“All right! Wrap-up! Wrap-up! Tonight at 7 PM, Qizhen Hotel—don’t forget!” Director Wang shouted cheerfully, finally letting go of the script he’d been clutching so tightly it had deformed in his hands. The whole crew shared the same feeling: liberation at last.
“Hey, Xiao Yu, you’re not running off tonight, right? You have to come!” Director Wang glanced over and saw Yu Junqing standing nearby, observing the camera. In a rare playful mood, he couldn’t resist teasing.
“Of course not, I’ll be there. By the way, Director Wang, are you going to give us all a big red envelope?” Yu Junqing glanced at the camera, then turned back with a playful smile. His teasing tone made everyone around laugh.
“All right, everyone’s staying. Pack your things and scram already. If I don’t get you out of here soon, I’ll need thirty sneezes just to deal with it,” Director Wang waved his hands dramatically, looking like he was shooing flies.
“Looks like you’re out of favor after filming, Xiao Yu. Poor thing,” the scriptwriter chimed in, teasing Yu Junqing relentlessly. Honestly, his script had been forced through many edits, but with someone upstairs overseeing, there wasn’t much he could do.
Thanks to Yu Junqing persuading Director Wang, the script hadn’t turned into a complete disaster in his hands.
“Yeah, I’m so pitiful. So Director Wang, make sure my red envelope is a big one!” Yu Junqing turned toward him with just the right amount of charm, subtly requesting a red envelope.
“All right, scram. I don’t want to see you little rascals before 7 PM,” Director Wang clutched his chest, imagining all those red envelopes flying from his pocket to everyone else’s, so painfully that it was almost unbearable.
“Okay, okay, we’re going,” everyone said, laughing at Director Wang’s exaggerated performance as they hurriedly packed. After such a long shoot, they all wanted to go home, shower, and rest for the evening’s celebration.
After the playful chaos, everyone had packed and left the set.
Yu Junqing was a bit slower—he still had his final scene and needed to remove his makeup before leaving. Xiao Yitong had already packed her things, ready to leave anytime.
“Your skin’s looking much better recently, Xiao Yu,” DY said cautiously while removing his makeup, surprised at how good his skin looked. She was sensitive about skin and remembered when Yu Junqing first joined the crew—his complexion seemed fine, but his skin was clearly poor, probably due to irregular diet and lack of sleep.
Yu Junqing touched his face. He hadn’t noticed much, but DY was an expert—maybe his skin had really improved.
“Phone call for you,” Xiao Yitong handed him his phone. DY raised an eyebrow. Yu Junqing glanced and saw it was Bo Rui. He slightly tilted his head, letting DY continue her work as he answered the call.
DY quietly stood nearby, eavesdropping. She couldn’t help it… a little nosy.
“What’s up?” Yu Junqing turned slightly, exposing the side of his face yet to be made up, and his expression softened naturally.
DY and Xiao Yitong exchanged glances, eyebrows raised in silent curiosity.
“I heard today’s wrap-up is done. What would you like to eat?” Bo Rui asked after signing the last document, stretching his neck with audible pops, looking much more relaxed.
Yu Junqing remembered—today was indeed the final scene. He’d been working hard lately, trying to maintain a slim look for his character, skipping meals to shed a few pounds, even though he had recently gained some at Bo Rui’s place.
He recalled Bo Rui weighing him the other day, joking about the extra weight, though Yu Junqing had initially misunderstood, thinking he was being scolded for eating too much. In reality, Bo Rui had only been concerned that Yu Junqing hadn’t gained enough!
Yu Junqing winced at the memory.
“Wrap-up is done, but there’s the wrap-up banquet tonight. I’m not going back for dinner,” Yu Junqing said, a tinge of guilt and regret on his face.
He wasn’t used to eating out; dining with Bo Rui felt more comfortable. At least he didn’t have to worry about someone accidentally photographing him in an awkward position.
Besides, Bo Rui ate with gusto, making the experience even more pleasant.
“Hey, who’s that?” DY nudged Xiao Yitong, whispering.
Xiao Yitong awkwardly stepped aside, DY pressing close, gesturing with her chest while scratching the back of her head, trying not to speak too loudly.
“Tch, still keeping secrets from me… is it some little sweetheart?” DY crossed her arms, jealousy and curiosity mixed in her voice, unaware Xiao Yitong’s eyes were practically popping out.
“Well, it’s still early. Do we have rib-eye steaks at home? Suddenly craving braised rib-eye~” Yu Junqing casually glanced at the time. The last scene hadn’t taken long; it was barely 1 PM.
“…Did he just say what dish?” DY’s expression was a mix of confusion and awe, feeling out of touch with the trend.
Xiao Yitong, equally baffled, whispered uncertainly, “Braised rib-eye?” He looked deeply confused. Was rib-eye steak now supposed to be braised? Had they missed an entire culinary revolution?
DY’s eyes flicked toward Yu Junqing’s back, feeling a strange mix of curiosity… and maybe a little envy.
Bo Rui heard the menu choice and felt an awkward twinge.
In truth, a client had once gifted him a batch of quality rib-eye steaks. He had rarely tried Western dishes before and didn’t want to waste the steaks. When he casually asked Yu Junqing what kind of meat he liked, Yu Junqing obediently said braised. Bo Rui had followed through… and it turned out delicious. Yu Junqing had remembered the taste, though he hadn’t indulged in the past two days to lose a few pounds.
After chatting a bit more with Bo Rui, Yu Junqing happily hung up. Soon he could enjoy that delicious braised rib-eye—could life get any better?
He turned his head and immediately saw two faces pressed close to his, as if saying I’m so curious! Yu Junqing’s feelings became a complex mix of amusement and exasperation.
“Yu-ge!”
“Xiao Yu!”
Xiao Yitong and DY shouted simultaneously. Xiao Yitong caught a glare from DY and obediently fell silent.
“Xiao Yu~” DY’s voice carried a playful, teasing tone as she peeked at his phone, tinged with jealousy and admiration. Yu Junqing shivered at the strange intensity.
“What’s up?” Yu Junqing touched his face, now apparently fully made-up.
DY, sensing his attempt to distract her, leaned in for gossip. “Just now, hmm?”
Yu Junqing helplessly unlocked his phone and showed her briefly. “It’s my brother. Lately, there were too many reporters, so I stayed at his place. He just said he wanted to celebrate a little.”
Xiao Yitong and DY immediately turned away, unimpressed.
Yu Junqing couldn’t help but laugh at these two little gossipers—one exuding high-cold elegance, the other a humorous, mischievous child—somehow becoming a duo.
With a sense of relaxation and ease he hadn’t felt before, Yu Junqing realized that compared to the tense days on set, life now felt much more comfortable.
After all that mental wandering, he thought: better get home and eat some meat! He wiped his face and smiled.