Author: hoenimochi (Page 37 of 95)

       A few days later, Zhuo Yue officially joined the cast for filming, and there was no further contact with Fang Mingyan.

       The hierarchy among actors was very clear, and directors usually accommodated the schedules of big names. Under similar circumstances, the scenes featuring the main characters were usually shot first. Zhuo Yue had few scenes, but he had scenes with both the male and female leads. Jiang Yan was cold and indifferent in private and didn’t pay much attention to anyone except chatting and laughing with the director. Probably because they were in the same company, Lu Chenyang took good care of him and sometimes let Zhuo Yue share his resting room.

       There was a night scene in a bar that night. Hua Zhan accompanied the male protagonist, Lin Xiu, to the bar to find the goddess Dong Xue, but found that the other party was dancing with the rich and handsome Li Haofeng. The diva Jiang Yan was out of shape today, and a dozen shots of a drunken and passionate scene were not good enough, so Zhuo Yue could only sit aside and wait. As the clock passes two, he grows weary from waiting, wraps himself in a blanket, and curls up on the sofa, falling asleep.

       “Hey, make way.” A sharp female voice rang.

       Zhuo Yue woke up in a daze, opened his eyes and looked at the group of people standing around him. It took him a moment to realise that they were the agent, makeup artist and assistants of the second male lead, Zhong Cheng. Lin Hui, who was dozing nearby, woke up when he heard the noise and asked, “What are you doing?”

       The female agent raised her eyebrows and said, “Zhong Cheng wants to use this sofa, please make way.”

       Lin Hui frowned, “Isn’t he still filming? Besides, there are so many sofas around; why can’t he sleep on any one of them?”

       “He doesn’t like the warm air from the air conditioner blowing directly on him. This position is just right.” Zhong Cheng’s young female assistant said.

       “Yue ge has been using this sofa. So there should be a first-come, first-served order, right?” Lin Hui couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed.

       “First come, first served?” The female manager sneered, The female agent snorted, “Please get it straight, Zhong Cheng is the second male lead. When it comes to taking turns, this sofa isn’t in line for you guys.”

       “Ah¹A Chinese prefix used with a shortened form of peoples’ given names to express familiarity, roughly equivalent to Mister or Miss. Hui.” Zhuo Yue stopped him, stood up, rolled up the quilt and said, “Let’s change places.” After that, he walked to another sofa and sat down. Seeing him like this, Lin Hui had no choice but to hold back his anger and move his costume over.

       He then heard some sarcastic comments from the other side of the room.

       “Quite sensible.”

       “The former No.1 in TV dramas now has to wait for others to do his acting, how miserable, haha…”

       “It’s really a turn of events. Zhong Cheng even acted as a male supporting actor for him in a TV series before. At that time, he was very popular. Fenglan’s Sheng Haofeng doted on him like nothing, and he didn’t give a damn about anyone. Now look, Huasheng assigned a young boy like him as his assistant.”

       “I don’t know which bosses this outdated actor somehow managed to curry favour with and got a small supporting role. What’s the use of just looking good? Among the male actors in this crew, who doesn’t look good? With his weak appearance, Zhong Cheng could easily crush him into pieces in no time.”

       The voice was neither loud nor quiet, just enough for the two of them to hear clearly. Lin Hui gritted his teeth in anger. Zhuo Yue patted his shoulder with a calm expression and said softly, “It’s a shame for you to follow me.”

       “Ge, what are you talking about…don’t take those words to heart.”

       While the two were talking, Zhong Cheng came over to rest between filming. The manager came up to him and said something. He looked over here, curled his lips and smiled contemptuously, then lay down and rested his long legs comfortably on the armrest of the sofa.

       There’s a grudge between Zhong Cheng and Zhuo Yue. Back when the widely popular ‘Conquest of Mountains and Rivers’ was initially casting its male lead, it was supposed to be him. However, Zhuo Yue took over the role, and he had to swallow his dissatisfaction and play the second male lead. At that time, he often mocked and ridiculed Zhuo Yue. Now that they met again, Zhuo Yue was no longer as famous as before, while Zhong Cheng was thriving. Naturally, he didn’t show much favour towards Zhuo Yue.

       After Jiang Yan finally passed the bar, the fight scene between the three men officially began. In the alley behind the bar door, Lu Chenyang and Zhuo Yue were surrounded by bodyguards summoned by Zhong Cheng, who played the role of a rich and handsome man.

       In the movie, the fight scenes were just for show, but Zhuo Yue had some real skills, clearing two sequences effortlessly. In the final scene, Zhong Cheng kicked Lu Chenyang, and Zhuo Yue rushed in to take the blow for him. Coordinating the interactions between the three proved challenging. The timing was off, expressions weren’t right, and movements were too stiff—five or six takes went by without success. As the night grew late, everyone became fatigued, and tensions rose. On this try, Zhong Cheng adjusted his position a bit forward and kicked Zhuo Yue squarely in the chest, unexpectedly using full force. Zhuo Yue stumbled backwards, crashing into a pile of props behind him, creating a loud crash.

       Everyone was shocked and gathered around him. Lin Hui ran over in a panic, “Yue ge! How are you?”

       During the filming of the action scenes, he wore very little clothing for the convenience of movement. This collision was real. Zhuo Yue felt severe pain in his chest and back, and his eyesight went dark. He managed to speak, “…it’s okay, help me up.”

       “Oh, are you okay? It’s my fault that I didn’t control my strength well.” Zhong Cheng pretended to be concerned.

       “Can’t you control, or did you just not control at all?” Lin Hui’s eyes were on the verge of bursting into flames.

       Zhong Cheng’s face turned gloomy, and he sneered, “It’s normal to accidentally get a few skin injuries while playing. Besides, I’ve already apologized. Zhuo Yue, take care of your dog and don’t let it bark at people.”

       Lu Chenyang, who came over to help Zhu Yue, frowned and said, “His assistant is a dog? Then what are those people following behind you?”

       Zhong Cheng looked embarrassed, didn’t dare to say anything, and walked away angrily.

       The doctor from the production team rushed over, checked the injuries on his body, and said, “The back is swollen, and we need to take an X-ray to determine if there is anything wrong with the bones.”

