After filming all day, Xu Tang returned to the hotel room and immediately collapsed onto the sofa, not wanting to get up.
Zong Xuan sat down beside him, gently combing his fingers through Xu Tang’s hair.
“Your stamina really isn’t very good. You’re already this exhausted after just one day?”
Xu Tang answered with his eyes closed, “I’m not a long-distance runner. And I’m really tired.”
Besides the physical exhaustion, maintaining such intense concentration for so long actually felt even more tiring than the physical strain.
Zong Xuan smiled.
“Then rest for a while and take a shower. I’ll give you a massage.”
There was no place in the hotel that offered massages, and it would not be very convenient to call a massage therapist from outside either.
“You know how?”
“I know a little of the basics.”
Normally, when they wanted massages at home, they had a regular private club they went to. At most, Zong Xuan knew how to knead someone’s shoulders or massage their waist, but that was better than nothing.
Xu Tang thought that sounded good enough and dragged his tired body into the bathroom.
However, halfway through his shower, Zong Xuan shamelessly walked in.
Xu Tang hurriedly covered himself, his face turning red.
“You…”
Zong Xuan began taking off his clothes as he said, “It’ll be faster if we shower together.”
Xu Tang turned around shyly but did not refuse.
When they had still been at home, they had showered together before. They had usually spent quite a long time soaking in the bathtub, so he had not felt particularly embarrassed.
But now…
Zong Xuan chuckled. After taking off his clothes, he walked behind Xu Tang and pulled him into the shower with him.
The shower area was already narrow. Xu Tang grabbed Zong Xuan’s arm, and the shiver caused by their skin touching made his abdomen tingle, as though an electric current had run through him.
Zong Xuan lightly kissed the back of his neck and then began helping him wash.
By the time Xu Tang came out of the bathroom, his entire face was flushed.
He had even less strength than before entering.
Zong Xuan had to carry him to the bed.
“Your stamina really is concerning.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Zong Xuan let Xu Tang rest his head on his lap while drying his hair.
Xu Tang closed his eyes and did not want to speak.
It was simply too embarrassing. He felt like he had barely managed to hold himself together for five minutes in front of Zong Xuan…
After drying Xu Tang’s hair until it was halfway dry, Zong Xuan moved his head onto the pillow and began kneading his shoulders and massaging him.
Xu Tang closed his eyes and enjoyed it, repeatedly comforting himself—
Well, things had already gotten this far. Even if he had not managed to last five minutes, Zong Xuan couldn’t exactly return him.
Whatever!
As Zong Xuan massaged him, his hands gradually became less well-behaved.
Xu Tang’s bathrobe was hardly covering anything by then. Zong Xuan leaned over him, kissing his neck and back.
Xu Tang felt a little ticklish from it, but with Zong Xuan holding him down, he could hardly move.
“I don’t have any strength left…” Xu Tang said, catching Zong Xuan’s hand.
Zong Xuan laughed softly.
“Just kissing. We’re not doing anything else.”
Only then did Xu Tang relax.
Zong Xuan generally kept his word. And if they did not have to get up early to film the next day, the atmosphere just now might naturally have led somewhere further.
“When we get home, I’ll get you a gym membership. You know, the longer your stamina lasts, the more fun there is.”
Zong Xuan’s hand moved lightly across Xu Tang’s abdomen.
“I exercise,” Xu Tang said.
He really did exercise. His company had a very good gym. But he exercised for his health rather than to build muscle.
“We’ll join the same gym. Then we can go together.”
Zong Xuan gently rubbed against his neck.
Xu Tang caught his increasingly wandering hand.
“You’ll be away filming for several months at a time. It would be a waste.”
“Then we’ll buy a treadmill and put it at home,” Zong Xuan suggested.
“Forget it. I’ll just go to the gym.”
Xu Tang did not want to put a machine at home. Otherwise, Zong Xuan would definitely keep an eye on his workouts.
Actually, he really did not like exercising very much. He had been that way since he was little.
He had no idea who he took after.
Zong Xuan laughed softly and said nothing more.
