Zheng Xun was a young, rising actor whose main fan base consisted of older female fans and girlfriend-type fans. His popularity was fairly good. He had appeared in several IP dramas. Although the reception had been mediocre, his acting skills were still considered solid among younger actors. As for what kind of person he was, neither Xu Tang nor Zong Xuan had had any contact with him before.
For the casting of Jun Gui, Zheng Xun had not only put himself forward, but had also brought investment into the production. With both funding and acting ability, the director was naturally willing to have him, and the producer also thought it was acceptable.
Zheng Xun’s role was Heng Xiao’s guard. His screen time was not particularly heavy, but he appeared throughout the entire story, from beginning to end. In terms of both personality and behavior, the character was extremely rigid. He might not be particularly likable, but because he was constantly acting opposite Zong Xuan, even if Zong Xuan completely outshone him in acting ability, he would still receive plenty of attention.
So choosing this role could be said to have been a very smart decision on Zheng Xun’s part.
Xu Tang stayed in his room for the entire day. That evening, he thought he should have dinner with Zheng Xun, so he called Zong Xuan and asked him to find out whether Zheng Xun was free.
When Xu Tang called, Zheng Xun happened to be rehearsing lines with Zong Xuan.
Zong Xuan’s impression of Zheng Xun was fairly decent, so he asked him.
“Of course. I should be the one treating you and Teacher Xu to dinner.”
Zheng Xun smiled brightly. When he crouched in front of Zong Xuan, he looked especially like a friendly young wolfdog, naturally making people feel close to him.
Zong Xuan did not pay much attention to him. He simply said gently to Xu Tang on the phone,
“He says he’s free. What do you want to eat?”
“Naturally, we should ask Zheng Xun what he wants to eat if we’re treating him.”
Xu Tang chuckled.
“Who cares about that?” Zong Xuan did not care about such things at all. What Xu Tang wanted to eat was what mattered most to him.
“Let’s just have some home-style dishes. And then we’ll order a pizza tonight.”
Xu Tang said this because home-style dishes would suit everyone’s tastes and would definitely be a safe choice.
As for the pizza, that was purely because he wanted to eat it himself, so he planned to have it as a late-night snack.
“All right. Let’s invite Director Xin too.”
Zong Xuan said, “Let’s go to Xiangweiju.”
Xiangweiju was a restaurant nearby that specialized in home-style dishes. It also had several Sichuan dishes adjusted to suit local tastes, and the food was quite good. Whenever Xu Tang did not want to eat boxed meals, Yuan Shang would go there and buy food for him.
“Okay. I’ll go over directly later. You don’t need to come back and pick me up.”
“All right. Let me know when you leave.”
“I know.”
After hanging up, Zong Xuan said to Xie Shao Qian,
“Go ask Director Xin whether he’s free tonight. Let’s have dinner together.”
“Sure.”
Xie Shao Qian went over to the director.
“What does Teacher Xu like to eat?”
Zheng Xun asked, apparently quite interested in Xu Tang’s preferences.
Zong Xuan smiled.
“He’s a little picky. I can’t really say there’s anything specific he likes.”
Whatever Xu Tang liked, it was enough for Zong Xuan to know.
Why should he tell an outsider?
Couldn’t Zheng Xun observe it himself?
“Is that so?”
Zheng Xun did not seem to mind and continued smiling.
In a private dining room at Xiangweiju, the four of them sat around the table.
Since they had to get up early to film the next day, they did not order alcohol. It was simply an ordinary home-style meal.
Zheng Xun raised his teacup.
“Director Xin, Teacher Zong, Teacher Xu, I’ll use tea in place of wine and toast you all. I’m young and don’t have much experience. If there are any areas where I fall short during filming, please give me plenty of guidance. I don’t mind being criticized. I’ll definitely learn properly.”
As the newcomer and the youngest of the four, it was perfectly reasonable for him to offer the toast.
Xu Tang smiled.
“Director Xin and Zong Xuan deserve that title. I really can’t accept it. When it comes to acting, you’re actually my senior.”
“Teacher Xu, you’re too modest. I really like your songs. Unfortunately, I’m tone-deaf when I sing, so I never had a chance to collaborate with you.”