       Upon seeing this, Xie Anqing hurriedly asked someone to prepare a car to take Zhuo Yue to the hospital. It was almost four o’clock when the examination was completed. Fortunately, the bones were fine, but the bruise on the back looked a bit scary.

       Zhuo Yue rushed back to the set overnight and asked Lin Hui to apply some wound medicine to him. Seeing that the sky was already getting brighter, he simply didn’t sleep. He sat by the window for a while, drank a few sips of soy milk, and then went to put on makeup for the morning show. There was a scene between him and Lu Chenyang in the morning.

       After spending so much time together, Xie Anqing had a good impression of the introverted and quiet Zhuo Yue. Seeing him come here on time despite being injured, he couldn’t help but feel a little distressed. He also couldn’t stand the arrogant and domineering Zhong Cheng; choosing him as the second male lead was just to give face to Luo Yuan, the boss of Chongyuan Real Estate. With someone like Luo Yuan as his backing, Zhong Cheng usually looked down on everyone else, except for a few protagonists. Yesterday, it was clear that it was intentional, but no one could accuse him of doing it intentionally without any evidence. They could only watch as Zhuo Yue took the fall silently. Xie Anqing couldn’t help but sigh and say, “There are some people that we have to be on guard against.”

       Seeing Xie Anqing reminding him, Zhuo Yue felt grateful and said softly, “I understand.”

       Most of the scene was dialogue, so Lu Chenyang proposed changing the script and letting Zhuo Yue sit down and act. The director agreed, and the two worked together smoothly, with almost no NG.

       He saw that night was approaching and that he had to shoot that action scene again. Zhuo Yue was feeling depressed. Zhong Cheng came over and said, “Yo, is everything okay? I thought I might have kicked you a bit too hard there. Heard you’ve been tight on cash lately. Do you need me to cover the medical expenses?”

       Zhuo Yue raised his eyes to look at him, his gaze was cold. He was sitting so quietly, which gave him a bit of a cold and compelling aura. Zhong Cheng was already feeling bad, but he felt cold all over when he looked at him, so he dropped a couple of sarcastic remarks and left.

       While the lighting and scenery were being adjusted, several people came over, and the one in the middle was Fang Mingyan. He was wearing a long dark coat, his hands casually in his pockets.

       When Xie Anqing saw him coming, he stood up and greeted him warmly, “What a rare guest, Chairman Fang is actually free to come and visit us today.”

       With a smile on his face, Fang Mingyan said, “I heard there is a night filming tonight, so I stopped by to give you some midnight snacks.” Chen Li and his assistant who were following behind, immediately distributed the packaged abalone porridge to everyone.

       Xie Anqing glanced at Zhuo Yue, who was silent on the side, smiled and said, “Chairman Fang is considerate.”

       Zhuo Yue held the script in his hand, looked up, saw the person coming, and was slightly startled. Their eyes met, and those deep black eyes seemed to suck his gaze in, and his heart beat faster unconsciously. He stood up and said awkwardly, “Chairman Fang.”

       “En. How are the injuries on your body?” The man obviously already knew the news about his injuries.

       Since that snowy night, Zhuo Yue had not had any contact with him for almost a month. Standing in front of him at this moment felt a little unnatural, and said softly, “It’s just a little scr4p3. It’ll heal after a while.”

       “You will soon have a scene that requires you to be topless. If you are injured, you should avoid it.” Fang Mingyan took a separate lunch box from the secretary and gave it to him. Zhuo Yue took it and opened it. Inside was white porridge with side dishes.

       He pursed his lips and said, “Thank you, Chairman Fang.”

       At this moment, a horrified scream was heard, and everyone looked over there.

       The wooden shelf that was originally used as a background was abandoned and placed next to the wall. Now it fell down for some reason, and Zhong Cheng was pinned underneath it. Everyone hurriedly moved the shelves away. Fortunately, the wooden frame was neither strong nor heavy, so it didn’t cause any serious injuries. The only wounds on his back and arms were the wooden thorns that pricked the skin and caused blood. The doctor wiped the wound with disinfectant. Zhong Cheng yelled that it hurt and he couldn’t bear it.

       Xie Anqing walked over, wearing a somewhat uneasy smile as he said to Fang Mingyan, “Chairman Fang, Zhong Cheng still has scenes tonight.”

       The man chuckled nonchalantly, “It’s best to have some filming, but I’m afraid there won’t be any.”

       Director Xie sighed helplessly. It was evident that Fang Mingyan was taking action to teach Zhong Cheng a lesson. With incidents like this happening one after another in the crew, it was bound to attract public attention, and it required careful management. Compared to the real estate tycoon Luo Yuan, Fang Mingyan, who had a finger in both black and white world, was even more formidable. Being caught in the middle of this situation was indeed awkward for him.

       Zhuo Yue was still in a daze, and Lu Chenyang, who was beside him, bumped him with his elbow and said with a smile, “The porridge has gone cold. It’s rare for the boss to deliver it personally. Eat it quickly. After finishing, we can go check on Zhong Cheng,”

       He looked up at Fang Mingyan, lowered his head and took a sip.

       It was warm, and he felt all the way down your throat to your heart.

       After sitting for a short while, Boss Fang was ready to leave. Zhuo Yue and Lu Chenyang escorted him to the car. Whenever their eyes met, Zhuo Yue always managed to look away after a moment. Fang Mingyan smiled slightly and left without saying much.

       Zhong Cheng yelled that he didn’t want to film any more scenes, saying that he would need to be nursed for at least a week. The cost of renting a venue was very high, and a week off was a lot of money. Xie Anqing was offended by his pretentiousness, so he temporarily changed the script, deleted his action scenes with a stroke of a pen, and replaced them all with bodyguards. The next day, after shooting the remaining scenes, they let him leave the crew.

       In the next few days, the crew moved to the swimming pool. The wound on Zhuo Yue’s body had not healed much yet. The makeup artist wanted to cover the bruise with thick foundation. Lu Chenyang frowned and objected, “It is already bad enough to have the injuries soaked in the water. These chemicals are even more harmful to the wound. Once inflammation develops and the wound begins to fester, something serious will happen.”

