“Wanting so much it feels like it’s about to overflow from my chest.”
Lin Shen’s heart raced wildly, and his eyes snapped shut the moment Lu Jing leaned in.
Scenes from the movie flashed through his mind—the male lead’s hands braced on either side of the female lead, her long legs wrapped around his waist, her hands placed in the narrow gap between them, pressing lightly against his chest, teasing and coy, a delicate dance of refusal and invitation.
Lu Jing’s voice was mesmerizing: “Do you want it—or not?”
Reality and the movie overlapped and blurred. In that daze, Lin Shen could hardly tell whether this was part of the act or real life.
No answer came. Lin Shen’s legs were abruptly and effortlessly parted as Lu Jing forcefully pinned him in place with no retreat: “Hmm?”
Every sense was stirred. Lin Shen struggled to open his eyes, the swaying white halo of light above spinning leisurely in the air.
Mimicking the actions from the film, Lin Shen met Lu Jing’s gaze, which held a certain lustful intensity, and pressed a hand against his chest, pushing back slightly: “Why ask me? Ask yourself.”
Blushing, Lin Shen delivered the line: “Do you… want to or not?”
The next second, Lu Jing seized his hands, intertwining their fingers with one hand while placing the other over his own heart: “So much it feels like it’s about to overflow from my chest.”
Breath brushed against Lin Shen’s cheek, and the next scene flashed before his eyes.
The two entangled in a deep kiss on the sofa, a cushion tumbling down with their movements. The camera gradually pulled away from the still objects, and under the hazy moonlight, the male lead suddenly rose, scooping the beauty beneath him into his arms and striding toward a hidden door.
Lying on his back in Lu Jing’s embrace, Lin Shen nervously awaited the next scene.
The clock ticked, stretching time into an endless expanse.
Yet the imagined next scene never arrived.
Instead, Lu Jing abruptly leaned in, his thin lips brushing against Lin Shen’s ear as he whispered, “Lin Shen, your body language and delivery are too stiff.”
The weight of his presence suddenly lifted as Lu Jing shifted away, straightening the cushions they had disarrayed on the sofa.
Like a condemned prisoner awaiting sentencing who finally receives a verdict of innocence, Lin Shen watched Lu Jing arrange the cushions and exhaled a long, weary breath.
A cold sweat seemed to bead on his forehead, but Lin Shen paid it no mind. Just as he tried to push himself up, a hand extended before him.
It was a hand with distinct knuckles, long and powerful fingers, and faint veins tracing the back.
Lin Shen stared, momentarily entranced, forgetting to reach out.
“Lin Shen?”
Only when Lu Jing called his name did he grasp the hand, using it to pull himself up.
Once upright, Lu Jing didn’t let go. “I’ve seen all your past works. There aren’t any major flaws in your acting. All these years, what you’ve lacked has been opportunity.”
“But don’t worry. As long as you give your all to every performance, opportunity will come in time,” Lu Jing said. “Keep striving. I’ll be here with you.”
Feeling the warmth of Lu Jing’s hand, Lin Shen nodded solemnly.
“And one more thing—”
Lu Jing spoke again.
“I admit there was a personal element in that lesson just now, but Lin Shen,” Lu Jing leaned closer, “you’ll need to adapt a little faster.”
“It’s been nearly half a month. With you around me every day, I’m afraid I might not be able to hold back much longer.”
With that, he ruffled Lin Shen’s hair and stood up, heading into the bathroom.
Lin Shen remained alone in place, slowly pondering the meaning behind Lu Jing’s words, “I can’t hold back anymore.”
Adult thinking is always straightforward yet subtle, with everything already conveyed without needing further explanation.
The sound of running water soon came from the bathroom. Lin Shen’s face flushed, and he couldn’t help but start reflecting on his relationship with Lu Jing.
Since waking up in Lu Jing’s arms that day, he had stopped deliberately keeping his distance from Lu Jing. Whether sleeping or doing other things, they seemed no different from an ordinary couple.