During the following week, they filmed scenes that were not particularly important.
This was also intended to give the actors a transition period, allowing them to become more immersed in the story while reducing some of their nervousness.
Director Xin saw that everyone had more or less settled into their roles and decided to film one of the major scenes that day—
the scene where the two characters separated.
It was still the same small pavilion from their first day of filming, with a pot of clear tea on the stone table.
Although the garden was filled with summer scenery, for some reason there was a trace of desolation and sorrow in the air.
Ye Shao looked at Heng Xiao and asked quietly,
“You really have to leave?”
“Yes.”
Heng Xiao looked into Ye Shao’s eyes.
“My elder brother needs my help.”
Ye Shao was silent for a moment.
“If you leave this time, I’m afraid we will never meet again.”
“I’m sorry.”
Heng Xiao’s brows moved slightly, as though he too was extremely reluctant to leave, but he had no other choice.
Ye Shao lowered his eyes and stopped looking at Heng Xiao.
His throat moved before he said hoarsely,
“There is nothing else I can help you with.”
He picked up the Jun Gui Sword, which had already been placed to one side, and set it on the table.
“Jun Gui is for you. I hope you can achieve what you wish for after you leave. There is also a batch of weapons in the manor that are still usable. Take those with you as well.”
“All right.”
Heng Xiao’s gaze toward Ye Shao became even deeper.
It seemed he had so many things he wanted to say, yet he did not know where to begin.
After a long silence, he finally asked,
“Are you willing to wait for me?”
Ye Shao stood up and turned his back to Heng Xiao, placing his hands behind his back.
To the servant outside the pavilion, he said,
“See Young Master Heng out of the manor.”
His tone was indifferent and decisive.
With those words, he drew a clear boundary between himself and Heng Xiao.
There were too many people in the world who coveted the weapons of Sword Shadow Manor.
It was not that Ye Shao did not know Heng Xiao’s purpose, nor had he never suspected that Heng Xiao’s fall from the cliff might have been deliberate.
It was simply that the word “love” had soothed all those doubts.
Even at their parting, Ye Shao was unwilling to let himself lose his composure.
Jun Gui was not meant to bring Heng Xiao back to him.
It was merely Ye Shao’s hope that Heng Xiao could return safely to the place where he was meant to be.
Their love ended with Heng Xiao’s departure.
From then on, they would have nothing more to do with each other.
The servant stepped forward and said to Heng Xiao,
“Young Master Heng, please.”
Heng Xiao looked at Ye Shao’s back, knowing that he no longer wished to say anything to him.
His heart was filled with conflicting emotions.
On one side was the person he loved. On the other was his elder brother.
He could not disregard his brother’s life for the sake of love.
Originally, he had merely intended to borrow weapons as part of a plan. Who could have known that circumstances would change faster than his plans?
“Ye Shao…”
Heng Xiao still wanted to say something.
He wanted to ask Ye Shao to wait for him.
He wanted to tell him that he would return.
But at this moment, it seemed that anything he said would only be unnecessary.
His intentions had never been pure to begin with.
How could he expect Ye Shao to trust him?
“Having achieved too much can make you a target. Take care of yourself.”
Ye Shao still did not turn around. He merely waved his hand toward the servant.
Heng Xiao understood.
If he did not leave now, someone would probably come and drag him away.
“Ye Shao, take care.”
With that, Heng Xiao turned and left.
Ye Shao’s body trembled slightly, his fingers clenched tightly.
No one knew.
Only Ye Shao remained in the pavilion.
Just as he had been at the beginning, he was still alone.
Because he had once experienced happiness, loneliness had become much harder to endure…
“Cut!”
Xu Tang crouched down, his body trembling slightly.
Zong Xuan hurried over, sat down beside him on the ground, and pulled him into his arms.
“It’s all right now. Don’t be sad.”
“Mm…”
Xu Tang’s throat felt sore, and tears gathered in his eyes.
For the first time, he understood what it felt like to share a character’s sorrow and joy.
He suddenly felt somewhat panicked, too.
