Chi Feiran couldn’t help but want to defend himself when Rong Jin smiled at him like that. Although fans often easily say “a fan for life” to their favorite stars, he himself wasn’t someone who made such promises lightly.
Chi Feiran’s expression became serious. “Senior Brother Rong, I’m serious!”
His face still had that slightly youthful and somewhat naive look, but there was a mature seriousness in his expression.
Chi Feiran said, “Although you might not believe me now, and many people might have said similar things to you, I don’t say things lightly.”
Fandom, whether joining or leaving, is quite a simple matter. A good-looking photo or a candid shot with a disheveled appearance can change one’s attitude. However, after spending this time together, Chi Feiran knew that being a fan of Rong Jin wouldn’t make him regret it.
Rong Jin wanted to make a joke, saying he was too young to understand what “for life” meant, but looking into Chi Feiran’s eyes, he couldn’t say those words.
Chi Feiran’s eyes had dark pupils. Normally, they were like a gentle young deer, but now, that young deer showed a stubborn side.
The young man in front of him said, “Although understanding a person might take a long time, or sometimes a lifetime may not be enough, as a fan, I feel that what you’ve shown is enough for me to continue being a fan.”
Chi Feiran wasn’t foolish. He knew that celebrities couldn’t completely escape from a certain degree of image crafting. However, he admired Rong Jin as an actor, and he felt that it was sufficient.
Many fans easily take their own fantasies or the company-crafted image as the idol themselves, but Chi Feiran wasn’t that kind of person. He was rational in this aspect, thinking that liking an actor or a celebrity could be based on appreciating their acting skills or liking their voice. These were real strengths, more reliable than the things that could be manipulated.
Looking at him, Rong Jin asked softly, “What if everything you see is fake?”
Chi Feiran blinked and pointed to the injury on Rong Jin’s waist, smiling. “Senior Brother Rong, the injury on your waist is real.”
This time, Rong Jin didn’t say anything. Instead, he rubbed Chi Feiran’s head.
The conversation didn’t continue. Tomorrow, Rong Jin had another high-intensity filming task, and Chang Haoying came to take him away, urging him to rest early after taking medicine.
The next day, Rong Jin spent most of the day competing with the martial arts double. Director Jin scolded the martial arts master so much that his throat went hoarse, but he insisted on high standards. If the martial arts masters got scolded too much, sometimes the tension messed up the rhythm.
Chi Feiran watched anxiously from the side, unable to help in any way. He could only follow Director Jin’s requirements for expressions, afraid that if he made a mistake, Rong Jin would suffer more.
Today, when Rong Jin went up to perform the wire stunt, the difficulty was even higher than yesterday. Although he had been tightly strapped yesterday, the injured areas might not have been as painful at the time. But now, after a night, the pain had intensified in those injured areas. Chi Feiran couldn’t bear to think about the additional pain when going up again.
But Rong Jin didn’t say anything. The stunt double was ready on the side, but he still insisted on doing it himself, astonishingly keeping each shot in the best condition.
After so many days of shooting, Chi Feiran understood that being a good actor not only required good acting skills but also stable performance, which was sometimes even more critical.
Even if the shooting went smoothly, many scenes still required reshooting for seamless post-production editing.
Although Director Jin had tried to use multiple camera angles as much as possible to reduce unnecessary reshoots, not all scenes could be solved with multiple angles. This required actors to have a stable performance while contributing to their acting skills.
Due to firsthand experience, Chi Feiran knew how difficult it was to maintain such a state, especially under the condition of having injuries.
When the challenging shooting finally ended, Chi Feiran ran to Rong Jin’s side faster than anyone else.
Rong Jin was dismantling the wire rigging. When he saw Chi Feiran, he calmly mouthed a word that completely contradicted his expression: “Hurts.”
Waiting until the props team dispersed, Chi Feiran asked in a low voice, “Senior Brother Rong, do you want me to support you?”
Rong Jin smiled faintly. “No need. I need to save face.”
Then he walked away resolutely on his own.
Chi Feiran followed alongside him, always ready to be an emergency support for Rong Jin.
Looking at the injuries when he unbuttoned his shirt, Chi Feiran couldn’t help but shudder.
Rong Jin had just said it hurt a while ago, and now he was comforting him, “Actually, it looks scarier than it is. It’s not particularly painful. I’ll apply some medicine later, and tomorrow…”
Rong Jin’s words suddenly stopped, realizing that tomorrow was Chi Feiran’s last scene.
Chi Feiran hadn’t thought about tomorrow being his last scene yet. Hearing Rong Jin say, “Tomorrow,” he responded with confusion, “Tomorrow, what?”
Rong Jin looked at him and said slowly, “Tomorrow, do your best.”
At that moment, Chi Feiran still didn’t understand Rong Jin’s meaning. It wasn’t until everyone was lying in bed that he remembered. Tomorrow would be his last day of shooting.
The next day, Chi Feiran faced his last scene, the scene of Chu Bai’s death.
