Chi Feiran and Rong Jin arrived home one after the other. After meeting each other, they both looked at each other’s expressions, appearing quite amused.
The little prince lifted his chin and drawled, “Producer Rong?”
His tone was exactly the same as when he called out “Shixiong” earlier, the soft ending scratching at one’s heart.
Rong Jin pulled him over, wrapping his arm around his waist, lowering his head to press their foreheads together, noses touching. “Are you surprised to see me?”
Chi Feiran blinked, as if in thought, then made a slightly hesitant nasal sound, “Hmm…”
Rong Jin rubbed his nose against his, his eyes filled with barely concealed anticipation. Chi Feiran couldn’t hold back and started laughing.
Seeing Rong Jin at the audition had indeed been a pleasant surprise. It wasn’t about having someone to vouch for him in the crew, but the natural sense of reassurance from seeing a close one.
Seeing this person gave him a feeling of empowerment, a target he needed to chase. If he didn’t have confidence even for an audition like this, how could he manage?
Chi Feiran said softly, “Very surprised.”
Rong Jin kissed him and then asked, “Who did you learn that accent from?”
Chi Feiran’s own speech had no accent; his speech was considered very standard without any noticeable dialect.
Chi Feiran obediently answered, “From Xiang Fei.”
Xiang Fei was from the south. Usually, his speech was fine, but sometimes when he spoke quickly, a slight accent would come out. It was especially cute and soft. When Chi Feiran was in school, he didn’t just learn from his teachers, but also from his classmates, who were like treasure troves with much to offer.
In one matter, different people’s reactions and handling methods were different. During classes, Chi Feiran often observed his classmates’ various expressions and methods for completing performance assignments given by the teacher.
In this observation process, Chi Feiran often gained new insights.
He had been mentally constructing the character of Ji Yunsheng. Over half a year, he hadn’t just learned how to chop vegetables and cook. He had become familiar with Ji Yunsheng, going from a vague direction to detailed ideas for every aspect.
In his heart, Ji Yunsheng had truly come to life.
Rong Jin nodded and then said, “Then you need more practice.”
Chi Feiran thought he was serious, so he also nodded seriously. But then Rong Jin leaned over, bit his earlobe, and said something unclear.
Chi Feiran: “…”
Was it that vulgar?!
Chi Feiran’s ears turned red, and he said righteously, “Caesar and Little Beauty haven’t been fed yet! Let’s feed them first!”
Yes, taking care of the kids first, then they could do other things…
Their breaths mingled with laughter, entangled for a long time before they separated. After settling the kids, they quickly finished their dinner, and then… well, exercised.
Chi Feiran had always been open in these matters. He enjoyed the pleasure Rong Jin brought him and hoped his partner could also be satisfied.
They loved each other, naturally completing each other like two missing pieces of a puzzle, so there was nothing shameful about it.
In the heat of the moment, Chi Feiran leaned close to Rong Jin’s ear, murmuring, “Shixiong… good Shixiong…”
His voice was soft, like the warm, sweet pastries of Jiangnan.
Rong Jin almost couldn’t hold back, wanting to devour the person in his arms.
His possessiveness was intense, yet Chi Feiran welcomed him with softness.
Rong Jin’s heart softened involuntarily. He paused to kiss Chi Feiran’s sweaty cheeks. After recovering a bit, Chi Feiran squinted his eyes like a sly fox and asked, “Shixiong, are you tired?”
Rong Jin: “…”
Rong Jin did some serious self-reflection, then decided to continue.
…
Sometimes, overdoing it isn’t good.
This time, Chi Feiran learned a lesson. He was really sore and weak, unable to get up, and he looked at Rong Jin with a new perspective.
So… he likes it like that…
Rong Jin was serving tea and water to his rare, tender boyfriend, reflecting on his mistake. “I went too far. I’ll be more careful next time.”
But his boyfriend said, “It was great.”
Chi Feiran believed that in matters like this, appreciation was necessary. So, without any shyness and with sparkling eyes, he praised, “No, it was excellent, full marks.”
Rong Jin: “…”
Rong Yingdi felt he got a five-star review from his boyfriend for not being human, and he had mixed feelings about it.
His boyfriend generously asked, “Besides that roleplay, what else do you like? Should we get some costume props next time?”