Zheng Xun sounded somewhat helpless.
“Thank you. If we can’t collaborate in music, it’s still good that we can work together in acting.”
Xu Tang smiled.
“All right, enough being polite. Come on, let’s eat.”
Director Xin put down his teacup and picked up his chopsticks.
Zong Xuan was not polite either. He ladled a small bowl of sweet-and-sour shrimp balls for Xu Tang.
Xu Tang liked these, and with rice, he could easily eat an entire bowl.
“Teacher Zong and Teacher Xu have such a good relationship.”
Zheng Xun smiled.
Zong Xuan served some soup to Xu Tang and answered casually,
“We’re all right.”
Xu Tang did not say anything. He transferred half of his rice into Zong Xuan’s bowl, then picked up a piece of scallion-oil flatbread for himself and slowly began eating.
During the meal, Xu Tang did not speak much.
Zong Xuan talked with Director Xin about the plot and filming progress. Director Xin also explained to Zheng Xun some things to pay attention to when portraying his character.
Zheng Xun listened very attentively, occasionally nodding and asking questions, naturally drawing Director Xin’s explanation further.
Xu Tang felt that Zheng Xun was quite clever.
At the very least, his emotional intelligence was high. He knew how to speak and knew how to look at people in a way that made them feel he was listening very carefully.
Zong Xuan, on the other hand, did not say much to Zheng Xun.
Whenever Director Xin spoke to him, he would answer a few words. At other times, he either served Xu Tang food or ate his own.
After dinner, the four of them went their separate ways.
When they returned to the room, Zong Xuan pulled Xu Tang into his arms.
“Did you feel uncomfortable today?”
“No. It was pretty good…”
Xu Tang answered softly.
“That’s good.”
Zong Xuan pulled him toward the bathroom.
“Let’s shower together.”
“Mm.”
After the two finished showering and came out, the pizza Yuan Shang had ordered was delivered as well.
Xu Tang ate pizza while scrolling through his phone.
There was nothing particularly special. The photos of Zong Xuan carrying him around the estate had been posted, and Xu Tang had also received quite a few comments.
There was nothing negative. Kang Duo had probably already deleted them.
Zong Xuan sat to one side, flipping through the script.
After finishing a slice of pizza, he said,
“Don’t get too close to Zheng Xun.”
“Why?”
Xu Tang turned to look at him.
“He’s too calculating. He’s not worth getting close to.”
That was Zong Xuan’s assessment of Zheng Xun.
Xu Tang raised an eyebrow.
“Are you sure you’re good at judging people?”
Zong Xuan laughed and flicked him lightly on the forehead.
“Maybe I’m not accurate enough, but it’s always wise to be on guard against others.”
This was also his first time interacting with Zheng Xun. After spending a whole day around him, however, Zong Xuan felt that Zheng Xun’s acting was fine, but that he was too slick and calculating to be worth becoming close friends with.
“Got it. Anyway, after filming is over, there’s nothing the two of us will have to work on together.”
Xu Tang did not take it particularly seriously.
Another week passed in the blink of an eye.
He Xin came to visit Xu Tang on set and, incidentally, congratulate him on losing his virginity.
Xu Tang only had one scene that day, and when He Xin arrived, he happened to be filming.
Zheng Xun, who was waiting nearby for his scene, immediately walked over when he saw He Xin.
“Teacher He, hello. Long time no see.”
“Zheng Xun. Long time no see.”
He Xin smiled and nodded at him.
“You’re in this production too? What male lead ranking are you?”
He Xin actually knew perfectly well what role Zheng Xun had. He was simply making conversation.
Even if there were things happening on set that Xu Tang had not told him about, Yue Yan would tell him.
He had worked with Zheng Xun once before, although it had only been a friendly guest appearance and he had stayed with the production for two days.
Zheng Xun had taken the initiative to approach him and strike up a conversation, so He Xin’s initial impression of him had been fairly good.
“Fourth male lead. Are you here to visit Teacher Xu?”
Zheng Xun smiled.
He did not seem to think there was anything embarrassing about being the fourth male lead despite his own popularity.