       Xie Anqing thought for a while and agreed, “Then we’ll fix it in post-production.”

       This scene showed the male protagonist coming to the swimming pool to find Hua Zhan, and Hua Zhan comes out of the water. Zhuo Yue’s fitness efforts have begun to show results, with more defined lines on his body. The moment he straightened up from the swimming pool, his slowly opening eyes under his wet long eyelashes were as bright as obsidian. The water droplets dripping from the tips of the hair streaked across the wet chest, which had a fatal attraction that people couldn’t take their eyes away from. It was as if he was a male mermaid leaping from the sea, with every feature carrying an enchanting allure, leading humanity step by step into an irretrievable abyss of the deep sea.

       At that moment, the audience was extremely quiet, and Lu Chenyang was also stunned. The award-winning actor forgot the next words for a moment.

       Zhuo Yue looked at him awkwardly and said softly, “Chenyang?”

       Lu Chenyang recovered and smiled, “Sorry, I forgot the words. Sorry, sorry.”

       The first few moments went smoothly, and then it was the kiss between the two of them.

       Lu Chenyang had rehearsed the kiss with him before, but now, when their gaze met, they felt a different emotion from the last time; Zhuo Yue’s eyes were filled with a quiet clamour, as if countless hesitant words had turned into lingering emotions, lingering in those dark eyes, making him fall into that gaze unknowingly. In the blink of an eye, the kiss that should have been anticipated came suddenly. The perfectly balanced intensity and delicate restraint infused this brief kiss with even more profound emotions. In an instant, Lu Chenyang’s heartbeat unexpectedly quickened beyond his control.

       When he heard the director shouting to stop, Zhuo Yue put on the bath towel handed by Lin Hui and asked, “Is it passed?”

       “Excellent!” Xie Anqing praised with a smile after watching the replay, “Zhuo Yue performed well, and Chenyang’s surprise was very natural.”

       Lu Chenyang looked at the people beside him, lowered his eyes and smiled softly.

       In that moment just now, his attention was effortlessly diverted, his movements were restrained, and the rhythm was controlled. This captivating merman seemed to possess a truly enchanting power, causing him to lose control for the first time in his performance. The bewilderment in that moment was not an act; he genuinely became entranced by Zhuo Yue.

       “Mint flavoured,” he said.

       Zhuo Yue didn’t hear clearly and saw him tapping his lips, blushing, and said a little embarrassedly, “Ah Hui only has this flavor of chewing gum…”

       Lu Chenyang smiled and reached out to help him put the slipped bath towel on his shoulders. His eyes were gentle, “Go take a hot shower. You must be chilly being all wet.”

       Zhuo Yue nodded. After that, he had no further roles and left the crew the next day.

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       Early the next morning, Zhuo Yue left the house.

       Lin Hui took him to see the apartment, and after just looking at the first one, he said it was acceptable.

       “Yue ge, there are a few other places that are also good. Should we take a look again?” Lin Hui asked in a low voice. He was two years younger than Zhuo Yue, so he called him ‘ge’ to show his closeness.

       This hotel-style high-rise apartment had a very good environment, with a suitable size, and it was ready to move in with just a suitcase. The community comes with a well-equipped gym and a swimming pool. There were no other shortcomings except that the location was slightly off. Zhuo Yue stood by the window, looking at the rows of tall buildings in the distance and smiling lightly. “Compared with my previous residence, this place is already very good. I don’t have any other requirements besides tranquillity.”

       “Alright then, ge, take a look at the contract, and I’ll go talk to the agent.” Lin Hui handed him the lease contract. After a while, he came back and saw that Zhuo Yue was still sitting on the chair reading the contract; he waited quietly for a while and realised that something was wrong. Zhuo Yue’s gaze was fixed on the paper without moving at all. If his gaze had been so hot, it would have burned through the paper. He was not looking at the contract, he was clearly distracted.

       Lin Hui coughed lightly and asked, “Yue ge, have you finished reading? Do you have any questions?”

       Zhuo Yue came back to his senses, scribbled through it, signed it, handed it to him, and asked, “Are you free this afternoon?”

       “Yes, what’s the matter?”

       “I have some things stored in Hanguan, and I want to move them here directly.”

       Lin Hui was stunned, “What’s the hurry? Does Chairman Fang know about this?” When he saw the embarrassment on Zhu Yue’s face, he knew that he had made a mistake and immediately said, “I don’t mean something else… Then, Yue ge, I’ll find a few people to move the stuff over this afternoon.”

       “No need to call anyone. I don’t have big things, and it only takes two travel bags to pack.” Zhuo Yue said, “Please help me get it together.”

       “It’s all within the scope of my duties, ge. No need to be so polite.” Lin Hui scratched his head.

       Choosing to move in the afternoon when Fang Mingyan was not around felt a bit sneaky. After Zhuo Yue had moved all his belongings to the new place and sat on the sofa, he contemplated and felt that his actions were quite inappropriate. After all, Fang Mingyan had kindly taken him in, and leaving without even saying goodbye was impolite. Moreover, it was he who had inexplicably ended up on the fourth floor doing what he did last night. Apart from helping him achieve a certain ‘pleasure’, Fang Mingyan hadn’t done anything out of line. It was his own fault, and he couldn’t blame others. Regardless of emotion or reason, he should have at least given a heads-up.

       Zhuo Yue thought for a while and decided to send a text message. This short sentence was typed, deleted, and revised several times.

       “I’ve found an apartment, and I’m moving in today. Thank you, Chairman Fang, for taking care of me, and I’ll buy you dinner some other time.”

       It was formal, polite and cautious, like an official diplomatic statement.

       After sending it out, he became even more nervous. Every time the screen of his mobile phone lit up, his breathing would become involuntarily short. As a result, Zhuo Yue spent the whole afternoon restless because the other party didn’t reply.

       By dinner time, the doorbell rang. He thought it was Lin Hui coming to deliver the meal, but when he opened the door he found Fang Mingyan standing outside the door, and he was stunned.

       “Why? Am I not welcome?” The man in a dark gray woolen coat looked at him with a smirk.

       “No…” Zhuo Yue came back to his senses. His face turned red, and he stepped aside, “Please come in.”