Chi Feiran, who had lived over twenty years in his previous life, hadn’t really been in a relationship but had studied some materials out of curiosity. Now, recalling them, he felt a bit eager to try.
Looking at Chi Feiran’s radiant face, Rong Jin suddenly had the illusion of being drained and replenished.
When he saw Chi Feiran lively again after a short rest, Rong Jin was almost certain.
In the future, it seems he can’t just be a person anymore because his boyfriend likes it.
…
The second round of auditions for “Dewey House” was in early November. This time, the audition was of a much higher standard, with the male lead Qi Ming present, apparently to see the chemistry with other actors.
Three other candidates besides Chi Feiran were vying for the role of Ji Yunsheng, all of whom had a solid foundation and more experience than him.
However, Chi Feiran didn’t believe that being experienced necessarily meant being better. Of course, he wasn’t blindly confident either, thinking he could outperform everyone. Excessive confidence is arrogance.
He just wouldn’t waste energy on unnecessary worries, focusing instead on the character itself.
Unlike the previous time, this audition had all the candidates for each role present.
According to Director Zheng Lin, they had reached this stage, and seeing others’ performances and understanding why they weren’t chosen should give them some insight.
Whether they gained insight or not, Zheng Lin had said it anyway.
The first round allowed free choice of performance segments, and Chi Feiran drew the last slot. He was quite pleased with this order, thinking he could learn something from watching the others.
And indeed, that was the case. The first performer, Yuan Hanmin, left him quite impressed. Although his classmates were excellent, most were newcomers. Even Xia Wen, talented as he was, had many gaps in his acting.
Yuan Hanmin, just a few years older than Chi Feiran, displayed a much more mature acting style. His portrayal of Ji Yunsheng was more sophisticated, showing a more debonair and carefree side.
This portrayal slightly deviated from the script’s age, but Director Zheng still kept him, indicating such a change was acceptable because Yuan Hanmin’s performance was truly exceptional.
From this, it was clear that Director Zheng wasn’t rigid about certain aspects. Even her character settings in the script weren’t unchangeable. She always pursued more charismatic expressions.
Yuan Hanmin’s Ji Yunsheng was a vivid representation, entirely different from Chi Feiran’s approach.
If Chi Feiran’s Ji Yunsheng was a progressively growing young disciple, Yuan Hanmin’s was a symbol of the old times’ glory, whose growth was not in maturity but in destruction and reconstruction.
This might sound abstract, but it was Chi Feiran’s initial impression.
His opponent was strong, showing no signs of nervousness despite going first.
Chi Feiran took a deep breath, feeling a surge of eagerness to outshine his opponent.
This thought was barely restrained as the second audition started. He needed to watch his opponents’ performances closely. He had already thoroughly prepared for Ji Yunsheng, so now it was time to absorb insights from others.
Director Zheng was known for her expertise in directing male characters, and this became clearer as the second audition began.
The second performer, Ren Bei, was around Chi Feiran’s age but exuded a strong youthful aura. His portrayal of Ji Yunsheng was full of youth and vitality, showcasing the essence of a young man in the details.
Chi Feiran had greeted him earlier, knowing he was usually quiet or reserved. Yet, this Ji Yunsheng was exuberant and lively, completely different from Ren Bei himself.
Two performers, two distinct styles, making Chi Feiran even more eager for the third.
The third performer didn’t disappoint. Xin Zicheng’s Ji Yunsheng wasn’t debonair or exuberant. He was more laid-back and comfortable, truly embodying the character’s name, like a cloud, too lazy to compete with you. Sometimes this made people unconsciously annoyed, but his compliant smile and soft words could easily win you over, making everything seem okay.
When Chi Feiran heard his name, he closed his eyes briefly to absorb the performances without being influenced.
Then he opened his eyes, walked to the audition area, and took his place.
In the hearts of a thousand people, there are a thousand Hamlets. The Ji Yunsheng in his heart was exactly as he envisioned.
So he smiled slightly, lifting his chin, squinting his eyes a bit. His posture became lazy, and he spoke with a hint of arrogance, yet still with a soft southern accent, “Who am I? Have you heard of the Ji family restaurant? I’m the young master of the Ji family restaurant, Ji Yunsheng.”
He spoke as if it were natural, as if the mere mention of his name should be known to everyone.
Dressed in a common shirt and trousers, his hair styled back from earlier arrangements, he truly looked like a young master of that time.