He Xin was far more famous than he was, yet wasn’t he also only playing a supporting role?
“Mm.”
He Xin looked toward Xu Tang.
Xu Tang was currently sitting at a stone table in the courtyard writing calligraphy with a brush.
Naturally, Xu Tang could not actually write calligraphy.
There would be a professional hand double doing the writing in post-production, so Xu Tang did not need to worry about that. He only had to get the expression and demeanor right.
“Although this is Teacher Xu’s first time acting, his performance has been especially good. Even I was surprised.”
“Really?”
They were too far away, and He Xin could not see Xu Tang very clearly.
“Hasn’t he been getting a lot of NGs?”
“Not really. Teacher Xu has had it somewhat hard during the martial arts scenes.”
Zheng Xun chatted with He Xin casually like the friendly boy next door.
“He wasn’t exactly gifted with athletic ability in the first place.”
He Xin laughed.
That was almost exactly what he had expected.
Still, after getting through the awkward first few times, martial arts scenes would naturally become easier.
“Cut!”
Director Xin shouted,
“That’s good. Two-hour lunch break. We’re starting again at two sharp.”
As soon as Xu Tang came out of character, he saw He Xin from a distance.
Zong Xuan did not have any scenes that day. He had already spoken with Director Xin and gone to shoot a magazine cover that had been scheduled earlier.
The magazine was also going to conduct an interview with him, so he could use the opportunity to promote Jun Gui. Naturally, Director Xin was willing to let him go.
“Teacher Xu, Teacher He, you two talk. I’m going to have lunch.”
Zheng Xun was very perceptive and left on his own.
“Go say hello to Director Xin. I’ll wait for you in the RV.”
Xu Tang said this because the RV belonged to Zong Xuan. During breaks in filming, they usually rested and took naps there.
Xu Tang had no scenes that afternoon either, so he could simply take He Xin back to the hotel.
“All right. I brought some sweet soup. I’ll take it to the director and the others, then come find you.”
“Mm.”
He Xin and his assistant took the things to the director’s lounge.
Xu Tang returned to the RV to remove his makeup.
After He Xin came back, the two of them returned to the hotel together.
He Xin had brought Xu Tang some snacks he liked to reward him for his hard work here.
Xu Tang opened the things He Xin had brought. After making two cups of coffee, the two of them began enjoying the snacks.
“You’re just eating snacks? You’re not having lunch?”
He Xin asked, seeing how satisfied Xu Tang looked while eating.
“Eat this. Try our production’s boxed lunch.”
Xu Tang said this while pushing the boxed meal toward He Xin.
He Xin opened it, took out a pair of disposable chopsticks, and tried a bite.
“This tastes pretty good.”
“Then eat more.”
Xu Tang had no intention whatsoever of taking the boxed lunch back.
He Xin had not eaten lunch yet either, so he picked up the box and ate while chatting with Xu Tang.
“How’s filming going?”
“Not bad. Better than I imagined.”
Xu Tang ate his shumai without the slightest intention of sharing it with He Xin.
“And with Zong Xuan? How’s your sex life?”
He Xin did not think there was anything improper about asking so directly.
Xu Tang, however, choked.
He had not heard He Xin make a dirty joke in quite a while, so the sudden question caught him completely off guard.
He Xin chuckled, reached into his bag, and took out a black bag before handing it to Xu Tang.
“Here. Just a little something from your good brother. No need to thank me too much.”
Just looking at the bag, which looked like some completely unbranded product, Xu Tang already suspected that it was probably nothing respectable.
To avoid an awkward situation, he did not open it in front of He Xin.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, no problem.”
He Xin waved his hand with the expression of someone who had done a good deed but did not intend to take credit for it.
Xu Tang stuffed the thing beside the sofa.
Once He Xin left, he would check what it was. If it was something inappropriate, he would get rid of it immediately.
While eating his boxed lunch, He Xin asked,
“How are you getting along with Zheng Xun?”
“We haven’t really interacted. I don’t have many scenes with him. Usually, we just see each other on set and say hello.”
Xu Tang answered.
“Mm. You should still avoid getting too close to him.”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
He Xin picked at his rice.
