34.
This comment made Zhuang Qin feel a little strange. He got goosebumps and uneasily rubbed his arm. He smiled at him and politely replied, “If it’s you, I also don’t mind.”
While filming, it was very important to maintain a good relationship with the actors you perform with.
“Really?” Li Mu put down the cat. He had a strange and uncontrollable feeling in his heart. He’s repeatedly accepted Zhuang Qin’s goodwill and heard him secretly say that he liked himself several times. In that scene, they kissed so wildly and even tomorrow’s scene was so frankly accepted…
“Of course it’s true.” If he was asked to shoot this with a strange man, Zhuang Qin would struggle to get over his mental barrier for a while. But after getting to know Li Mu, they’ve made great progress in the scenes and have become more familiar. As well as being more relaxed with shooting.
“Then why are you bumping on the table?” Li Mu’s gaze swept over his lips in a restrained manner.
The taste in the scene was unforgettable.
Zhuang Qin said, “Didn’t I mention that, I was afraid of sweating, but don’t worry, I’ll have a change of clothes on set tomorrow. I won’t make feel any discomfort.”
Li Mu said it didn’t matter. These days when filming, both of them often sweat profusely and before they could shower, they were told to shoot night scenes. Nowadays, he was used to the bitter almond smell of Zhuang Qin’s body and even found it pleasant.
“When filming, you like to be clean, so I’ll work harder at being cleaner. This is important.” When Zhuang Qin finished speaking, the door on the other side opened. It was Xiao Lian and Director Zhou.
Eh? Director Zhou didn’t normally get involved with anything. Why was he here?
Xiao Lian said, “Brother Zhuang, Director Zhou wants to speak to you.”
Li Mu: “Do you want me to leave?”
Director Zhou stepped in and said, “No, it so happens that I wanted to speak to you too. That… Xiao Lian right, go find Director Guo and please ask him to wait for me.”
“Okay, Director Zhou.” Xiao Lian turned and went out the door.
While Director Zhou sat on the sofa, Zhuang Qin used a paper cup under the water dispenser to get water for him. He was about to fill it when Director Zhou said, “No, no. I’m just going to say a few words and leave afterward.”
Zhuang Qin still got the cold water, walked over, and handed it to Director Zhou.
Director Zhou took it and said, “I was invited out when you were filming today so I don’t know the whole situation but Director Guo lost his temper, didn’t he?”
Li Mu sat across from him: “It was my fault.”
Director Zhou asked, “What do you two talk about when you’re not filming?”
Zhuang Qin replied, “We talk about the script.”
Li Mu: “we talk about some other things as well.”
Director Zhou: “You shouldn’t just talk about the script. To be frank, unless you’re about to film, don’t talk about the script. And you too Teacher Zhuang, I always see you holding the script, even when you’re eating and your script is like a densely written lesson.
“Sure, this is your method but it’s not good to constantly read like that. Apart from memorizing your lines, only read it once and remember your first impressions on it.”
Zhuang Qin nodded: “I memorize lines slowly because I’m afraid that I won’t remember and forget them.”
“That’s a minor issue. The most important thing is the feelings of the character and I’ve seen you perform well. You must know the best way to enter into a scene.”
Li Mu listened carefully beside him. He was a novice at filming, but he had read a lot of relevant books. Combined with his ability to remember things, it was easier for him to do everything than the average person.
Director Zhou: “The scene you got stuck in today was a kissing scene. Tomorrow’s is another similar scene. This kind of scene is difficult for most actors, not to talk of between an actor and actress, but it’s between two male actors. If you aren’t shooting well, you have to do something that will make you excited. You’re not filming to torture yourself. After all, aren’t you an actor because you enjoy performing?”
Zhuang Qin nodded thoughtfully.
Li Mu thought that he could find a reason to be excited and also enjoy it but there were other reasons why he couldn’t perform well. It was an unexplainable feeling.
Director Zhou took a sip of water and continued to ask, “How do you usually rehearse?”
“That’s… For the lines, if we get stuck we’ll redo it and if the state isn’t right, we’ll also do it again.” Zhuang Qin grasped his phone and said, “I will record it when it’s done right, and then listen to it again.”
“That is one way,” Director Zhou said. “I can offer you another, just one approach. If you think it won’t work, then don’t use it.”