       Fang Mingyan looked round and commented, “Not bad.”

       Ever since what happened last night, Zhuo Yue would feel a little embarrassed every time he looked at him. This time, he lowered his head and poured water for him, saying, “I haven’t bought tea, just water.”

       The man took the cup, “After you move here, your whereabouts must be known to Lin Hui. This is a rule stipulated in the contract, and it is also to protect your safety, do you understand?”

       “Understood.”

       “Alright. Change your clothes, and let’s go eat.”

       Zhuo Yue was startled. He raised his gaze and saw a faint smile in Fang Mingyan’s bright eyes, “Didn’t you say you wanted to treat me to dinner? I happen to be free tonight.”

       When it was time to order, Zhuo Yue regretted even more why he had so stupidly added the phrase, “I’ll buy you dinner some other time.”

       It was a renowned high-end restaurant famous for its French cuisine. The expensive prices listed on the menu, adorned with golden edges, almost made Zhuo Yue unable to sit still. He had been to this place once before, and an investor in the same field footed the bill. At that time, he had money and didn’t care about the prices. Now, it seemed incredibly extravagant. In his current destitute state, even the rent was paid in advance by the company, and the few thousand yuan he had on him would probably just about cover today’s meal.

       The man had no intention of saving him any money. He ordered everything from foie gras to truffles, duck breast to lamb saddle steak, and even ordered a bottle of red wine. Finally, he asked Zhuo Yue his opinion in a very gentlemanly manner, “What else would you like to eat?”

       “No, I’m fine.” Zhuo Yue had no choice but to ask Lin Hui for help via text message, hoping to borrow some money to pay for the meal in advance, but there was no reply for a long time.

       The dishes came one after another, and Fang Mingyan ate slowly, with a fleeting joking flashing in his eyes, “Why, you don’t have an appetite to eat with me?”

       “…It’s not like that.” Zhuo Yue lowered his head and fiddled with the food on the plate. He had always been thin-skinned. Since he agreed to the treat, he couldn’t say anything if he couldn’t pay the bill, so he had to perfunctorily clink his glasses with the man. Drinking more than a thousand yuan of red wine felt like drinking Chinese medicine in his mouth; it tasted bitter and astringent.

       After finally making it to the end of the meal, Zhuo Yue could no longer calm down, so he quietly went to the front desk to check out, using the excuse of going to the bathroom. As expected, the amount was well beyond his ability to pay. In desperation, Zhuo Yue had no choice but to discuss it with the other party, “I forgot to bring my wallet, and I don’t have enough. Can I leave my phone here temporarily? I’ll come back to retrieve it once I get the money.”

       The girl at the cashier smiled apologetically, “Sir, I’m sorry, we don’t have the right to collect collateral. Could you please consider asking your friend to send the wallet over or ask your companion to pay for it first?”

       Zhuo Yue had no choice but to return to his original position and sit down. The man across from him casually swirled his wine glass, and his deep eyes emitted an inscrutable glint. As their gazes met, Zhuo Yue’s eyes flickered for a moment, ultimately lowering them in the end.

       During their time together, Zhuo Yue had gained a certain level of understanding about Fang Mingyan. This man possessed a kind of profound control, a control that stemmed from innate charisma and cultivated observational skills. This blend allowed him to quickly discern lies, needs, and various attitudes from people’s microexpressions. Zhuo Yue absolutely did not believe that someone as adept at reading people as him hadn’t noticed his predicament and discomfort. To him, there was only one possibility: Fang Mingyan was intentionally ignoring it.

       Allowing Zhuo Yue to move out without any hindrance, Fang Mingyan stood by casually, setting aside text messages. The sudden extravagant dinner… Fang Mingyan effortlessly held Zhuo Yue in the palm of his hand, watching him anxiously and helplessly without a hint of emotion. Like a puppet master toying with hearts, he took pleasure in the situation while revealing nothing.

       Zhuo Yue felt like a monkey being played with. However, when it came to moving out, he couldn’t justify his actions of sneaking away without consulting the master. So he even lost the reason to be angry and had no choice but to endure.

       “Can you… pay for it first?” Zhuo Yue, who was forced into a desperate situation, finally had to speak with a blushing face.

       The curvature of Fang Mingyan’s lips became a little wider.

       Of course, he did it on purpose.

       The day Fang Mingyan accidentally bumped into Zhuo Yue at the entrance of the cage was an interesting surprise. He never expected that this shy and easily blushable guy would be stirred by desire. He found himself intrigued by Zhuo Yue’s frightened yet oddly sensual expression, so he decided to lend a ‘helping hand’. He thought it would lead to an awkward situation at most, but he didn’t anticipate that Zhuo Yue would quietly escape without a word.

       This act of assertiveness provoked Fang Mingyan’s desire for control as a Dom. So he took action to teach Zhuo Yue, who was trying to escape control, a small lesson. This mentality of ‘You don’t like to say it, but I’m going to make you say it’ was really a little bit funny.

       He always liked this kind of game.

       “Hm?” The man made an upward nasal sound as if he was confused.

       Zhuo Yue hated Fang Mingyan’s deliberate probing, and his face blushed even more. He pitted himself a bit and said, “I don’t have enough money to settle the bill at the moment, so… can you cover it first? I’ll pay you back later.”

       “That’s quite a predicament,” the man said, tilting his head and looking at him with a smirk. “You said you were treating, so I didn’t bring my wallet.”

       Zhuo Yue pursed his lips, sat silently for a moment, and said softly, “It’s my fault that I moved out without saying anything to you. I’m sorry.”

       Fang Mingyan looked at the person sitting in front of him with his head slightly lowered and silently raised the corners of his lips. Then he called the waiter and said, “Put the cost of today’s meal on my bill.”

       “Understood, Chairman Fang.” The waitress smiled and bowed. Fang Mingyan was one of the shareholders of this restaurant; how could she not know it?

       When they walked out of the hotel, there was fine snow falling in the night sky. The snowflakes swirled and fell, falling on Zhuo Yue’s black hair, and slowly melted. “There must be a lot of traffic at this time. It’s not that far anyway. I can just walk back,” he said.