“I don’t know that much about him. I’ve only worked with him once. But during that one time, I happened to overhear him talking on the phone.”
“He said, ‘There isn’t a man in this world who doesn’t cheat, and there isn’t any executive who wouldn’t want to take advantage of someone through connections. It only depends on whether your charm is enough.'”
“Maybe there were several layers of meaning to what he said, and I have no idea who he was talking to. But someone who can say something like that gives me the feeling that he’s not someone you should become friends with.”
“I understand. Zong Xuan said the same thing. He thinks Zheng Xun is too calculating and doesn’t want me getting too close to him.”
“You should listen to Zong Xuan.”
“Forget it. Think about Teng Yizheng. When he said those things to me, I didn’t really believe him either.”
He Xin chuckled.
“Everyone has times when they misjudge someone, and times when they judge someone correctly. Zong Xuan has met plenty of people. You can still have some confidence in his judgment.”
Xu Tang nodded.
“You two have the same opinion, so I’d say the chances of it being accurate are pretty high.”
He Xin stayed until after five in the afternoon before leaving.
After He Xin left, Xu Tang opened the black bag and looked inside.
As expected, it was filled with intimate products.
A true friend, indeed…
Xu Tang was just preparing to go outside and hand the things over to Yuan Shang to dispose of when Zong Xuan entered the room.
Xu Tang quickly hid the bag behind his back.
Zong Xuan’s eyes were exceptionally sharp. He immediately noticed Xu Tang’s movement.
“What are you doing? Why are you being so secretive?”
“Nothing. I, um, I’m going to find Yuan Shang.”
Seeing Xu Tang’s evasive expression immediately aroused Zong Xuan’s curiosity.
“What are you hiding? Let me see.”
“Nothing…”
Xu Tang took a small step backward, looking just like a child who had no idea how to lie—awkward and innocent.
Zong Xuan laughed, wrapped an arm around him, and effortlessly took the thing Xu Tang had hidden behind his back.
Xu Tang: “…”
Zong Xuan opened the bag.
The moment he saw what was inside, his smile deepened.
“What? You want to throw it away?”
Xu Tang’s face reddened. He did not even know whether he should answer yes or no.
Zong Xuan tied the bag shut again.
“Keep it. You shouldn’t reject the thought your friend put into it.”
“We don’t need it right now, but we should be able to use it next year.”
By then, Xu Tang should have become more accustomed to their relationship, and adding a little variety to their intimate life would be perfectly normal.
In any case, Zong Xuan wanted to keep it.
Xu Tang did not really have the heart to throw it away either, so he left it for Zong Xuan to deal with.
Perhaps, after enough time passed, Zong Xuan would simply forget about it.
Xu Tang comforted himself with that thought.
After filming several martial arts scenes, Xu Tang had become more experienced than before, and the number of NGs he had was noticeably lower.
Director Xin was extremely satisfied.
The behind-the-scenes crew, however, was not nearly as happy.
When Xu Tang did not make mistakes, Zong Xuan naturally had no reason to go over and comfort him, which meant there were fewer intimate behind-the-scenes shots for them to capture.
Zheng Xun’s performance remained consistently stable, and he was also very good at dealing with people.
Everyone on set had a good impression of him, and several of the younger actors and newcomers got along especially well with him.
Whenever Xu Tang had no scenes, he usually stayed at the hotel, reading scripts and writing music.
Normally, as a newcomer, he should still go to set and observe the others even when he had no scenes.
But Zong Xuan felt that Xu Tang only needed to maintain his current state.
Too much studying could instead affect his current acting condition and performance style.
Director Xin also felt that Xu Tang was already doing well enough. If he wanted to learn more, he could systematically study acting after filming was finished.
That day, Xu Tang had no scenes.
He spent the entire morning writing a song.
After finishing, he was in an especially good mood and went to the production site, planning to have lunch with Zong Xuan.
He had not told Zong Xuan in advance.
By the time he arrived at the set, everyone had already started eating lunch.
Yuan Shang went to collect Xu Tang’s boxed meal for him.
Xu Tang, meanwhile, opened the door of the RV and walked straight inside.
The moment he entered, he saw Zheng Xun beside Zong Xuan, his clothes disheveled.