“If It’s okay, you can say so.” Director Zhou spoke softly and carefully. Zhuang Qin also had an impression of this director in his last life. His later achievements were also very good. He was the type who specialized in commercial blockbusters.
Director Zhou carefully said, “You perform together on set every day, and the results are good, but too many scenes can cause you to fall into a rut. Like in the was the scene where there were so many NGs on set, you couldn’t find the right state anymore, right?”
Zhuang Qin: “Yes, I felt that recently. Do you have any good solutions?”
“It’s just a small method. Have you ever stared at each other?”
Li Mu subconsciously looked at Zhuang Qin’s eyes. Zhuang Qin nodded: “that often happens when we’re shooting.”
t/n: lol cheeky much 😂
“I mean when you’re not filming. You should sit together when you’re not busy. Sit on the sofa or a bed and gaze at each other for a while. The eyes are the best place to convey emotions. You should get surprising results if you do this outside of a scene. I have been filming with crews for so many years and although I have never worked on an lgbt film like this one, I have worked on so many romantic films.
“I also learned this method from another actress. She was very good at performing and could form a CP with anyone.”
Zhuang Qin felt that Director Zhou might be under the wrong impression regarding the reason for their NG. He himself felt that his interactions with Li Mu outside of filming was okay, but he still had to listen to the director’s advice. If he can’t use it now, maybe it could be used in future.
Director Zhou continued, “when I heard that you NG-ed, I wondered if your method wasn’t right, because Director Guo said that your task was to rehearse together every day.….but it’s almost the same if you do it once or twice in a day. Don’t waste the rest of the time and spend it interacting.” His tone was polite, but it showed that he and Director Guo were very different on the outside but had similar natures. “For example, what I said about looking at each other or hugging. Have you ever hugged your family?”
Zhuang Qin: “Yes, I have.”
Li Mu: “Rarely.” When he got sensible later on*, he only hugged his maternal grandfather, and it was one time. He was a very restrained person.
t/n: basically when he grew up and became more serious and Li Mu-ish
“How does it feel when you hug your family and loved ones?”
“very…warm.” Zhuang Qin thought of when he’d gotten off the plane and saw Zhuang Xue and hugged him. They both wore thick jackets but the warmth of affection was wonderfully felt through the action.
Li Mu’s fingers rested on his knees. His eyes narrowed but he didn’t say anything.
Director Zhou said, “The feelings brought about by hugging and looking at each other are very amazing. We Chinese, are more subtle. When we meet, we shake hands and avoid looking at the person for a long time or hugging. If we try to look at our parents’ eyes, we might want to cry after a few seconds. The eyes can convey emotions that words can’t express.
“Kissing is the same, but that’s only between lovers. You don’t need to do that.”
“That’s enough now.” Director Zhou stood up. He was shorter than both of them and had to glance up and say, “That’s about it. By the way Teacher Zhuang, that brand of yogurt you endorse is very tasty…”
Zhuang Qin started feeling bad in his heart.
Director Zhou smiled and said, “You’ve been sending me yogurt these days and I feel a bit embarrassed. When I get back to China, I’ll buy more to support you.”
Zhuang Qin: “…”
t/n: 👏🤣🤣😭
He didn’t dare look at Li Mu’s expression.
He just knew that sooner or later it would overturn!
After sending Director Zhou out, Zhuang Qin turned back to gather his script and notes and inevitably bumped into Li Mu’s eye.
Sure enough, as Director Zhou said, you will subconsciously avoid making eye contact.
Zhuang Qin didn’t dare look at him. His eyes were fixed on his prominent adam’s apple: “That… yogurt…”
Li Mu squatted down and placed the cat in the cat carrier before lifting it up.
Zhuang Qin scratched his head and racked his brain but he couldn’t think of how to explain so he said honestly, “The yogurt you sent me these days…”
“Did you give them all to Director Zhou?” Li Mu’s jaw was tense.
“I drank, but…” Zhuang Qin carefully looked at his eyes that had a bit of blue in its pupil. His emotions seemed restrained and his long eyelashes hung low.
He touched his nose: “Before when I filmed the advertisement, the advertiser made me drink so much. Can you imagine what it’s like to drink two cases of this type of milk a day? I used to enjoy drinking it, but then afterward…. ”
Li Mu’s voice was very deep: “You should have told me earlier.”
