Lin Xuyang nodded nervously.
Meng Nianchu patted his shoulder comfortingly. "Don't rush. Take your time."
"Okay."
His face was tense. He rubbed his big palms against the side of his pants, his palms sweaty.
Due to Lin Xuyang's problem, the shooting had to be paused for a while. The acting teacher went specifically to discuss with Lin Xuyang how to act out the characters in the play. After some time, Lin Xuyang said they could start shooting.
The camera was pointed in the shooting direction.
The figures of Meng Nianchu and Lin Xuyang gradually came into the camera's view.
The director shouted from the side. "Think of Nianchu as the girl you have a crush on."
"Start!"
At the shout of the assistant director, the green light on the camera lit up. Meng Nianchu slipped into the role in an instant, her face flushing shyly.
"Are you free tomorrow? I've bought two movie tickets..."
"Yes!" Lin Xuyang quickly replied, his eyes nervously looking around. "I'll pick you up tomorrow."
The hesitation and shyness of the characters in the crew who liked each other were perfectly interpreted by Meng Nianchu and Lin Xuyang. Even without saying a word, the palpable aura of ambiguity lingered around them.
The actors watching nearby couldn't help but show indulgent smiles. When they came to their senses, the assistant director had already shouted "Cut!"
Lin Xuyang smiled shyly at Meng Nianchu. "Miss Meng, your acting skills are really good."
"You're not bad either."
Just as they were being polite, Cui Lei raised her phone and aimed it at Meng Nianchu and Lin Xuyang. "I'll take a picture of you two!"
As she said this, she had already pressed the camera shutter.
"Click."
In the photo, Meng Nianchu was smiling at the camera, while Lin Xuyang was looking at Meng Nianchu, his eyes filled with a gentle smile.
"Wrap up!"
Cui Lei, who had changed into her casual clothes, shouted excitedly.
A black BMW stopped at the entrance of the crew. Everyone in the crew could tell at a glance that it was here to pick up Meng Nianchu.
Under everyone's burning gazes, Meng Nianchu got into Mu Junze's car. As soon as her butt touched the car seat, a sense of oppression rushed towards her.
Meng Nianchu nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"What's wrong?"
Mu Junze looked gloomy, his thin lips tightly pursed. She hadn't seen Mu Junze this angry in days.
The air pressure in the narrow car dropped suddenly. Unable to bear it any longer, Meng Nianchu asked again. "What on earth is going on?"
"The filming went well today." Mu Junze said coldly.
Meng Nianchu looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
Mu Junze stared straight ahead and said nothing more. With one hand on the steering wheel and the other, he picked up his phone and casually opened an interface. He placed the phone on the holder, right in Meng Nianchu's line of sight.
Looking in that direction, Meng Nianchu first frowned, then burst out laughing. Sensing that Mu Junze's aura was becoming even more oppressive, she held it back.
It was the photo that Cui Lei had taken of her and Lin Xuyang in the crew. Somehow, it had been spread and sparked a discussion on the Internet.
"Cui Lei took a really good picture. It's quite nice." As she said this, she observed Mu Junze's reaction. Seeing his expression getting even more gloomy, she changed the subject. "It's just acting."
"A well - matched couple." Mu Junze said sourly.
This was the most prominent hot comment under the photo.
Meng Nianchu snatched the phone and exited the photo interface. "It's just a joke. Just take a casual look. Don't take it seriously."
"People always say any beautiful woman and man look well - matched when they stand together. They're just making random jokes."
After that, Mu Junze fell silent again. It wasn't until they got back to Shangting that he said coldly. "I just took a casual look."
"..." Meng Nianchu saw through him but didn't say it.
To prevent this matter from weighing on Mu Junze's mind and potentially leading to a conflict between them, Meng Nianchu took measures that night.
She obediently stood in front of the study where Mu Junze was and knocked on the door. Mu Junze's voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Meng Nianchu pushed the door open, gently closed the wooden door of the study, walked over to Mu Junze, and placed the warmed - up milk on the table.
She pushed aside the documents on the side and casually sat on Mu Junze's lap.
Mu Junze remained expressionless.
Meng Nianchu bit her lower lip, looking aggrieved. "I can't fall asleep alone in the room. Please accompany me."
"I still have work to do."
"Do it tomorrow." Meng Nianchu immediately stood up and tried to pull Mu Junze up.
Mu Junze didn't move.
Meng Nianchu was deflated.
"Are you going to ignore me for the rest of your life? I haven't done anything wrong, yet you treat me like this. Mu Junze, you've changed. You've become cold - hearted! I don't want to talk to you anymore. Do whatever you want."
There was a sob hidden in her words. After saying that, she lifted her leg and walked towards the door of the study.
Suddenly, Mu Junze's big hand grabbed hers.
Immediately, Meng Nianchu turned around and grinned at him. There was no trace of crying at all. She threw herself into Mu Junze's arms and acted coquettishly. "I'm really scared when I sleep alone. I can't fall asleep without you by my side."
Her little hand was also restless, groping randomly on Mu Junze's body.
Mu Junze's breathing became rapid. He grabbed her hand and pinned it behind Meng Nianchu's back.
Meng Nianchu looked at him affectionately.
At this moment...
How could he resist?
...
Early the next morning, when Meng Nianchu got up, Mu Junze had already prepared breakfast. His expression was different from the gloomy one last night. He looked refreshed. Although he didn't say a word during breakfast, he sincerely served Meng Nianchu a bowl of congee himself.
After breakfast, he first dropped Meng Nianchu off at the crew and then went to his company. Before leaving, he rolled down the car window and scanned every corner of the crew.
Meng Nianchu guessed that he must be looking for Lin Xuyang's figure. She couldn't help but smile helplessly and then entered the filming site.
Just as she came out of the dressing room after changing into her costume, she bumped right into Lin Xuyang who was standing at the door.
Meng Nianchu subconsciously took a step back, keeping a distance from him. "Do you need something?"
She was the only one in the dressing room. Who else could he be waiting for if not her?
Lin Xuyang blushed and handed her a cup of warm milk and a sandwich. "You came to the crew so early this morning. Have something to fill your stomach."
Looking down at the things he offered, Meng Nianchu politely declined. "I've already had breakfast with my husband at home."
She deliberately emphasized the word "husband".
Lin Xuyang's face froze for a moment. Then he shyly retracted his hand. "I see that you have a scene of jumping off a building today. Be careful. Make sure to take good care of your body. If you feel any discomfort, say it immediately."
"I know. Thank you for your concern."
As more and more actors entered the crew, Meng Nianchu was afraid that someone might take another photo of the two of them. In a moment of desperation, she made up an excuse. "I'll go and look at the script first."
"I still have..." He seemed to want to say something else, but then held it back. He just said. "Okay. We'll talk later."
Meng Nianchu left without looking back. Lin Xuyang watched her back, tightened his grip on the bread and warm milk in his hand, and sighed.