       Fang Mingyan closed the car door that was opened for him and said, “Okay, let’s go.” After that, he walked forward. Zhuo Yue was stunned for a moment, then followed up and said, “Actually, you don’t have to go out of your way to escort me back.”

       The man looked at him and said, “Cherish this moment, there will not be many opportunities like this in the future.

       Hearing this, Zhuo Yue took a breath, and his cheeks instantly became hot.

       Fang Mingyan explained nonchalantly, “What I mean is, in the future, when you become famous, leisurely strolls on the street like today might not be so easy.”

       Zhuo Yue knew that he was teasing him again, so he raised his eyebrows coldly and said, “Are you so sure that I can become popular?”

       The man curled his lips, “It’s impossible for the person I sing praises not to be popular.”

       His tone was determined, with unquestionable strength and confidence.

       Zhuo Yue looked into those dark eyes; he felt moved, and his feet paused.

       Fang Mingyan stopped, took off his scarf, and tied it carefully around his neck, “Your filming is about to start, so pay special attention to your body during this period of time, and don’t catch a cold.”

       The thick cashmere plaid scarf still carries the body temperature of that person, making it soft and warm. Zhuo Yue didn’t refuse and just said ‘En’ in a low voice.

       The snow started falling heavily, each flake resembling elves in the night, silently drifting down to the earth, coating the world in a layer of frosty white.

       The two walked side by side, waiting for the light to turn green, then crossed the zebra crossing and walked down to the apartment building.

       “It’s here.” Zhuo Yue attempted to remove his scarf, but his hand was gently held by the other. What followed was the warmth of the palm, which made him feel astonished. It was probably because winter was too cold that made people particularly mindful of such warmth. The heat seemed to be transmitted from the back of the hand directly to the heart, accelerating the heartbeat.

       “Xie Anqing is a relatively upright person, he won’t allow his actors to engage in such devious behaviour. But think twice about everything. I’ve taught you that.” The man said.

       Zhuo Yue nodded, “I understand.”

       “Pay attention to safety when filming. If there’s anything you can’t solve, you can call me directly. This is considered a privilege I’m giving you.” He smiled, “As for this scarf, return it to me when you become popular. Act well, and don’t let me down.”

       His lips moved, but nothing came out. There seemed to be countless emotions entangled in his heart that couldn’t be untangled. In the end, Zhuo Yue just responded in a low voice and then watched Fang Mingyan get into the car that was waiting for him, disappearing from sight.

       The snow fell silently, burying someone’s thoughts beneath its layers.

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       The days passed by quietly. Zhuo Yue spent every day in Hanguan very fulfillingly. He worked out, watched movies, memorised scripts, and practised acting, and Fang Mingyan would often give him some tips and guidance.

       Zhuo Yue went out for a jog that night. When he came back, he found an unfamiliar pair of men’s shoes in the hallway.

       He went up to the third floor and looked up at the corner of the stairs. The light in the corridor on the fourth floor was on. Apparently, Fang Mingyan was ‘entertaining’ his guests in the cage.

       Zhuo Yue didn’t know anything about BDSM before, and he didn’t know what it was until he met Fang Mingyan. The man had many different subs, and Zhuo Yue had seen at least five in the time he had lived here. Fang Mingyan’s attitude towards them was respectful and rigorous. For example, one of the subs was unwilling to show his face, so when he came, the man would ask Zhuo Yue to avoid him. Similarly, their attitude towards Fang Mingyan was as submissive and humble as slaves. Every ‘Master’ word that they said came from the bottom of their hearts, and every look in their eyes was full of adoration. Sometimes, Zhuo Yue didn’t even feel like they were playing a game; the characters and themselves seemed to have become one. He couldn’t understand this relationship, but he had always been tolerant of others, and this tolerance also included accepting different interests and lifestyles. Therefore, he had no particular objection or resistance to Fang Mingyan’s hobbies. Zhuo Yue had never gone upstairs to peep since he caught a cold after taking a cold shower after seeing that unconventional sexual act last time. Subconsciously, he was afraid that he would react in such a way that would make him feel that he was abnormal.

       But Zhuo Yue, who was stopped at the stairs today, couldn’t help but look up with his face raised. He couldn’t explain why, but something in his body seemed to be restless, urging him to go up step by step as if he was possessed by poison and couldn’t control himself. When he came to his senses, he was already standing on the last step of the fourth floor, with the closed black door in front of him.

       Because of its special way of use, the ‘cage’ was designed with sound insulation in mind. The closed door at this moment separated the two worlds, and no sound could be heard. However, just by looking at it, many erotic and lustful images would appear in Zhuo Yue’s mind, such as the tied body, the red whip marks on the naked skin, and the mottled mucus…

       He could seem to hear sounds in my ears, unbearable gasping, ambiguous moans, cries when the climax comes…

       The brain involuntarily fabricated everything. The desire for sensory stimulation occupied the entire world, blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion.

       Hot.

       The blood seemed to boil out of thin air, flowing through the body and stirring up desires that were gradually awakening. He let out a long breath as his hand touched his swollen lower abdomen. The last bit of reason was swallowed up, and he was dragged by the devil into the quagmire of desire. The texture of the sweatpants was soft, and the friction between the palms of the fabric gradually increased, and the breathing became more and more rapid. Just as the thirst for desire clamoured to take over his entire body, the door in front of him suddenly opened without warning.

       Fang Mingyan, who was pushing out the door, was startled when he saw Zhuo Yue standing by the stairs. His eyes stayed on the flushed face for a few seconds, then went down, landing on the awkward part blocked by his hand. He understood the situation somewhat and closed the door behind him.

       His sudden appearance made Zhuo Yue freeze on the spot. Panic and shame made him turn around and run away like a frightened deer. At this moment, he was so confused that he could not remember that he was already standing on the edge of the stairs. He stepped on the empty void with his right foot, lost his balance and was about to fall. At that moment, a big hand grabbed his arm tightly and pulled him into his arms.

       Hanguan, wrapped in the night, was brightly lit. In the corridor on the fourth floor, Zhuo Yue, who was still in shock, was held in Fang Mingyan’s arms.

       Close to each other, face to face.