“You always sent me a bottle every day. I couldn’t, I was afraid you’d be unhappy….” After all, there were still three months left to shoot.
Zhuang Qin apologized, “I’m sorry, I should have said it earlier. I shouldn’t have let… I shouldn’t have given it to the director.” He’d given it to Xiao Lian but he guessed that Xiao Lian turned around and ran to send it to the director. No wonder Director Zhou ran over today to politely give some advice. It turned out he took someone’s short hand*.
t/n: idiom: “soft mouth and short hands”: no free lunch in this world. If you accept a favor from someone, you’ll be too embarrassed to refuse their request later on.
At this time, Xiao Lian came in and said, “Brother Zhuang, the car is ready. Let’s go?”
Zhuang Qin glanced at Li Mu’s cold expression. The ceiling light shone on his dense and long eyelashes, casting a fan-shaped shadow underneath.
His straight nose bridge and lip line made his side face look perfect.
“Xiao Lian, take the car back first. I’ll take his car so we can rehearse lines.”
“…Ah,” Xiao Lian hesitated a bit, “Can I follow?”
Zhuang Qin: “I’ll be back later.”
Xiao Lian looked at him and then at Li Mu. He thought of the Unadon and relented: “Alright, Brother Zhuang, if anything happens, CALL me. Then it’s better to give me yogurt, I’ll take it back first….”
Yogurt…
Zhuang Qin now feels guilty when he hears those two words.
t/n: yogurt is two words.
Li Mu gave him the cat carrier: “How much cat food do you still have?”
“Don’t worry President Li, there is still a big bag.” Xiao Lian was idle on set during the day, he only instructed fans online while petting the cat. Right now Zhuang Qin’s new drama was popular but there was too much black news spreading around. He doesn’t have a navy*1t/n: navy, water army: paid professional Internet commentators. so his combat effectiveness was halved and black news mocking his acting skill was already being sent out on the whole network.
Brother Zhuang was just like someone who’s fine. He didn’t check his phone at all and was absorbed with filming.
Xiao Lian left with the cat.
Zhuang Qin put his things on the table into his bag and apologized as he packed up: “I’m really sorry okay, I didn’t think about it at first…” but Li Mu started sending it every day, so it got harder to say anything later. He understood that even if it (not saying anything) was a very small issue, the bigger problem was that he took other people’s goodwill for granted and gave it to others.
Zhuang Qin thought of Director Zhou’s advice just now and tried to look at Li Mu’s eye with a sincere expression: “I sincerely apologize. Don’t be angry with me, okay?”
Li Mu lowered his head and looked at his eyes.
There was eye contact when filming, but it was rarely the case outside of filming.
Zhuang Qin’s eyes were very clear and pitch black. His eyes were very bright. Outwardly it was like a bright light, but In fact, Li Mu felt that he had a certain obscurity that many people his age would not possess; a kind of world-weary feeling. And Li Mu strongly felt this feeling when he (ZQ) sat in a corner alone.
But Zhuang Qin also had a vitality that he felt grew brighter when he was shooting and his hard work and seriousness were impressive. It was a contradictory personality.
After looking at each other for at least five seconds, Li Mu looked away from his pleading eyes in defeat: “I’m not angry with you.”
“That’s great!” Zhuang Qin was relieved.
Li Mu slightly hooked the corners of his mouth: “Let’s go, I’ll send you back.”
When they left the set, the sun was setting. The orange-red of the sky was slowly dyed with a purplish night glow.
Zhuang Qin followed him and said, “I didn’t do it right, but you like that yogurt very much. I’ve already said hello to the advertiser. At the end of the month, I’m going back to China so I’ll bring you their new packaging and flavors when I get back… oh, that’s wrong, yogurt can’t be brought to the airport but you can have it checked in. Just afraid that it’ll be crushed in my box……”
He muttered to himself and bumped into Li Mu’s suddenly still back. To be precise, he bumped into the back of his neck and was pricked by his short and freshly trimmed black hair.
Li Mu turned around, “No need to bring for me.”
Zhuang Qin looked up.
Li Mu stopped looking at him and pulled the car door open: “I’m tired of drinking too much these days. I bought that because I thought you liked it.”
“Eh?” Zhuang Qin got on from the other side. “Why did you think that? Is it because of my endorsement?”
