Ren Bai stayed perfectly still, waiting for Jiang Yu to send more messages or ask about the trending topic. But after a long wait, all he got was Yu Shiqing’s polite dismissal. Yu Shiqing looked at him and said, “Anything else?”
Ren Bai swallowed and answered, “Nothing, except about the trending topic.”
Yu Shiqing looked him over, silent.
Ren Bai, seeing no point in staying, quietly exited.
Later, back in his room, he got a call from the film crew. Because Shi Zhefing learned what had happened, and to avoid rumors and trouble, he instructed the team: from tomorrow there would be separate cars to take Yu Shiqing and Lin Anjin back and forth. Even with that, on the second day at the set, every crew member couldn’t help but glance away from Yu Shiqing. Ren Bai, sitting beside him, felt like he was on pins and needles. Yu Shiqing, in contrast, acted as usual completely unaffected, soaking in all the attention as if he were the star. Lin Anjin experienced the same thing.
After a scene, Lin Anjin apologetically said, “It’s my fault they’re gossiping because of me.”
Yu Shiqing was reading the script. He looked up and said in a calm voice, “If you decided to be an actor, you should be used to this.”
Lin Anjin froze. “You don’t mind?”
Yu Shiqing lowered his gaze again and replied, “It happened already. No need to overthink.”
Was that reassurance?
Lin Anjin watched Yu Shiqing’s focused profile. Though still stern, he seemed much more composed than the sharp figure he was four years ago. Maybe his experiences had mellowed him.
When A Sunny Tomorrow was released, it received praise and swept awards. As the leading actor, Yu Shiqing was a rising star, hailed as a future genius envied and admired by many. Lin Anjin, however, only looked up to him, thinking his success was untouchable.
But Yu Shiqing’s second film, which released without promotion, made it to theaters when fans discovered it, reviving its poor start. Still, after people watched it, the web exploded with harsh criticism. Reviews called it a mess bad plot, inconsistent supporting roles, many special effects but low quality. They said it felt like an amateur video stitched together. Bystanders criticized him for using impulse and disrespecting fans; fans felt deceived but still defended him. Then came his third film, again unreleased and poorly received. He earned the titles “King of Bad Films” and “Box Office Poison”. Some in the industry wondered if he had taken pay-to-play roles just to make quick money.
Lin Anjin never joined that discussion. He only worked with Yu Shiqing once, but knew the man wasn’t that kind of person. However, the media didn’t care. They stripped Yu Shiqing of his image and took their chance to tear him down, twisting rumors for gossip. Yu Shiqing never spoke out.
Lin Anjin was curious but never asked. After finishing filming together, they saw each other a couple of times casually. Nearly four years passed with little contact. Yu Shiqing never reached out. The memories of working together faded, and Lin Anjin assumed their paths would never cross deeply again.
Then last year came a mistaken romance rumor involving Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu, followed by news that Yu Shiqing appeared in Yan Hongyun’s first film Apocalypse Rescue but not as a lead, instead playing Jiang Yu’s supporting partner. Soon after, a string of hot search terms followed. Lin Anjin thought it was coincidence; his team thought it was a carefully crafted comeback strategy. Next, news broke that Yu Shiqing would collaborate with Shi Zhefing on a major project.
Lin Anjin had once said he got the audition thanks to Yu Shiqing. Shi Zhefing had mentioned working with him twice. Lin Anjin’s team even asked him to get closer to Yu Shiqing during filming to create some headlines. When fate brought them together again at the pre-filming dinner, Lin Anjin looked into Yu Shiqing’s eyes and felt ashamed of his own manipulative thoughts. So, when the trending topic happened by accident yesterday, he chose to clear the air not to ride the wave or stir more hype and his manager nearly flew off the handle in anger.
“Four years without heat, no one knows how to stir things so what if he spins a little story with an alpha actor? He just smiles and waves that won’t really cause damage!” Lin Anjin recalled and laughed at his own vanity. Let it be, he couldn’t bring himself to pretend intimacy just for publicity. Once he set that aside, he felt free.
“All right, I won’t overthink,” Lin Anjin said quietly. “Shall we run it again?”
Yu Shiqing’s tone remained calm. “Mm.”
Ren Bai stood off to the side and recorded their rehearsal briefly on Yu Shiqing’s phone, planning to review Yu Shiqing’s energy later. Soon filming officially started. He stepped aside for crew work and returned behind the monitors.
