His thoughts tangled, Lin Shen couldn’t figure it out. Instead, he stepped into the bathroom and let the water wash over him.
After his shower, Lin Shen lay on the bed in his pajamas, flipping through the script idly.
Under the light, the script clearly listed another intimate scene for him. The co-star hadn’t been confirmed yet, only that it would be a different actor from last time.
Although the scene filmed that afternoon had been a great success, with everyone satisfied by Lin Shen’s performance, only Lin Shen himself knew how nervous he had been facing the camera.
Knowing Lu Jing was watching from nearby had made him even more tense, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Though both understood it was part of the job, when the moment actually arrived, their minds were unsettled, each lost in their own thoughts.
Lin Shen had watched nearly every one of Lu Jing’s film and television works at least once. In his earlier works, such intimate scenes were not uncommon. Watching them now, Lin Shen’s feelings were vastly different from when he had seen them as a teenager.
Back then, he had watched with an attitude of appreciation and learning. Now, besides that, there was another feeling—something indescribable, tinged with a faint sourness.
Even before joining the production, while studying Lu Jing’s films alone at home, that nameless sourness had filled Lin Shen’s heart.
Watching Lu Jing draw close to other actors, portraying either passionate or tenderly entangled love stories, Lin Shen couldn’t claim to be completely unaffected.
Later, Lu Jing had given him the excuse of letting him “enjoy the advantage of being in a favorable position” to sneak in extra practice for these scenes, and Lin Shen, once again immersed in the sweet atmosphere, forgot to think about anything else.
At this moment, Lin Shen leaned against the headboard, holding the script in his hand.
The intimacy level of this scene was even higher than the one filmed today, and barring any surprises, Lu Jing would still be there with the director to provide guidance during the shoot.
The thought of guiding one’s own partner through intimate actions with another man in front of everyone was enough to make one’s scalp tingle just imagining it.
Lin Shen took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, flipping the script to the part scheduled for filming tomorrow.
Just as he was about to focus on studying it, his phone buzzed once.
It was Xiao Xu bombarding Lin Shen’s WeChat.
Xiao Xu: [Brother, why did Lu Jing only stay in the hotel for a few minutes before leaving?]
Xiao Xu: [That doesn’t seem right.]
Xiao Xu: [Or did the two of you do nothing even after the atmosphere was built up like that??]
Xiao Xu: [I thought you might have trouble sitting on hard chairs tomorrow, so I already prepared a cushion for you.]
The other party was still shown as typing above the chat, and Lin Shen couldn’t take it anymore, typing a reply.
Lin Shen: [Is that all you messaged me for?]
Xiao Xu: [Of course not.]
Xiao Xu smoothly changed the subject.
Xiao Xu: [I heard that when Lu Jing went to the set today, he was radiating coldness all over. He wouldn’t speak unless Director Jiang called on him, but surprisingly, there was still someone tactless enough to provoke him.]
Xiao Xu: [Guess what he went to Lu Jing for?]
Lin Shen: [What?]
Xiao Xu: [A handshake!!]
Xiao Xu: [First, he made small talk in front of Lu Jing, introducing his acting experience and subtly praising himself. Then, when Lu Jing’s expression was clearly growing impatient, he actually reached out his hand and asked Lu Jing to look out for him!!]
This was Lu Jing’s private matter, and Lin Shen shouldn’t have been overly curious, but as if possessed, he held his breath and asked: [Did they shake hands?]
Xiao Xu: [Of course not!]
These four words made Lin Shen breathe a sigh of relief, and inexplicably, he even felt a faint sense of happiness.
He typed a reply: [Mm, I see.]
Xiao Xu: [It’s not over yet.]
Xiao Xu: [Lu Jing sat in his chair, looked at the person’s outstretched hand, didn’t even stand up to shake it, and said: “Achievement comes from consistent effort. Don’t try to cut corners next time.”]
Xiao Xu: [After saying that, Lu Jing withdrew his gaze and didn’t even spare him another glance!]
Looking at the messages on the screen, Lin Shen didn’t even notice the corners of his mouth slowly lifting.
Did this mean his efforts had been noticed by Director Jiang and Lu Jing?
Did it mean that in Lu Jing’s eyes, he was different from others?
In the lounge, to calm his nerves, Lu Jing would tightly hold his hand.
On set, Lu Jing would stand up and extend his hand to him in front of everyone.
Lin Shen was still lost in his memories when another message came through.
Xiao Xu: [Brother, guess who that tactless person was?]
Lin Shen: [Who?]
Xiao Xu: [It was Wang Yilin!]
Wang Yilin was the one who, on the first day Lu Jing arrived, deliberately made things difficult for Lin Shen by asking him to get an autograph from Lu Jing.
In the casting for the male supporting role number three, Wang Yilin failed to secure the part and ultimately ended up playing a minor role with little significance or screen time. As a result, he held a grudge against Lin Shen, who had landed the role, and often deliberately made things difficult for him.
Lin Shen kept a low profile on set. Although Wang Yilin frequently went out of his way to cause trouble, Lin Shen didn’t bother to engage, as the incidents never escalated into anything major.
Unexpectedly, this time Wang Yilin had crossed paths with Lu Jing.
Xiao Xu: [Brother, how satisfying was that!]