“Hmm.” Li Mu took out his sunglasses and put them on. He couldn’t tell him that he found out by watching his interview. To pay attention to people in secret; it wasn’t possible for him to disclose that to anyone.
“Ha ha ha, when the advertiser approached me, I still liked to drink this brand, but I completely got tired of it in a day. You also didn’t mention that.” Zhuang Qin said as he took out his phone to film the evening sunset. He used cutting tools to edit the video. It was good practice to take videos and photos. “Don’t tell anyone that I don’t like to drink the yogurt, otherwise it’ll spread and the advertiser won’t renew my contract again.”
“Hmm.” The black sunglasses that hung on the bridge of Li Mu’s high nose bridge reflected the colors of the sunset, “I won’t tell anyone… but I want to ask you something.”
Zhuang Qin turned his head: “What?”
“I sent you yogurt that you didn’t like every day. didn’t you feel annoyed?”
“A little bit distressed, but not annoyed. I’m very happy when others give me gifts. Even if it was a sweet, I’d still be happy.”
Li Mu then thought of all the things Zhuang Qin gave him. They were all small things, but rather than receiving expensive gifts, they were all things that can from his heart. What couldn’t be bought? it was the person who gave the gift.
The car drove slowly and they talked the whole way there. Unknowingly, they missed the turning and spent more than ten minutes driving. When they arrived at the parking lot, Li Mu got out of the car and Zhuang Qin asked, “Do you want to eat the food cooked by the hotel chef today?”
“Yes, I’ll accompany you.”
“Okay.” Zhuang Qin could see that he was in a better mood.
They came back late, but there was still a lot of food left in the kitchen. They had dinner in the restaurant with a few people. When they came out, Li Mu took a coconut sweet from the front desk.
Li Mu followed Zhuang Qin upstairs. Zhuang Qin assumed that he was there to take the cat, but he followed him into the room.
Zhuang Qin was stunned: “I thought we weren’t rehearsing tonight?”
“Yes.” Li Mu asked, “Can I use the bathroom?”
It turned out that he wanted to use the bathroom.
Zhuang Qin helped him open the door: “Feel free.”
Li Mu went in and washed his hands. He faced the mirror and examined himself for a few seconds, and adjusted his appearance.
Then he came out and said succinctly: “Do you want to try it the way Director Zhou said?”
Zhuang Qin: “…”
He thought that that wasn’t the problem with our NG.
He thought to himself just forget it. Let’s just hug. He also hugged Sister Min and Xiao Lian, so it’s okay to hug Li Mu. People who have a cleanliness fetish* are listening to the director. so why shouldn’t he listen too..
“Okay, let’s try it.” Zhuang Qin opened his arm but quickly put it down. “Let me take a shower and change my clothes first…”
You couldn’t be shielded from the weather here. He got in a car when he came out from the set, but he was still hot and sweaty all over. He himself was very bothered by this.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Just for a moment,” Li Mu opened his arms. “Come on.”
Zhuang Qin hesitated. Seeing that he acted so clearly, he took two steps forward and moved into his arms.
Li Mu’s hands tightened on his back.
Zhuang Qin hugged him. He could only see the door from this angle. The two pressed their heads together. He was a bit stiff but slowly started to relax. As an actor, it was kind of like a practice.
Zhuang Qin’s chin rested on his shoulder.
Li Mu lowered his head on his ivory color neck and breathed in the faint smell of bitter almonds.
Li Mu felt that his back was actually a little wet. His shirt was a bit sweaty but he didn’t mind it in his heart.
He himself was no better.
Zhuang Qin felt his form and sized up his good figure in his mind. He wondered how he could develop this kind of broad shoulders in his heart. This kind of strength in his back. It was too wide and thick and gave off a safe feeling. He randomly thought, “This isn’t a rehearsal, so what should I call it then?”
Li Mu’s heart was thumping: “cultivate feelings.”
It turned out that he had been listening to the wrong words. He should have listened to Director Zhou, not Director Guo. Director Guo didn’t know anything.
Zhuang Qin turned his eyes and said, “Then how long do we hug? Director Zhou didn’t say that.”
Li Mu felt that his heartbeat slowly calmed down, with a palpable emotion that was completely different from the scene: “Hold a little bit longer.”