Shi Zhefing had been very pleased with Yu Shiqing since filming began yesterday; today was perfect too. After a set of shots, he joked, “Honestly, the internet wasn’t wrong you two look great together. I’m good at choosing.”
His lighthearted comment relaxed the atmosphere and brought smiles on set. Lin Anjin glanced at Yu Shiqing, who simply smiled and said nothing. No need to address a throwaway joke. Lin Anjin pressed his lips closed and remained silent.
Ren Bai watched the monitors. Once Yu Shiqing exited, Ren Bai cautiously asked in the break area, “Do you have any feelings for Lin Anjin?”
Yu Shiqing replied, “What are you getting at?”
Ren Bai stepped closer. “Isn’t he the kind you like? Gentle, kind, caring—”
Yu Shiqing cut in, “That’s your type.”
Ren Bai forced a laugh. “Well, you’ve never told me your type all these years. Thought you hadn’t had any interest in any omegas. But you hugged him last night.”
Yu Shiqing opened his phone to show the video. “Mm.”
Ren Bai stuttered, “What does ‘mm’ mean?”
Yu Shiqing said, “It means focus on real work.”
Ren Bai was silent.
Clearly Yu Shiqing didn’t want to discuss personal feelings. Ren Bai refrained from pressing further.
Filming continued over the next two calm months. Yu Shiqing went solo to the set and back to the hotel twice daily, a dull routine even paparazzi gave up on. Ren Bai considered his rival, Yao Lun, suspicious, but Lun hid from Yu Shiqing at the set. Aside from scenes together, they rarely crossed paths. Filming ended abruptly last night. But without that annoying presence, the set felt fresh.
In late afternoon darkness, Ren Bai once again recorded a little video of Yu Shiqing from behind the monitor. It was Lin Anjin’s last scene indoors he was in good form and finished quickly.
Shi Zhefing stood up and applauded. Suddenly the lights went out. Only the camera lights remained, highlighting Yu Shiqing and Lin Anjin in a small radius.
Lin Anjin jumped and instinctively stepped closer to Yu Shiqing. Before he said a word, they heard “Happy Birthday” from outside the door. A crew member wheeled in a big cake with sparklers on top.
Shi Zhefing laughed and led everyone in applause and song. Lin Anjin’s assistant put a birthday hat on him. Ren Bai had never seen an on-set birthday like this before, and he began recording again. Lin Anjin, surprised and touched, was urged to blow the candles. After he cut the first slice, he looked at Yu Shiqing. “You knew?”
Yu Shiqing smiled and shook his head. “Happy birthday.”
Lin Anjin looked at him with sparkles in his eyes and a brighter smile than usual. “Thank you.”
Ren Bai caught the moment on video. He saved it and opened a chat with Yu Shiqing, planning to post it for memory’s sake.
A crew member waved at Ren Bai. “Want cake? Let me get you a slice.”
“Sure!” he replied. The lights were still off. Someone urged again. Ren Bai glanced at his screen and saw the top chat name Jiang Yu. He had just texted Yu Shiqing this afternoon! It’d been more than two minutes he couldn’t delete it. But no worries it was just a mis-send.
He hurriedly typed:
Ren Bai: “Sorry Jiang Yu, I’m Ren Bai. I sent the video by mistake. Just ignore that!”
Ten minutes passed without a response. Suddenly Jiang Yu replied:
Jiang Yu: “No problem.”
Seeing those simple words, Ren Bai’s heart raced. He waited Yu Shiqing returned. Ren Bai quickly said, “I sent a message to Jiang Yu by mistake.”
Yu Shiqing asked, “What message?”
Ren Bai said, “The video.”
He showed the chat. “He said it’s fine. Should be okay, right?”
The video started with Shi Zhefing singing “Happy Birthday,” ended with Lin Anjin’s thanks, and included Yu Shiqing’s birthday greeting. Nothing else.
Yu Shiqing glanced once. “Mm.”
Ren Bai breathed a sigh of relief.
Later that evening, on the way home, Yu Shiqing received a call from Jiang Yu.
“On set visit?” Ren Bai thought.
Jiang Yu said, “I’m nearby and thought I’d pass by early to feel the atmosphere.”
Yu Shiqing asked, “You can find the time?”
With over twenty shows in three months and four days of filming, his schedule was tight.
Jiang Yu asked, “Aren’t you happy I’m coming?”
Yu Shiqing paused, then said, “When will you come?”
Jiang Yu paused, then said, “Tomorrow.”