Lin Shen replied with a smile: [Very satisfying.]
Although Lu Jing’s attitude toward Wang Yilin wasn’t because of him, Lin Shen still felt inexplicably happy.
Indirectly venting frustration was still venting, after all.
Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang inside the room.
Lin Shen got out of bed and hurried to the door, peering through the peephole to see Lu Jing standing outside.
He opened the door, and Lu Jing dimmed the lights in the room slightly, his voice low and gentle: “What were you doing?”
Lin Shen certainly couldn’t say he had been chatting with Xiao Xu about him, so he replied, “Reading the script.”
He had indeed been reading the script before Xiao Xu contacted him.
That wasn’t exactly a lie, right…
A soft chuckle escaped Lu Jing’s throat. “Working so hard?”
Lin Shen murmured, “Just casually looking through it.”
Lu Jing asked again, “Which scene were you reading?”
From the moment he opened the script until now, Lin Shen had only read one scene.
His gaze wavered as he told a small lie: “Tomorrow’s shooting content.”
Lu Jing: “Didn’t look further ahead?”
Lin Shen: “Huh?”
“There’s another scene later that’s similar to the one from this afternoon.”
Lin Shen froze.
Lu Jing had actually brought this up on his own.
Feeling guilty, Lin Shen lowered his lashes, avoiding Lu Jing’s gaze.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, cautiously asking, “…Are you angry?”
“Not angry.”
Lin Shen looked up.
Their eyes met, and after a moment of silence, Lu Jing suddenly leaned down, closing the distance between them.
A warm voice brushed against Lin Shen’s ear: “I was jealous.”
Heat spread from his earlobes, flushing Lin Shen’s cheeks and neck.
The closeness of their position meant that with just a slight turn of his head, Lin Shen could touch Lu Jing’s skin.
Even the air around them was filled with Lu Jing’s unique, pleasant scent.
Jealous…
Lu Jing said he was jealous.
Lin Shen’s legs went weak, and his heart pounded wildly in his chest.
How long had passed? Maybe three minutes, maybe just three seconds—finally, Lu Jing pulled back and straightened up.
“Next time, I’ll try my best to control my emotions and avoid acting differently in front of others.” Lu Jing ruffled Lin Shen’s hair and smiled. “It’s enough if only you notice.”
Like the sea rapidly rising at night, Lin Shen was completely immersed in this surging tide of affection.
Lin Shen’s scenes in the afternoon had taken a long time to film, and Lu Jing had gone to watch several scenes in the evening. By the time they returned to their room, it was already quite late.
Gazing at the last remnants of moonlight outside the window, Lu Jing said to Lin Shen, “You go rest first. I’ll join you after I shower.”
Lin Shen nodded. “Okay.”
Lu Jing turned to fetch clothes from the wardrobe and entered the bathroom.
The sound of running water soon came from the bathroom. Lin Shen no longer had the heart to read the script. He climbed into bed and buried himself under the covers.
The warmth on his face hadn’t fully faded. Under the warm yellow glow of the bedside lamp, Lin Shen tossed and turned with his eyes closed, unable to sleep.
Before long, Lu Jing emerged from the bathroom and got into bed from the other side.
Due to the small size of the bed, it was inevitable for two grown men to have some physical contact while lying together.
Lin Shen lay on his side, eyes closed, feeling Lu Jing settle behind him, his arm pressed against Lin Shen’s back.
Lu Jing tentatively called out softly, “Lin Shen?”
Lin Shen let out a faint “Mm.”
Seeing that Lin Shen wasn’t asleep yet, Lu Jing said, “Did you forget something?”
Lin Shen didn’t catch on. “Huh?”
Lu Jing reminded him, “The goodnight kiss.”
Lin Shen opened his eyes, slowly turned around, and planted a kiss on Lu Jing’s forehead.
Lu Jing’s eyes curved with a smile as he leaned in to return the kiss.
Looking into Lu Jing’s eyes, Lin Shen’s face grew even warmer.
It was simply overwhelming.
Buzz—
Lin Shen’s phone vibrated once.
“Who’s texting me so late?” he murmured softly.
He turned to grab his phone, not hiding it from Lu Jing. Xiao Xu’s message unexpectedly appeared before both of their eyes.
Xiao Xu: [Brother, I’ve been thinking all night and decided to ask if you need a cushion tomorrow.]
Xiao Xu: [Even though you escaped unscathed this afternoon, you probably won’t be let off so easily tonight, right?]
Xiao Xu: [Unless Actor Lu isn’t up to it.]
Realizing what Xiao Xu was implying, Lin Shen’s eyes widened in shock. He frantically turned off the screen as quickly as possible.
But even so, it was too late.
Lu Jing leaned close to him, his voice drifting over faintly. “Lin Shen, if you walk out of this room tomorrow morning the same way you did this morning, my reputation in your assistant’s eyes might take quite a hit.”
Lin Shen held his breath, not daring to speak.
Lu Jing reached out and wrapped an arm around his waist. “But as for whether I’m up to it or not… we haven’t done it since you lost your memory. Aren’t you curious?”
Author’s Note:
The atmosphere was built up to that point, and you still didn’t go for it? Lu Jing, are you not up to it?
Lu Jing (gazing at Lin Shen): Someone said I’m not up to it. Do you want to test it out?