63: Different meanings
In Chu Yilan's memory, the only time he had played like this was when he was very young. He had gone to a suburban farm with his grandfather on a day with equally beautiful weather, and his mother had sat nearby, smiling as she watched him.
Shen Lian came up to drink water and turned to see Chu Yilan catching shrimp very seriously. He couldn't help but take out his phone to snap a couple of photos and recorded a video to post in the group chat.
Feng Yueshan was always the one to reply instantly: [Has my brother been possessed?]
Shen Lian: [Don't you understand life?]
Feng Yueshan: [Holy crap, help, it's a ghost story. Si Xian, arrange a psychiatry appointment for me over there. Also, what kind of clothes is my brother wearing?]
Shen Lian: [Conditions were limited, so I just bought them randomly. He looks very handsome.]
Ning Sixian: [Crazy.]
Zhou Yuanlin: [Crazy.]
Shen Lian gave a light snort.
Although Chu Yilan had little practical experience, his movements became increasingly smooth. He didn't catch many fish, but he managed to get half a small bucket of shrimp. Shen Lian saw this and thought a small stir-fry would be no problem for dinner; adding some garlic sprouts and leeks would be incredibly delicious.
Chu Yilan had a faint smile on his face when he came ashore. There was mud on his calves, but he didn't care.
“If you like playing like this, I'll bring you often in the future,” Shen Lian said. “Picking mountain goods is also quite interesting. I bet you've never tried it.”
There would be many more times like this in the future, Chu Yilan thought; Shen Lian had promised.
For dinner, they really added a plate of stir-fried river shrimp. Chu Yilan, Shen Lian, and Sun Binghe cleared it all out.
Sun Binghe felt that Shen Lian had a very magical magnetic field. This person had almost no negative emotions, and after spending time with him, his body and mind felt as if they were on vacation.
“What time are we leaving tomorrow?” Shen Lian asked.
“Five in the morning,” Chu Yilan replied. “There's an important meeting in the afternoon.”
“Okay.” Having seen him once, Shen Lian was satisfied. “Lin Fu is countless times better than the likes of Zheng Ge. Our filming progress is fast. Once everything here is finished, I'll return to Qudu and call you then.”
“Okay.”
The two continued to be affectionate that night. A simple Q&A might take several minutes—don't ask why, it's just that it felt like a loss if they didn't kiss a couple of times.
Shen Lian didn't know when he fell asleep, but by the time he woke up, it was broad daylight and the space beside him was already empty.
After washing up, Shen Lian sniffed his collar and then looked around.
Nothing.
He sent a message to Chu Yilan: [Where are the t-shirt and shorts you wore yesterday?]
Chu Yilan: [Took them with me.]
[Why did you take those things?]
[The meaning is different.]
Shen Lian was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. Could he be any cuter?
He had intended to keep them as a change of clothes, but now they were gone.
The hottest period of midsummer arrived with a roar.
The background of “blazing fire” was mostly summer and autumn, so no matter how hot it was, they had to endure it.
Lu Xiaokai's ending was filmed all at once.
The youth returned home with a straight back. He still wore a smile, but his eyes held more of the worldly wisdom carved by the wind and snow.
“Uncle Wang.” Lu Xiaokai greeted the convenience store owner and asked for an orange to eat.
He was no longer frantic; his movements were steady and quiet, as if that chattering person had disappeared.
But in the next second, Lu Xiaokai looked up, his eyes reflecting the clear blue sky. Some people chase dreams, while others guard their hometown; if the original intention remains unchanged, then the person remains unchanged.
Lu Xiaokai stretched comfortably. As the camera pulled away, the small town became just a dot.
“Cut!” Director Zhao stood up. “Excellent! This time was even better than the last! Your eye acting was wonderful, Shen Lian.”
Shen Lian's mind relaxed, and he felt dizzy and blurred from the sun.
Jiang You immediately stepped forward with an umbrella and water. “Are you okay, Brother Shen?”
