Chapter 18
The crew of “Blazing” was shooting in Bin Town, a relatively remote seaside town in the south.
Lin Lu booked round-trip tickets for Saturday morning and Monday afternoon. Although the crew provided a generous budget for expenses, he still habitually chose the cheapest flights.
The night before departure, Lin Lu was packing his luggage when Zhang Yihang suddenly sent him a WeChat message: “Can you reserve a seat for me tomorrow?”
Lin Lu was puzzled: “Reserve a seat for what?”
Zhang Yihang: “For the college anniversary celebration, big brother, have you gone crazy writing your thesis?”
Lin Lu suddenly remembered. A few days ago, Lao Tang had notified that all students in the department must attend the anniversary celebration on Saturday afternoon. If they couldn’t attend for a valid reason, they had to provide proof.
He was at a loss. How could he provide proof if he was going to be shooting a film?
Take sick leave?
But he couldn’t get a sick leave certificate either.
When Xue Wensong finished showering and came out, he saw the kid squatting by the suitcase, looking troubled. Curiously, he asked, “What’s wrong, little guy?”
Lin Lu explained the situation about the anniversary celebration to Xue Wensong, with a mournful expression. “If I skip the celebration, I’ll lose my eligibility for the scholarship.”
Xue Wensong found it amusing. “With your grades, you’re still counting on getting a scholarship?”
“Besides the academic scholarship, we also have other scholarships,” Lin Lu blushed. “Those scholarships are awarded in order, and now that I’m a senior, it’s finally my turn.”
Xue Wensong raised an eyebrow. “How much can you get from the scholarship?”
“It’s two thousand,” Lin Lu said.
Xue Wensong walked over to Lin Lu and ruffled his hair. “Forget about it.”
After all, he had just secured several hundred million yuan in government projects, enough to support this little deer.
“No,” Lin Lu frowned without hesitation. “Do you know how much pork prices have risen? Two thousand won’t even cover our food expenses for a month.”
Suddenly, Xue Wensong felt something. His little one was trying to earn scholarships to support him… it was too cute.
“I’ll tell Tang Yi to provide a proof saying you’re coming to the company with me tomorrow,” Xue Wensong said.
“Really?” Lin Lu’s eyes lit up, but he was still curious. “How are you going to do it?”
“Just say that you were interning at my company at that time. Isn’t that simple?” Xue Wensong replied.
Lin Lu happily messaged Zhang Yihang back: “I won’t go tomorrow afternoon. I got the proof.”
Zhang Yihang: “???”
Zhang Yihang: “Where did you get it from?”
Lin Lu: “Xue Wensong helped me get it.”
Lin Lu: “I forgot to tell you, I married Xue Wensong.”
After sending this message, before he received any response, Zhang Yihang immediately initiated a video call.
“What are you talking about? What marriage? Xue Wensong? Are you out of your mind?” Zhang Yihang exclaimed in disbelief.
Lin Lu laughed, “It’s true, I really married Xue Wensong.”
Zhang Yihang still doubted, “When did this happen? Why didn’t I know?”
“At the beginning of the semester, for some reason, so I didn’t tell you immediately,” Lin Lu explained.
Zhang Yihang, seeing Lin Lu’s sincerity, suddenly remembered seeing news about Xue Wensong’s marriage. He was shocked, “Are you kidding me? Xue god’s spouse is you?”
Lin Lu nodded, “Yeah, I find it unbelievable too.”
“No, no, no, it’s impossible. You’re just a bit handsome, but around Xue god, who wouldn’t he have? How could he be interested in you?” Zhang Yihang couldn’t believe it.
Xue Wensong, who had taken the phone from Lin Lu, asked expressionlessly, “Do you have any opinions about my taste?”
Zhang Yihang immediately felt a chill down his spine, unable to believe that he had unintentionally offended the god Xue. He quickly said, “Xue… Xue god!! I must be dreaming!!”
Xue Wensong glanced at the excited young man on the screen and lazily introduced himself, “Let me introduce myself, I’m Lin Lu’s husband, Xue Wensong.”
“Hello, hello!” Zhang Yihang hurriedly said, “I’m Lin Lu’s good friend, Zhang Yihang.”
“Good friend?” Xue Wensong raised an eyebrow. “As a good friend, shouldn’t you express your congratulations when Lin Lu gets married?”
Zhang Yihang’s back suddenly felt cold. It dawned on him that he had unintentionally offended the god Xue. He quickly said, “Lin Lu is handsome and has a good personality, a rare marriage partner. Whoever pursues him must be very sad. Xue god is really lucky! I wish you both a hundred years of happiness and a lifetime together!”
Xue Wensong smirked, satisfied, and handed the phone back to Lin Lu.
When the screen returned to Lin Lu, Zhang Yihang lowered his voice and said, “I knew it, how could you write your thesis so quickly? Turns out you’ve hacked the system!”
“Yeah,” Lin Lu said with a smile, “you can also find someone powerful to guide you.”
“Why would I bother? You’re the one who hit the jackpot.”
Lin Lu didn’t deny it, letting Zhang Yihang tease him for a while.
“Hey, I was just thinking,” Zhang Yihang suddenly changed the subject, “don’t you like Lu Shaoyang? If Xue Wensong and Lu Shaoyang both fell into the water, who would you save?”
Lin Lu was stunned for a moment, then blushed and said in a low voice, “I… I would save Xue Wensong, of course.”
Xue Wensong, lying on the bed, couldn’t help but smile involuntarily.