       “Always so careless,” the man’s low voice whispered into Zhuo Yue’s ear, like the deep tones of a nocturne, captivating and melodious. It sounded like reprimand yet carried a hint of indulgent intimacy.

       Zhuo Yue felt that the heat was steaming again as if being roasted by a slow fire, and a fine layer of sweat formed on his back. He looked up awkwardly. Fang Mingyan’s eyes were deep and dark, and under the straight bridge of his nose, his thin lips seemed to always have a vague smile, making it difficult for people to see through.

       “Lust is a necessity of life.” The man held Zhu Yue’s waist, changed the angle and pressed him against the wall, whispering in a low voice, “How to get pleasure from desire is my area of expertise. So, I can help you.”

       “No need…I…” Zhuo Yue’s dry refusal was blocked by the hand that covered his lower abdomen; his body shivered, and a gasp escaped from his parched throat.

       The other man’s hand covered the raised part between his legs through soft sweatpants. Zhuo Yue’s face turned bright red. Breathing became difficult, and his heartbeat easily fell out of rhythm in the resonance between them.

       “Don’t… Let it go…” He tried to push the other person away, but his lower body was shaken by the pain from the other person’s strong grip, “Ah─”

       “Don’t move.” Fang Mingyan’s deep voice had a bewitching tone, “You don’t need to do anything. Just leave everything to me.”

       With his most vulnerable part being held in someone’s hands, Zhuo Yue did not dare to struggle anymore and could only beg for mercy, “Let me go. This is wrong. I don’t need you to help me do this kind of thing… Nhg…” When the man’s hand began to stroke up and down, his body trembled, and he let out a suppressed nasal sound uncontrollably. The sound was soft and gentle, like a cat’s meowing.

       As a top Dom, Fang Mingyan’s control over Sub was absolutely outstanding. He knew how to arouse desire and make the other person feel pleasure. The loose sweatpants had already slipped to the ground. The friction between the gentle and sometimes heavy movements and the underwear made Zhuo Yue twist his waist impatiently, “Fang Mingyan, stop it… let go…”

       “It’s getting harder and harder.” The man chuckled and put his hand into his underwear, wrapped his sac with his palm, then slowly moved it upward and used his fingertips to scratch the small hole exposed at the top of his genitals, and he got what he wanted. He heard the other party’s rapid breathing.

       Zhuo Yue, who was completely aroused by Fang Mingyan’s desire, lost the ability to think. All his feelings were concentrated on the place where the man’s palm touched, like a lonely ship lost in the stars and unable to find its way back. All that remained of his sanity was the inescapable sense of shame. He closed his eyes tightly, bit his lips until they were blood red, and tried his best to control himself, not wanting to let out a shameful moan.

       “Don’t hold it back.” Fang Mingyan changed the angle, letting him lean against the wall, and calmed his emotions softly, “I am the only one here. No one else will hear you. Relax.”

       “Hngh ngh…” As the speed of his strokes increased, Zhuo Yue finally let out a moan that sounded like a cry. There was a thin layer of mist in his eyes, and his rose-coloured lips were open, panting like a fish out of water. His head was thrown back as if he couldn’t bear it and wanted more. Zhuo Yue, who was in the throes of passion, was so seductive that the colour of the man’s eyes deepened, and the movements of his hands became more and more intense. Zhuo Yue, who rarely masturbated, couldn’t stand his teasing like this. He yelled and ejaculated and fell limply in his arms while trembling. It took a while for him to recover from the afterglow of his climax. He was very embarrassed and wanted to break away, but Fang Mingyan firmly trapped Zhuo Ye between him and the wall.

       “Do you feel good?” the man asked.

       Zhuo Yue’s cheeks were red, and he stared at him with his watery eyes without saying anything. His slender neck was exposed from the loose collar, his hair was messed up, and his Adam’s apple was trembling. This man with an ascetic temperament exuded a unique and alluring aura at this moment, which made Fang Mingyan lose his concentration. He stared at the person in his arms, frowned slightly, and slowly moved his head downward.

       The originally tight distance became even closer.

       It was so close that it was disconcerting.

       Zhuo Yue couldn’t tell whose heart was beating non-stop. He felt as if the oxygen around him had been drained, and it became increasingly difficult to breathe. His mind was in chaos, and he couldn’t say a word. However, there seemed to be a crack somewhere in the bottom of his heart, and a thin and soft light shone through.

       Time froze, and everything stood still. Only the tiny airflow brought by the man’s warm breath intertwined and lingered between his breaths. The eyelashes fluttered down, covering his eyes.

       Just when he was about to close his eyes, the other party laughed softly and asked, “Do you need another round?”

       Zhuo Yue froze, lowered his head, and pushed him away hard. He then went downstairs in three steps at a time.

       The man standing at the top of the stairs looked at his back, his eyes deep and did not move for a long time.

       When Zhuo Yue returned to the room, he immersed himself in the bathtub as if he wanted to use the water to block out the unbearable reality. However, the body faithfully remembered the absurd and exciting interaction just now.

       The warmth of being wrapped, the pleasure of being rubbed… This should have been the most private secret, but because of another person’s intervention, it brought unprecedented stimulation and pleasure. At this moment, he was shamelessly thinking about everything just now.

       At that time, the moment before the climax, the only person who appeared in his mind…

       The name he almost called out…

       Zhuo Yue, who was about to suffocate, suddenly stood up from his sitting position and breathed in panic.

       He was like a drowning man, clinging to the edge of the bathtub and hanging his head.

       It’s wrong… there must be something wrong.

       This must not continue.

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       Since that conversation, the relationship between the two became more natural.

       Fang Mingyan was a person who distinguished between public and private affairs clearly. When at home, he rarely discussed work and treated Zhuo Yue more like a friend than a boss. He considered issues very carefully, fully respecting the other person’s thoughts. Once he made a decision, however, he rarely changed it, demonstrating a strong sense of control in his personality.

       For example, the matter of Zhuo Yue moving.

       His assistant, Lin Hui, found an apartment for Zhuo Yue. Zhuo Ye talked to Fang Mingyan about moving there, but the other party put it on hold saying, ‘It will wait until he recovers’. Two weeks had passed, and Zhuo Yue’s cold had improved a lot. He was planning to bring it up tonight, but the owner of the house had not come back yet.

