Chapter 4

A week after receiving the script, Xia Xingcheng officially joined the crew.

On the plane ride there, Xia Xingcheng reread the script over and over again, unable to hide the tension in his heart. On one hand, he was anxious about the film's three intimate scenes, and on the other, it was the first time that he was going to be working with a big-name director and actor.

On the night of his arrival at the filming site, Xia Xingcheng had dinner with the entire crew. Yang Youming had yet to arrive, saying that his flight was scheduled a little later.

He Zheng didn't talk much, but he was fond of smoking and never once did he put down his cigarette during the meal– also not saying a word to Xia Xingcheng about the movie either.

That night, Xia Xingcheng had had a drink, and went back to his hotel room feeling tipsy.

When the elevator reached the floor he was staying at, he exited alone, his sneakers hardly making a sound on the corridor's carpet.

The corridor's lighting wasn't good. A wall lamp hung at a distance, and layer upon layer of warm lights stained and made everything hazy.

Then, Xia Xingcheng saw a man standing in the corridor ahead.

At first, he could only make out a silhouette of a tall and slender man, a suitcase by his legs.

When he went in closer, the man's side profile gradually became clearer in the dim lighting. His nose was crooked, his eyebrows deep set, his eyelashes long and thick, and they fluttered slightly when he blinked. It was a beautiful side profile that was able to capture everyone's attention.

If Xia Xingcheng hadn't know him, just by looking at his face, he would surely assume that its owner was no more than thirty years old at most, but he knew better. This man was Yang Youming, the man whom he'd been watching from afar, and this was the first time he had a chance to approach him and seriously introduce himself.

Xia Xingcheng swallowed unconsciously, clenched his hands, and walked towards Yang Youming.

Yang Youming turned and saw him.

Xia Xingcheng said, "Hello, Ming ge. I'm Xia Xingcheng." He felt as if his voice was trembling, and when he saw Yang Youming looking at him, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Yang Youming smiled faintly. The smile was very shallow, only the corners of his eyes seemingly bent. He extended a hand towards Xia Xingcheng, "Hello."

Xia Xingcheng quickly grasped his hand, yet while he felt that Yang Youming's palm was dry and warm, his own palm was exuding a thin layer of sweat. He shook hands with Yang Youming a bit awkwardly, and once they let go, said, "I admire you very much. From when I debuted till now, I've always admired you. It's a great honor to have the opportunity to work with you."

Yang Youming nodded. "Likewise, I'm honored too."

Xia Xingcheng couldn't quite tell from Yang Youming's tone whether he was being sincere or perfunctory. At that moment, he felt the wine that he'd drank earlier rush to his head, and his cheeks and eyes felt slightly hot. He wanted to say something to Yang Youming, but when he opened his mouth, he found that he couldn't speak.

Yang Youming asked him, "Did you drink?"

Xia Xingcheng nodded confusedly.

Yang Youming said, "Then go to bed early and I'll see you on set tomorrow." With that, he opened the door to his room, nodded at Xia Xingcheng, and walked in with his suitcase.

Xia Xingcheng continued forward in a daze, and after a while, he heard the soft sound of the door closing behind him. He stopped and looked back, and saw that the corridor was empty, leaving him alone.

Back in his room, Xia Xingcheng laid down on the bed.

After a while, Huang Jixin came by to help him unpack his luggage. "I hired an assistant to take care of you during filming."

Xia Xingcheng raised his hand to cover his face and asked, "A man or a woman?"

Huang Jixin said, "It's a man. It'll be more convenient to get in and out of your room."

Xia Xingcheng was silent. After a while, the cellphone he had placed on the nightstand to charge rang, and he turned his head and stared at the screen for a long time.

Huang Jixin felt strange. He came over and saw that the caller ID was Xiao Yu, and playfully asked Xia Xingcheng, "Why aren't you answering?"

Xia Xingcheng was silent for a moment and said, "Forget it." He waited until the ringing stopped, not answering Xiao Yu's call.