Before, when he had secretly loved Zong Xuan, Zong Xuan had not particularly cared about maintaining distance between them. Although Xu Tang had still been hurt, he had never felt as though his heart had died.
But if Zong Xuan were to leave him now, he felt that his life would become just like Ye Shao’s—
colorless.
The person who had brought color into his life would then take that color away.
That was an unbearably cruel thing.
Director Xin saw Xu Tang grieving and did not disturb him. He merely gestured to Zong Xuan, indicating that the take had passed.
He then had everyone rest and planned to resume filming after lunch.
Zong Xuan stroked Xu Tang’s hair and smiled.
“Come on. I’ll carry you around for a while. You’ll feel better after you’ve had some time to calm down.”
“Mm…”
At that moment, Xu Tang simply wanted to cling to Zong Xuan.
Anything was fine.
Zong Xuan carried Xu Tang on his back and followed the path toward the deserted rear courtyard.
“I’m not Heng Xiao, and you’re not Ye Shao. We’ll always be together.”
He smiled lightly as he spoke, slowly pulling Xu Tang back out of the story.
“Besides, Heng Xiao and Ye Shao are only separated temporarily. They eventually have a happy ending too.”
“Mm.”
Xu Tang still did not have much energy.
“Quite a few actors are like you. Once they get into character, it’s hard for them to come back out.”
Zong Xuan smiled.
“That’s good in some ways and bad in others. It can help you perform the role well, but it’s too hard on your body.”
“I understand what you’re saying. I just don’t like what Heng Xiao did.”
Xu Tang’s voice was muffled.
“Leaving aside which side was more urgent, from the perspective of ancient people, matters concerning the family and country were far more important than romantic feelings between two people.”
Zong Xuan’s voice was gentle.
“Heng Xiao didn’t leave because Ye Shao wasn’t important. His brother’s life was simply more urgent.”
“Ye Shao couldn’t completely fail to understand that either. He just knew that once Heng Xiao left the manor, many things would no longer be within their control.”
“The manor was a responsibility Ye Shao had been destined to carry from birth. It was something his parents had given him.”
“But he didn’t like having his fate controlled by other people. Once he left the manor, if he wanted to stay with Heng Xiao, he would inevitably have to give up control over many things, and the ending might not have been a good one.”
Xu Tang sighed softly.
“They both had their own difficulties, and they both had their own thoughts.”
Sometimes fate simply enjoyed playing tricks on people.
Zong Xuan carried him toward the koi pond.
“Exactly. So don’t be sad anymore. Think about what comes afterward. When you have something good waiting for you in the future, the suffering you’re going through now won’t seem like much.”
“Mm.”
Xu Tang tugged slightly at the corners of his lips, and his mood eased considerably.
They sat beside the pond and fed the fish for a while.
Then Yuan Shang arrived carrying boxed lunches.
Seeing that Xu Tang was already fine, he smiled and walked over.
“Brother Xu, Brother Zong, time for lunch.”
Zong Xuan took both boxed meals and asked,
“Where’s Shao Qian?”
“He went to buy fruit.”
Yuan Shang answered.
As fellow assistants, he and Xie Shao Qian had recently developed quite a good rhythm together, which saved them a lot of time.
Xu Tang accepted his lunch and asked,
“What about yours?”
“I left it in the van. I’ll eat with Shao Qian when he comes back.”
He had eaten quite a few snacks that day and was not very hungry yet.
Xu Tang nodded.
“Oh, right. The behind-the-scenes crew took some photos of Brother Zong carrying you just now. They asked me to check whether it’s okay to post them on Weibo.”
The behind-the-scenes crew and the publicity team worked together. These behind-the-scenes moments were intended to be released at appropriate times to build publicity for the film.
“Go ahead.”
Zong Xuan inserted the straw into Xu Tang’s drink and said it casually, without seeming to care much.
Xu Tang had no objection either.
They had been quiet for a week now. It was probably time to release something.
During the afternoon filming, Xu Tang was still quite immersed in the role, but he did not become so emotionally overwhelmed that he could not come out of character again.
Zong Xuan was therefore much more at ease.