       The hour hand moved to ten o’clock, and the driver, Chen Li, called back with a very anxious tone. Fang Mingyan had three places to socialize in the evening. He had already drunk a lot at the first two places, and the last stop was Lost City. He was supposed to come out in half an hour, but the driver ended up waiting for more than an hour with no one in sight. His phone went straight to voicemail. Afraid that Fang Mingyan might have drunk too much and encountered an accident, and without a membership card to enter, Chen Li waited anxiously outside.

       Zhou Chi tried several times, but his phone was still turned off. He said worriedly, “It doesn’t usually happen like this…”

       Zhuo Yue asked, “Whose social gatherings is it?”

       Zhou Chi sighed, “Zhang Jing, the third young master of Fengchi Group. Probably, he made an appointment with some bosses in the film and television industry.”

       Zhuo Yue frowned. He had heard of the name of this third young master. He was an uneducated playboy who used his father’s money to open a film and television investment company. He frequented various entertainment venues every night and had affairs with many artists. Rumour had it that he indulged in all sorts of extravagant activities without discrimination between men and women. Fang Mingyan hadn’t come out for a long time, and he was probably drunk.

       He looked up at the clock and said, “I have the membership card there. Let me go check it out.”

       Zhou Chi hesitated for a moment but agreed. He personally drove and dropped Zhuo Ye off to the downstairs of Lost City. He repeatedly instructed him to bring Fang Mingyan out after entering and not to linger inside the private room. Zhuo Yue nodded and followed the waiter upstairs.

       The moment he pushed the door open, the warm and sultry air hit his face, making Zhu Yue’s throat dry. There were quite a few people in the spacious private room. The vibrant and flickering lights blurred the contours, and the music carried intermittent ambiguous whispers. The first thing that caught his eye was the two almost naked women on the small stage, entwining their bodies in sync with the silver pole. On the sofas facing the stage sat six or seven guests, each accompanied by some scantily dressed young men and women, some kneeling, some sitting, and some boldly flirting, even straddling the guests with their thighs open.

       Zhuo Yue had never seen such a situation before and felt goosebumps all over his body. The light in the sofa area was too dark. He looked around and couldn’t identify Fang Mingyan. He was hesitating whether to get closer and look closer when a long-drawn-out female voice sounded from behind, “Hey, whose distinguished guest is this?”

       Her voice attracted the attention of many people. Zhuo Yue didn’t want to cause trouble, so he immediately explained his purpose, “I’m here to see Chairman Fang, Fang Mingyan.”

       “This face looks familiar…” The man sitting in the middle of the sofa looked him up and down, raised his eyebrows and asked, “Are you an artist from his company?”

       “Yes.”

       “Look, this guy Mingyan keeps all the good stuff for himself.” The man curled his lips and smiled ambiguously, “Come and sit here.”

       Zhuo Yue stood still.

       “You didn’t have ears, huh? Third Young Master asked you to come over and sit down. Why are you still standing there?” said a fat man with a sinister face.

       Only then did Zhuo Yue realise that the person who had just spoken to him was Zhang Jing, and said sternly, “Thank you, Third Young Master. Since Chairman Fang is not here, I won’t bother you.”

       “I actually quite like this kind of tone.” Zhang Jing looked at him with a smile, “It sounds so serious. It tickles people’s hearts.” The crowd suddenly burst into ambiguous and flattering laughter. Those sticky glances swept over him as if looking at a naked body through his clothes.

       Zhuo Yue felt disgusted, turned around and left, but was grabbed by someone.

       It was the fat man who made the move. He grabbed Zhuo Yue’s wrist and pulled it towards the sofa. While pulling, he said, “Okay, stop your act and spend time with Third Young Master. If Third Young Master is happy, you will be popular.”

       The fat man had a strong grip, and Zhuo Yue couldn’t shake him off. In a panic, he struggled harder. The fat man’s body swayed and he hit his leg on the coffee table, knocking over a table full of wine glasses. The fat man was in pain and yelled angrily, “Damn it! I’m giving you face, and you still don’t appreciate it!”

       The entire private room fell silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat depressing.

       “Tsk, that’s interesting.” A look of ferocity flashed in the eyes of Third Young Master Zhang, who was sitting in the middle, and the woman clinging to him immediately and carefully stepped away. He stared at Zhuo Yue and slowly raised the corners of his lips, “Today, I want to see if my invitation, Zhang Jing, can move a Buddha like you.”

       Zhuo Yue felt cold, turned around, and ran towards the door, but he was grabbed by the wrist by the two people who surrounded him. This time, he used a lot of strength, yet he couldn’t break free at all.

       At this moment, the door was pushed open.

       Fang Mingyan, wearing a black coat, walked in, laughing with the people around him.

       Fang Mingyan’s gaze fell on the frightened Zhuo Yue. He paused slightly, halting his steps. The two individuals who were holding onto Zhuo Yue released him awkwardly upon seeing Fang Mingyan enter. One of them explained, “Young Master Ming, this person came in looking for you. Third Young Master asked him to sit, but he suddenly lost his temper and even injured Hua ge…”

       The moment he saw the man, Zhuo Yue’s heart calmed down inexplicably. He was about to explain the whole story when he heard Zhang Jing say, “Mingyan, your artist has quite the attitude; he doesn’t even regard me seriously.”

       Fang Mingyan glanced at the broken cup on the ground and curled his lips at Zhang Jing, “I didn’t teach him well. I’ve been too indulgent and spoiled him recently. He doesn’t even understand the rules. Don’t be offended, Third Young Master.” After speaking, he turned around and looked at Zhuo Yue. He then said coldly, “Go and apologise to Third Young Master!”

       This sentence was structured as a command, carrying a strong sense of oppression that sent shivers down Zhuo Yue’s spine.

       He looked at the man in front of him in disbelief.

       Embarrassment, confusion, discomfort, and grievance surged from the bottom of his heart. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he forcefully held them back.

       When their eyes met, Fang Mingyan’s dark eyes glowed with an undeniable cold light, carrying calm composure and unquestionable majesty.

