Men, huh…
Probably noticing the meaning behind his boyfriend’s expression, Rong Jin put the two sons down again and said, “Actually, I don’t particularly mind having an audience.”
Chi Feiran: “…”
Chi Feiran looked down and saw his two furry sons, both gazing at him with pure and innocent blue eyes.
The little prince felt quite challenged by this and said, “I think I’ll study the character some more.”
Rong Jin stared at him, eyes wide open, for a while. Caesar and Oreo, not understanding their exchange of glances, felt neglected and started meowing adorably.
The two couldn’t help but laugh again, each holding one of the cats and happily petting them. As for the adult-only activities, well, the day was still bright. There was always the night for that, hehe.
If it weren’t for the special nature of this role and the relatively short expected shooting time, Chi Feiran wouldn’t have planned to start preparing for a new character so soon.
After all, he had just finished a long shooting cycle. He and Rong Jin were better off since they could still see each other every day, but they hadn’t had much quality time with their family.
Another concern was school. Chi Feiran felt quite uneasy about missing an entire semester. Attending school was meant for studying, and if he kept missing classes, there wouldn’t be much point in it.
So, during the remaining summer vacation, Chi Feiran mainly spent time with his family and loved ones, and then studied the new role.
When school started, he attended classes as scheduled and hung out with his friends, not only to maintain friendships but also to dissipate the negative emotions from preparing for his role.
Understanding a part of history is one thing, but deeply comprehending the cruel and tragic details is another.
Chi Feiran was someone whose emotions were easily influenced. This could be both good and bad for an actor.
The fear was getting stuck in the emotional turmoil. That’s why, from the beginning, Rong Jin had advised him to systematically study acting after discovering his talent.
Recently, Chi Feiran’s emotions were heavily affected because he couldn’t stop researching.
Ideally, he should understand the character’s life story, ponder the psychological journey during the shooting phase, and focus on his scenes. Considering it’s a tribute film, his screen time would likely be very brief, maybe around five minutes or less, if that.
But Chi Feiran was meticulous. For instance, when he saw a character’s decision, he needed to understand why it was made, what kind of helplessness led to such painful persistence.
Then, he found himself exposed to increasingly harsh realities of the past, inevitably affecting his emotions.
Seeing Chi Feiran suffer from insomnia after researching, Rong Jin felt heartbroken but couldn’t tell him to avoid such roles in the future.
Understanding the ambition and dedication of a good actor, Rong Jin could only do his best to pull his boyfriend out of the emotional vortex.
This guidance wasn’t just about passing on experience but also about influencing through daily life details.
Chi Feiran was learning how to be a good actor, and Rong Jin was exploring how to make his boyfriend forget the character when he saw him.
Neither task was easy. Chi Feiran had a long way to go, and Rong Jin couldn’t immediately find the perfect solution.
Though the comforting scenes in novels were appealing, timing mattered.
During the shooting of “Flavor House,” with its portrayal of small people’s struggles in chaotic times, Chi Feiran could still seek real-life stimuli from Rong Jin to snap out of character.
But this time, the role was too heavy. Chi Feiran couldn’t muster the energy, and using physical comfort would seem disrespectful, like an inconsiderate brute.
So, despite his intense jealousy, Rong Jin encouraged Chi Feiran to spend more time with his classmates.
A group of young people in their late teens and early twenties wouldn’t stay gloomy for long, quickly lightening the mood with their antics.
Indeed, initially, Chi Feiran felt lethargic, but after hanging out with Xia Wen and Xiang Fei, playing funny skits and games, he felt much lighter by the time they parted.
Seeing Chi Feiran’s relaxed demeanor, Xia Wen and the others laughed, “Hey, mission accomplished!”
Chi Feiran was puzzled, “What mission?”
They didn’t hide it, selling out Rong Jin. Xiang Fei sighed, “It was all for you… Do you think we genuinely enjoy doing silly skits?”
Chi Feiran felt warm inside, knowing his boyfriend and friends cared for him, but after hearing the latter part…
He smiled politely, though he never doubted it.
Xia Wen noticed, “He genuinely thinks we’re all clowns.”
Chi Feiran: “…”
It was surprising to hear it so directly, but thinking back to their previous antics, he felt his perception was justified!
However, the friends were ready to show him what brotherly love meant.
Chi Feiran smiled confidently, “I can take on twenty of you like this!”
The friends: “…”
After speaking, Chi Feiran regretted it a bit, feeling he was being influenced by their silliness, especially standing in front of the school gates!
People were even watching, some seemingly about to record the scene with their phones!
The friends burst into laughter, and Chi Feiran quickly dropped his pose, feeling his mood was now fine, though his IQ might have dropped…
Rong Jin, sitting in the car, felt a pang of jealousy watching the group. Had his boyfriend forgotten about him?
Thankfully, Chi Feiran, not wanting to stay in the spotlight, quickly said goodbye and got into the car.
Once inside, seeing the privacy screen up, he unabashedly pounced on Rong Jin, giving him a solid kiss.
Still digesting his jealousy, Rong Jin was surprised by the sudden sweetness.
Chi Feiran smiled, “Let’s have a feast tonight.”
A thoughtful boyfriend deserves to be cherished!
That night, Rong Jin experienced Chi Feiran’s full affection, and it was, in a word, incredibly satisfying!
By the time of the “Military Soul” audition, the weather had cooled, intending to capture winter scenes with real snow for beautiful shots.
Privately, Chi Feiran remarked to Rong Jin that the shooting of “The Chivalrous Bone” was more comfortable, despite being in early summer. The forest was cool, though the bugs and poor food were drawbacks. In contrast, the “Flavor House” shoot was truly tough, working in a hot kitchen during summer. If he passed the audition, it would be another extreme.
Rong Jin comforted him, “Just bring lots of hand warmers.”
Thinking it over, Chi Feiran agreed that winter shooting might be better than summer. Bundling up was easier than coping with heat.
Since Rong Jin had previously appeared in the same series of tribute films, he didn’t have a suitable role this time. Despite the production team’s interest in including the Oscar-winning actor, they knew better than to force it.
However, Rong Jin still accompanied Chi Feiran to the audition, ostensibly to support the project, though it was clear he wished he could participate. Tribute films also needed public interest!
This attitude left the producer feeling a bit embarrassed. They hadn’t cast him, yet he was so supportive!
Though often flattered, Rong Jin’s Oscar status made it different, feeling particularly gratifying!
However, despite the goodwill, the role wasn’t guaranteed for Chi Feiran. It depended on his audition.
Before arriving, Chi Feiran knew there were two other candidates for his role, likely chosen for their overseas experience, considering the language skills required for the character.
The real person’s linguistic talent was historically renowned, and poor language portrayal would be a disaster, so the production team preemptively ensured quality from the start.
Chi Feiran felt confident about his suitability for the role, especially since the character’s early portrayal matched his own demeanor.
He He, whose name mirrored his sunny disposition, was described as a ray of light, brightening those around him.
But as he joined the war, his brightness turned into sharpness and cold gleam, hiding his warmth within.
Becoming decisive and ruthless, He made many controversial decisions for victory.
This transformation was unimaginable to those who knew him before.
But war’s cruelty changes more than just one person.
