My Costar shows up unannounced

Yao Shen quietly panics.

'What's in it for me?' What does Xin Hulei mean by that? Is he trying to bribe Yao Shen?

What does Yao Shen have to offer that Xin Hulei doesn't already have?

"Uhm, what do you want?" he asks, averting his eyes.

It might be his impression but he feels as if the air has grown several degrees colder in the cramped trailer.

"I want us to be closer," Xin Hulei says casually, his expression unchanging. "It would be good for our roles."

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Yao Shen says, hoping his blush isn't too noticeable. "...all things considered."

Judging by what happened the last time they got 'close', Yao Shen would rather not repeat the experience.

Xin Hulei is quiet for a moment, a small frown between his eyebrows, as if he doesn't understand what Yao Shen is trying to get at.

Realization dawns on him eventually, and he says, "That was nothing," with a careless shrug. "Just an indiscretion between coworkers."

Yao Shen goes very still.

Maybe he's an hypocrite but hearing Xin Hulei dismiss it so casually doesn't sit well with him.

It's okay for him to think that, but not for Xin Hulei to say it!

What a fucking asshole.

"Right," Yao Shen says, snappish. "I don't even remember it."

Xin Hulei hums. "Pity."

His mind screeches to a grinding halt. So it was 'nothing' and an 'indiscretion between coworkers' but it's a shame Yao Shen doesn't remember it?

What the hell happened?

Yao Shen can feel his ears burning. "Right, so will you talk with your agency?"

Xin Hulei steps away from the counter and towards the door. "Sure, I'll tell them I think it's better to ignore it and wait for it to blow over." His cold gaze bores into Yao Shen. "In exchange, you'll stop hiding from me."

"I'm not hid-" Yao Shen tries to say, but Xin Hulei is already walking outside the trailer, the door slamming shut behind his back.

Letting out a groan of frustration, Yao Shen lets himself slump backwards into the cot. He takes the pillow and holds it over his face. Considering smothering himself for a brief two seconds.

He settles for throwing the pillow at the closed door. "Who wouldn't hide from you, you rude bastard?"

---

The next scenes on Yao Shen's schedule are blissfully Xin Hulei free. One of them is even with Gao Wu, and Yao Shen is actually looking forward to it.

It will be a two-part sequence, in which he first has a conversation with his former lone disciple Mei Shuang, played by the young actress Ye Fang -- who is starting her first day of filming today, having arrived in Hengdian just last night -- and are then joined by Rong Zi.

Rong Zi and Xie Huan joined Frozen Peak through an event where promising cultivators from smaller sects, or the disciples of lone cultivators, are able to try out for Frozen Peak and join it, if one of the masters is willing to take them on as disciples.

Yan Shuyi always attended the events, but he never took on any disciples, continuing to be the master of Mei Shuang alone, a promising young cultivator, born and raised in the midst of Frozen Peak.

Everyone was shocked, then, when he took not one, but two new disciples. Especially considering their uncertain background, and hard to verify tale of being raised in the mountains by an uncle who taught them martial arts until sadly passing away.

But no one took the news worse than Mei Shuang.

She was used to having her Shizun's undivided attention, and now had to share it with two awful, loud boys.

She isn't shy about voicing her complaints.

They're outside in the training ground, practicing sword forms, when she once again reminds Yan Shuyi of her displeasure. "Shizun, that monster Xie Huan was caught raiding the kitchens again last night," she says, even as her eyebrows are drawn in concentration while she aims her strikes at the practice dummy.

Yan Shuyi hums while pacing around Mei Shuang and inspecting her form. "You should call him shidi," he says, adjusting her stance with a gentle hand on her shoulders.

Mei Shuang isn't happy with this dismissal. "This disciple thinks neither of them is good enough to be Shizun's disciples."

It's at that point that Rong Zi appears from the sidelines, his sword in hand. "This disciple will do his best to prove shijie wrong."

Mei Shuang shoots him an angry glare, but makes no further comment, directing her attention to her practice dummy.

Rong Zi takes the spot next to her and starts practicing in silence, his own form and stance impeccable.

Yan Shuyi watches them both with his hands clasped behind his back, and a pleased smile curling gently on his lips.

The director calls the scene, praising them for a job well done. "Ten minute before we take it from the top."

Ye Fang drops her sword with a groan. "Aiya, that sword is really heavy," she says, massaging her wrist. "If the scene was any longer my arm would start shaking."

Her good mood is infectious and soon she's roping Gao Wu and Yao Shen into an animated conversation about the tribulations of her flight, and her didi driver's road rage.

She claps her hands all of a sudden, turning to Yao Shen with wide eyes and a huge grin. "That's right! I bumped into my jiejie from the last drama I was in, she's shooting in Hengdian too, and she told me there's going to be a party today, are the two laoshi coming?"

They both says yes and Ye Fang's excitement only mounts. She makes plans for the three of them to hang out and take photos together later during the party.

Spending some time with a pretty and fun girl like Ye Fang and a gentle and kind guy like Gao Wu is just what he needs to take his mind off the unsavory business with Xin Hulei.

Yao Shen is truly looking forward to it.

---

He's adding the final touches to his outfit and hair before leaving for the party when he hears a knock at the door.

He gives himself one last look in the mirror, disheveling his hair artfully by running his fingers through the longer strands on top, and picks his mobile up from the side table.

"Wu-di is here early," he says, opening the door without looking through the magic eye first.

Because the universe has it out for him, it's not Gao Wu at the door, but Xin Hulei.

He looks impeccable in black, straight-leg pants and an oversized short sleeved shirt, purposefully buttoned wrongly, so that a sliver of his chest and collarbone is exposed.

"I heard about a party today and came by to see if you wanted to come," Xin Hulei says, his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants. "But I see you've heard about it already."