Surprisingly, for Lin Shen, accepting Lu Jing as his husband wasn’t an overly difficult matter. Perhaps the feelings from before his amnesia still lingered. Though memories were lost, habits, perceptions, and thoughts subtly seep into our souls through every stage of life we experience.
Lin Shen thought that before losing his memory, he must have truly loved Lu Jing.
In the following days, Lu Jing diligently fulfilled his duties, providing performance guidance for Lin Shen every day.
As they spent more time together, Lin Shen discovered that Lu Jing wasn’t as dull or serious as he appeared on the surface.
Although most of the teaching sessions followed normal methods, with learning materials kept as conventional as possible, there were still occasional “teaching accidents” like the first day, occurring not infrequently.
Lu Jing seemed to enjoy slipping in private moments to act out certain intense scenes with Lin Shen. During these times, Lin Shen often forgot he was an actor, frequently unable to keep up with Lu Jing’s overly immersive performances.
Each time, Lu Jing would restrain himself at just the right moment, then ruffle Lin Shen’s hair, saying with a mix of satisfaction and helplessness, “Lin Shen, I’m afraid you’ll need to adapt a bit faster.”
This routine continued for about half a month until Brother Huang finally contacted Lin Shen, notifying him that there was work available.
Even Lin Shen himself had begun to doubt his luck in work matters during this period. Perhaps this was the “opportunity” Lu Jing had mentioned he lacked.
As an artist even less known than an eighteenth-tier celebrity, Lin Shen unexpectedly received an audition opportunity from a renowned director for the role of the third male lead.
It was worth noting that since his debut, he had never played a role higher than fifth in the credits.
Moreover, according to Brother Huang, this audition was personally selected by the great director Jiang Cheng.
Director Jiang was famously strict in casting, a highly talented individual who disliked clichés and had his own standards for both script and actor selection.
To seize this opportunity, Lin Shen spent every day at home studying the script, practicing diligently, as if wanting to devour the character, breaking it down and chewing it thoroughly.
On the other hand, Lu Jing had recently received an invitation for the same production as Lin Shen.
However, unlike Lin Shen, he received a personal call from the director.
Jiang Cheng had always preferred emotional persuasion: “What’s between us? We were like brothers sharing the same pants back in university. I wouldn’t set you up. I’ve read this script carefully, and the male lead is practically tailor-made for you.”
But Lu Jing wasn’t buying it: “I’ve read the script too. It’s indeed a rare gem, but I don’t have plans to take on this type of role in my recent schedule. You might need to find someone else.”
“This drama has a relatively short filming schedule, at most three months to complete. I know you have your own plans, but for us artists, what’s wrong with being a bit spontaneous occasionally?”
“To avoid wasting your time, I suggest you contact someone else as soon as possible.”
“Alright, think it over again. If you change your mind someday, feel free to contact me anytime. Let’s be straightforward—we can meet directly on set.”
Faced with Jiang Cheng’s persistence, Lu Jing still replied, “I won’t join this production.”
Jiang Cheng held his phone and sighed, “Hey, don’t be so heartless.”
Jiang Cheng and Lu Jing had known each other since university. One was in the acting department, the other in the directing department. They met during a club activity and found many points of resonance in each other, eventually becoming friends.
Their relationship was very close during university, and they kept in touch for the first two years after graduation. However, due to work commitments, their contact gradually dwindled.
Now, Jiang Cheng had reached out because he had secured an excellent script and genuinely believed Lu Jing was the most suitable candidate he could think of.
Yet, Lu Jing had a very clear plan for his career path. Although a good script was hard to come by, after careful consideration, he still chose to decline his old friend’s invitation.
Some time after this incident, one day, he saw Lin Shen lying half on the bed, completely engrossed in reading a script. When he leaned closer, he realized Lin Shen was reading the very same script Jiang Cheng had invited him to star in.
What had Jiang Cheng said at the time?
The filming would last nearly three months.