Whenever he had free time, he teased Xu Tang and played with him to help him relax.
Perhaps the emotions from the morning had not completely faded.
That night, Xu Tang was particularly affectionate.
After Zong Xuan held him and kissed him for a while, his mind quickly ran through the schedule for the next three days—
There were no scenes for Xu Tang.
After being a gentleman for such a long time, and after their busy schedules had kept them apart for so long, he finally had a little free time.
And Xu Tang was being so proactive.
His patience had finally reached its limit.
The two naturally took another step forward in their relationship and spent their first night together.
The next morning, Zong Xuan woke first.
He touched Xu Tang’s forehead and, after confirming that he did not have a fever, finally relaxed.
Not long afterward, Xu Tang woke as well.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
Zong Xuan kissed his forehead.
He had originally imagined their first time differently.
There should have been flowers, candlelight, and red wine…
But in reality, there had been none of those things.
It had simply happened naturally.
Still, he planned to make it up to Xu Tang after they returned home, even though Xu Tang might not necessarily need such a gesture.
Their bare skin remained close, and the natural reaction that came with waking in the morning had not disappeared because of what had happened the night before.
On the contrary, the closeness between them only made the atmosphere more awkward and intense.
Xu Tang’s face turned red, and he hid most of his face beneath the blanket.
Zong Xuan laughed and pulled him closer.
“I’ll get you some medicine later.”
“No need. I’m not uncomfortable.”
Xu Tang’s voice was hoarse.
“It should still be applied properly. It won’t hurt.”
Zong Xuan patted him lightly.
Xu Tang’s face became even redder.
Yesterday, he really had been affected by his emotions. He had simply wanted to be closer to Zong Xuan.
But now that he was completely calm, all that remained was embarrassment.
When he thought about the teasing things Zong Xuan had whispered to him the night before, and then remembered all the embarrassing things he himself had said while unable to control his emotions, he now wanted nothing more than to bury himself completely beneath the blanket and refuse to speak to anyone.
Knowing that Xu Tang was embarrassed, Zong Xuan did not tease him.
Instead, he said gently,
“Rest well in the room today. I’ll come back after filming. Have Yuan Shang buy whatever you want to eat. Call me if anything happens.”
“Okay.”
Xu Tang answered obediently.
Seeing that it was almost time, Zong Xuan got out of bed and went to wash up.
He then insisted on taking care of Xu Tang’s medicine, leaving Xu Tang’s entire face as red as a cooked shrimp.
Only after Zong Xuan left did Xu Tang finally crawl out from beneath the blanket.
He sent Yuan Shang a message saying that he wanted porridge for breakfast.
Since Xu Tang had no scenes over the next few days, Yuan Shang could afford to sleep a little longer.
After washing up, he came out and saw Xu Tang’s message.
He immediately replied, “Got it!”
Then he went downstairs to buy breakfast.
When he carried the hot breakfast into Xu Tang’s room, he saw Xu Tang sitting on the sofa playing with his phone, a very obvious series of kiss marks around his neck.
Yuan Shang’s eyes immediately widened.
“Wow, Brother Xu, did your brother-in-law eat you up?”
Xu Tang’s complexion, which had finally returned to normal, turned red again.
He gave a fake cough and changed the subject.
“Have you eaten?”
Yuan Shang immediately understood and chuckled.
“Not yet.”
“Eat with me.”
“Okay.”
Yuan Shang sat down and took the food containers out one by one.
“Oh, right, Brother Xu. Zheng Xun arrived last night. Today he’s filming scenes with Brother Zong.”
Only then did Xu Tang remember.
He had originally planned to go greet Zheng Xun the previous day, but then…
“This afternoon, buy some extra fruit and send a portion to Zheng Xun.”
Xu Tang and Zheng Xun had not interacted much, but failing to show some courtesy might make the other man think he was unwelcome.
“Sure, don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
Yuan Shang nodded.
As he did, he secretly wondered—
Now that Brother Xu had clearly been thoroughly spoiled by his brother-in-law, what kind of fruit would be best for him?