Chi Feiran transformed into a pale, dismal appearance, feeling that he could act in a horror movie just by looking at himself in the mirror.
The makeup artist sister handed him a small red packet, saying, “Good luck, Feiran!”
Chi Feiran had already received a red packet before, realizing that these were the legendary “suppressing the shock” red packets, prepared specifically for actors who had to shoot unlucky scenes. The amount wasn’t large, mainly for seeking good luck.
He thanked her with a smile and walked out of the makeup tent. Along the way, many people handed him red packets, and he thanked them as he walked.
Chen Mengyang found a bag and helped him collect all these red packets.
When he arrived at the prepared shooting location, Chi Feiran suddenly realized that this would be a solo performance from start to finish. Chu Bai had already left the world, and the lone figure of Chu Bai would take his last breath.
Chi Feiran felt uneasy, unsure if he could carry this scene alone.
But when he lay on the bed and saw the actor playing the old servant kneeling beside him, the feeling suddenly came.
The sadness of parting surged in his heart. It wasn’t just Chu Bai leaving; it was also himself.
Gradually, a hint of moisture appeared in Chi Feiran’s eyes, but they didn’t materialize into tears.
He couldn’t see his senior brother one last time before his death, and although he had regrets, there was also a bit of relief. If senior brother were present, watching him die, he feared that even after death, his soul wouldn’t find peace.
The words of farewell had already been said, but unfortunately, the reunion was uncertain.
Chu Bai’s voice was almost just a breath, asking, “Loyal Uncle, is there really an underworld?”
Loyal Uncle was mute, crying almost to the point of fainting, but he could only emit incomprehensible “ah ah” sounds from his throat.
Chu Bai gently smiled, “If there is… if there is…”
He didn’t know how old his senior brother would be at that time. If they were to meet again on the Naihe Bridge, would he be able to recognize him at a glance?
But thinking about it, Chu Bai’s smile deepened.
Even if senior brother couldn’t recognize him, his senior brother could always recognize him.
When senior brother aged, he might not.
When they met on the Naihe Bridge, senior brother would definitely be able to recognize him.
Chu Bai closed his eyes, took his last breath, and finally swallowed it.
…
Chi Feiran carefully held his breath, maintaining his expression, waiting for the director to finish shooting enough material and call for a cut.
He waited until he almost couldn’t hold his breath, finally hearing someone shout, “Cut! It’s a wrap!”
Cheers erupted around, and with this scene finished, the entire crew would enter a short break.
Chi Feiran closed his eyes, took a deep breath amidst the cheers, and it ended…
Opening his eyes, Rong Jin smiled and asked, “Aren’t you getting up yet?”
In a moment of confusion, Chi Feiran couldn’t distinguish whether it was real or illusory. Unable to hold back, he exclaimed, “Senior Brother!”
Rong Jin said, “It’s Rong-ge.”
Chi Feiran let out a sigh of relief. Yes, it was Rong-ge.
But the tears that didn’t fall from his eyes just now were falling now.
It was over. Everything was finished.
Chu Bai didn’t wait, and his senior brother didn’t return.
Regret was futile; the person was already deceased…
Chi Feiran’s discomfort caused his heart to contract. Rong Jin reached out, pinched his nose, and said, “It’s all fake. Don’t think about it.”
Being pinched on the nose, Chi Feiran could only breathe through his mouth, almost letting out a pig-like snort. He quickly pushed Rong Jin’s hand away and awkwardly got up.
Director Jin came over at this time, holding a red packet. Seeing Chi Feiran’s face covered in tears, he laughed, “Not bad, really got into the role!”
Chi Feiran was already an adult, in his twenties, but realizing that he couldn’t control his tears in front of the entire crew, he felt embarrassed.
Director Jin laughed heartily, handed him the red packet, and said, “Quick, go freshen up. We’ll have a wrap-up party later!”
Although it was called a wrap-up party, because they were in the old forest, it was basically everyone bringing out the remaining instant foods from the crew, along with drinks and beer, to celebrate.
Director Jin seemed happy and revealed his hidden stash of good wine. Once he started drinking too much, he began to talk loudly, “I can’t stand those scenes in the current dramas, all trying to force in some love plot. Even without a female lead, they have to create one out of thin air. What’s wrong! Can’t movies be made without love? Does the female lead have to like the male lead? Can’t we think about killing him! In this world, family, friendship, brotherhood can’t be portrayed in films? Look at the brotherhood between Chu Bai and Chu Heng, how touching!”
This statement shocked many people, especially some members of the scriptwriting team, seeming greatly impacted.
Chi Feiran was almost about to spray out the cola he had just drunk. He initially felt that Chu Bai’s storyline was a bit strange, and after Director Jin requested more detailed emotional expressions, he felt even more uneasy. Then he thought Director Jin was intentionally creating a bit of BL element, but it turned out… Director Jin was such an honest person…
Rong Jin, sitting beside him, whispered, “He’s getting old and doesn’t understand trends.”