When Lin Lu set off for Bin Town, Xue Wensong happened to be going out of town for a meeting. They first went to the company together, stamped the proof, scanned it, and sent it to Tang Yi, before heading to the airport together.
Three hours later, the plane landed in the warm southern city. After Lin Lu got off the plane, he stored the coat Xue Wensong bought for him and then took a long-distance bus to the remote seaside town.
This was Lin Lu’s first time in the south. The autumn sun gently sprinkled on him, the temperature was just right, and the moist and fresh air enveloped his body, making him feel comfortable.
He first checked in at the crew hotel and then informed Xue Wensong of his safe arrival. With an excited heart, he headed to the beach where the crew was stationed.
The salty scent of the sea grew closer as he approached. From a distance, he could see the familiar set equipment placed on the beach, and a small area cordoned off by the staff.
There, Lu Shaoyang and Zhang Yuxi were sitting side by side, exchanging occasional words. All eyes were on them, but it didn’t affect their skilled acting.
As Lin Lu got closer, he realized that Lu Shaoyang and Zhang Yuxi were holding hands. In the next moment, Lu Shaoyang suddenly flipped over, pinning Zhang Yuxi beneath him. The two passionately kissed, oblivious to the waves crashing over them and wetting their clothes.
The director promptly shouted “cut,” and the entangled pair quickly separated. Lin Lu stared straight ahead at Lu Shaoyang, unable to blink.
He heard Lu Shaoyang asking the director, Tang Xu, “Is the angle okay?”
Tang Xu hissed, “The close-up shots of the faces are fine.”
But then he looked up and remarked to Zhang Yuxi, who was wrapped in a towel, “Look at how chubby you’ve become!”
Lin Lu stole a glance at Zhang Yuxi. He didn’t think she looked chubby at all, just a slightly protruding belly visible through the gap in the towel, especially more noticeable when the clothes were wet.
Tang Xu complained, “You were fine before joining the crew, and now, after just over a month, you’ve put on weight again.”
Zhang Yuxi frowned slightly, “Sorry.”
“Don’t blame him, Director Tang,” Lu Shaoyang intervened. “It’s my fault for taking him out for late-night snacks.”
Lin Lu thought to himself that this was the Lu Shaoyang he remembered, always stepping in to help when someone was in trouble.
“You still have the nerve to say?” Tang Xu scowled. “Knowing there’s a nude scene and still not paying attention. Are we even going to finish this film?”
“Don’t be angry, anger is bad for your health,” Lu Shaoyang joked.
Suddenly, Tang Xu remembered something and turned to his assistant, “Has the body double arrived yet?”
Lin Lu was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to greet Tang Xu, “Director, I’m Lin Lu, and I’ve arrived.”
Tang Xu stood up and gave Lin Lu a once-over before suddenly lifting his T-shirt.
Lin Lu stood frozen, not daring to move, as Tang Xu looked him over from top to bottom. Finally, satisfied, he let go and said, “Okay.”
Lin Lu quickly pulled his T-shirt back down, only to hear Tang Xu continue, “You arrived just in time. We need you to reshoot that scene just now, and then there’s another scene in the bathroom where two people are intimate. Come and observe, and you’ll reshoot it tomorrow.”
The scene just now?
Lin Lu’s brain froze for a moment before he realized that the scene just now was Zhang Yuxi being pinned down by Lu Shaoyang…
And there’s an intimate scene in the bathroom?
“Di… Director,” Lin Lu asked anxiously, “Isn’t being shirtless enough? Do we have to perform actions as well?”
Tang Xu glared at Lin Lu, “Do you think I brought you here to shoot posters?”
Lin Lu stood dumbfounded, but Lu Shaoyang walked up to him and reassured him, “Don’t worry, I’ll guide you.”
With his idol suddenly in front of him, Lin Lu quickly regained his senses and stuttered, “Lu Shaoyang, um, I’m your fan.”
Lu Shaoyang smiled, “Oh, really? Want an autograph?”
It was just a joke from Lu Shaoyang, but Lin Lu eagerly nodded and took out a pen and notebook from his backpack, handing it to him.
While Lu Shaoyang was signing, Lin Lu nervously said, “Actually, we’ve met before. I’m a student at P University. When you were filming there, we exchanged a few words in the lounge of the main hall.”
“Oh? Really?” After signing his name, Lu Shaoyang looked up and then tilted his head, trying to recall. “I remember, you didn’t seem to be in a good mood at that time, right?”
Seeing that Lu Shaoyang remembered, Lin Lu nodded excitedly, “Yes, thanks to your comfort at that time, I’ve always wanted to thank you.”
“So… you came to join the entertainment industry because of that?” Lu Shaoyang smiled and handed the pen and notebook back to Lin Lu.
“I’ve always liked performing, so…”
At this moment, Tang Xu’s shout interrupted Lin Lu’s words. Lu Shaoyang said, “Let’s talk more later; we have to get to work now.”
“Okay, sure.”
Lin Lu watched Lu Shaoyang walk away, then looked down at the autograph he was given:
“May your future be bright.
Lu Shaoyang”
Lin Lu felt warm inside, but then he realized something was off.
Lu Shaoyang’s handwriting was neat, with few connections between strokes, but the life motto seemed to be written in a flowing and elegant script.
Was it because it was difficult to write while holding the book, so he deliberately wrote more neatly?
Otherwise, why would there be such a big difference in handwriting between the idol’s signature and the life motto?