“I'm alright.” Actually, colorful stars were still dancing before Shen Lian's eyes. “What's the temperature today? It's like roasting meat.”
“It's thirty-nine degrees.”
“No wonder.” Shen Lian sat in a chair to rest, looking listless.
Director Zhao walked over and asked softly, “Heatstroke?”
“No, just the sun.” Shen Lian smiled. “Director Zhao, I've finished all my scenes. Can I go back to Qudu?”
“Yes,” Director Zhao said. “Now that your part is done, we're almost finished here as well.”
Shen Lian nodded. “It'll be cool tomorrow morning, so I'll head out then. Just call me when it's time for the city scenes.”
“No problem!” Director Zhao now had no doubts about Shen Lian's professional ability.
The city scenes were more tragic than focused on struggle for “Lu Xiaokai,” and there weren't many shots. After all, the story was about Feng Zheng's decisive and satisfying life.
Shen Lian called Chu Yilan in advance. Just as they finished talking, Feng Yueshan called again. “Shall I throw a welcome-back banquet for you tomorrow night?”
“Young Master Feng, if you want to play, just play. Don't use me as an excuse. I'm just filming, not gone for years. Is a welcome-back banquet really necessary?”
“Just say if you're coming or not.”
Shen Lian didn't hesitate: “I'm coming.”
“Good brother, I'll set the biggest table for you!”
Shen Lian chuckled. His energy was truly good; it seemed Feng Yueshan could never get enough of playing.
Early the next morning, after saying goodbye to everyone, Shen Lian drove off in the production van.
Halfway through the highway, Chu Yilan sent a location share, and Shen Lian clicked confirm.
Two hours later, Chu Yilan picked up Shen Lian at the highway exit.
Shen Lian turned back to instruct Jiang You and Li Yi: “You two go back to the city and have a good meal. Eat whatever you want, I'll reimburse you. If you have plans, just call.”
“Okay, Brother Shen.”
Chu Yilan was in the back seat with a laptop on his lap.
Shen Lian leaned directly over after getting in the car. Chu Yilan quickly set the computer aside and caught him steadily, then frowned. “How did you lose weight again?”
“You can even tell that?” Shen Lian used both hands and feet to cling to Master Chu like an octopus. “Maybe it's because the weather is too hot.”
The one driving was Chu Yilan's driver; Sun Binghe was nowhere to be seen.
“Where's Special Assistant Sun?”
“Gone to discuss a partnership,” Chu Yilan said. “He's not always by my side.”
Shen Lian had slept in the van, so his energy was decent. The two went to join Feng Yueshan's gathering, and the privacy partition wasn't lowered once along the way.
“Master Chu.” Shen Lian's eyes were red as he panted, “This really won't do. If you don't take action soon, I'm going to suffocate from holding it in.”
Chu Yilan was full of questions: “You think I don't want to?”
Shen Lian leaned casually against the car door. Hearing this, his eyes held a hint of playfulness as he glanced at Chu Yilan. “Master Chu, I hope that in every aspect, you are very... capable.”
Chu Yilan's brain went “buzz,” and this time he couldn't help but reach out to cover Shen Lian's mouth.
When they reached their destination, the two of them stayed in the car for a while to compose themselves; otherwise, they wouldn't have the face to see anyone if they got out immediately.
Shen Lian wasn't wrong; next time, the gun would definitely go off.
Feng Yueshan said he'd throw a big one, and it really was a large-scale scene. Looking around, Shen Lian didn't recognize eighty percent of the people, but that didn't hinder the liveliness.
Shen Lian found an empty seat and asked the waiter for a glass of lemon water. As for alcohol, he would avoid it if he could.
In the car just now, the hand Chu Yilan used to gently stroke his waist hadn't let go. Anyway, he was unhappy about the weight loss. If the next follow-up check-up at Ning Sixian's place was unsatisfactory, he might just issue a grounding order.