       After standing still for a moment, Zhuo Yue pursed his lips, walked up to Zhang Jing, and said, “Third Young Master, I was wrong.” Zhuo Ye maintained a respectful attitude but did not act subservient. In his gestures and movements, there was a unique demeanour. Zhang Jing, who had always liked handsome young men, couldn’t help but feel an itch in his heart when he saw Zhuo Yue at a close distance. However, after mingling in the entertainment industry for many years, he could still distinguish between trivial and significant matters.

       Fang Mingyan was not someone to be messed with.

       In the words, whether ‘indulgent’ or ‘spoiled’, they all showed his affiliation and told him in detail that the two of them had a close relationship. The act of asking Zhuo Yue to apologise also gave him enough face. If he continued to pester him now, he would not only appear to be petty-minded but also be suspected of stealing someone’s lover. For a businessperson, connections were the most important. There were plenty of handsome male artists in the circle, so he certainly wouldn’t jeopardise his relationship for someone as insignificant as Zhuo Yue.

       Zhang Jing swept away the gloom on his face and said with a smile, “Mingyan’s companion is of course considered to be one of his own people, so how could I be concerned about such a small matter?” He raised his hand, “Since we are here, let’s sit down together and have a good time.”

       “Okay, let’s continue drinking.” Fang Mingyan also smiled and sat down on the sofa.

       The private area suddenly became lively again.

       Fang Mingyan didn’t even look at Zhuo Yue again, leaving him standing alone and helpless. Zhuo Yue hesitated for a while and finally walked around to the man and sat down. The two men were talking about business, chatting and laughing very harmoniously. He didn’t understand, so he just sat quietly and sent text messages to the driver and Zhou Chi. After sending the message, he leaned back and felt something strange, and then he realised that Fang Mingyan had put his arm on the back of the sofa. He had a very strange feeling when he leaned against him like this, as if he was being held by him, placing himself within this man’s sphere of influence.

       “Pour the wine.” Fang Mingyan handed him the empty glass, and Zhuo Yue poured half a glass for him and handed it over.

       The man tightened his arms and held Zhuo Yue in his arms. His words were full of alcohol-tinged ambiguity, “I remember teaching you how to accompany someone for a drink. Have you forgotten all about it?”

       Zhuo Yue froze and looked up. There was a warning in Fang Mingyan’s slightly narrowed eyes, and he pressed the cup to his lips teasingly, “Try it, this wine is good.”

       He took a sip, and before the cold wine warmed up in his mouth, he was already covered in a kiss full of heat. Zhuo Yue was startled and put his hands on the man’s chest, trying to retreat. Fang Mingyan didn’t give him this chance. He held the back of his head with one hand and hooked his waist with the other, forcing the kiss to deepen. After Zhuo Yue swallowed every drop of the drink, he got a chance to breathe again.

       “It’s very sweet.” The man rubbed his fingers on his lips and said frivolously, “You came all the way here because you can’t sleep without me, eh?”

       After being forcibly kissed, Zhuo Yue’s mind was in chaos until he caught a glimpse of Zhang Jing looking at him out of the corner of his eye and it finally became clear. He looked at the man in front of him, his eyes moved, and then he slowly leaned over, rested his head on the man’s chest, and said softly, “I miss you.”

       There was a slight smile on Fang Mingyan’s lips, and he rubbed his hair lovingly, then turned to Zhang Jing and said helplessly, “I’m afraid I have to go first.”

       “What’s the rush? We’re all on the same side. Feel free to do whatever you want.” Zhang Jing’s smooth eyes flicked back and forth on Zhuo Yue.

       Zhuo Yue trembled slightly, unconsciously grabbing Fang Mingyan’s arm and burying his head a little further.

       “He tends to be shy in front of others, and I can’t have the best time. Why don’t we get together some other time when we have free time.” The man smiled, stood up and waved to the others, “Everyone, enjoy yourselves. Tonight’s bills are on me.” After saying that, he put his arms around Zhuo Yue’s waist and walked out.

       Zhuo Yue allowed Fang Mingyan to hold him in his arms, but his steps quickened unknowingly as if he were escaping in a hurry.

       Outside the door, the cold winter night wind blew into his face and into his collar, blowing away all the heat from my body. Zhuo Yue stood silently, his chest heaving under his thick coat as if he wanted to spit out all the dirty breath in his chest.

       Chen Li saw them coming out and immediately came over to open the car door.

       The black car drove smoothly on the road, and the reversing street lights cast a faint light on their faces, flickering on and off. Zhuo Yue hadn’t completely relaxed until this moment, quietly looking out the window in the back seat.

       “Why are you here?” A man’s deep voice sounded next to him.

       If you were scared, why did you go in?

       Zhuo Yue was silent for a while and said, “I couldn’t reach you, and I was afraid that something might have happened to you.”

       “Whether something happens to me or not, if you go into a place like that, it’s the same as throwing yourself into a trap.”

       “I want… to find you.” Zhuo Yue sat with his eyes lowered, and his voice was very soft.

       Between light and darkness, Fang Mingyan’s eyes softened for a moment, and he slowly said, “How do you think things would end up if I were to confront Zhang Jing for you, damaging our relationship?”

       Zhuo Yue was stunned; his lips moved, but no sound came out.

       “In this industry, many things are beyond one’s control,” Fang Mingyan looked at him, “It’s like I know Zhang Jing is a scumbag, but for the sake of business, I still have to maintain a facade of camaraderie with him. Some matters don’t necessarily have to be resolved through direct confrontation.” He paused, “I don’t mean to ask you to sell your body to please others. I just want to tell you that you should learn how to deal with such things skillfully alone. I can protect you once or twice, but I can’t be by your side all the time. Zhuo Yue, after the ups and downs you’ve experienced, you should understand that every edge will be worn down through trials and tribulations. If you insist on being tough, you’ll only end up hurting yourself more.”

       Zhuo Yue was silent for a long time and asked, “In this situation, would it be better for me to sit down and drink with him?”

       Seeing his serious expression, the smile in the man’s eyes grew thicker, and he said nonchalantly, “There are a lot of lessons to be learnt from drinking. Seeing that you went deep into the tiger’s den to save me today, I will reluctantly teach you once.”

       Zhuo Yue had a smile on his lips and said, “Okay.”

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