Chapter 16 - My Costar Takes Me For A Ride

Yao Shen's second day of filming, 'Shizun, this disciple will have to kill you', goes by in a blur.

He has some scenes together with Xin Hulei, but since these are all earlier on, when Xin Hulei and Rong Zi first joined Frozen Peak as disciples, their interactions are minimal, and there are several other actors on scene with them to act as buffers.

It allows Yao Shen to relax and fully immerse himself in his role, without thinking about what Xin Hulei is doing, and how his own performance measures up.

Things go smoothly, the directors are pleased, but Yao Shen's nerves are still frazzled.

He still expects the rug to be pulled from under his feet at any moment.

He's also overly conscious of Xin Hulei's eyes on him, tracking is every movement as he moves around the set, during pauses, while the crew adjusts the lighting, while the makeup crew touches up on his foundation.

It's unnerving.

Gao Wu tries to approach him a couple of times, to ask about how he's dealing with the backlash from the leaked video, but Xin Hulei always finds a way to come between them.

They're shooting their last scene together before lunch when Yao Shen finally snaps.

He grabs Xin Hulei by the collar of his red robes and drags him towards a secluded corner of the set. "What the hell is your damage?" he hisses, keeping his voice low.

Xin Hulei stares down at him with that inscrutable gaze of his that only makes his blood boil. "Not even a full 24 hours after our meeting this morning, and you're already making a scene?"

His tone isn't chiding, or sardonic, merely inquisitive, as if he can't fully wrap his mind around Yao Shen's behavior.

It makes Yao Shen let go of his robes as if scalded. He also doesn't understand what's gotten into him. What is it about Xin Hulei that makes him completely lose his cool?

"No one is filming us," he says, defensive. Although, he didn't think anyone was filming them during the table reading either.

He changes subjects. "Stop following me, I already have a shadow."

Xin Hulei quirks one eyebrow. "We are supposed to be growing closer."

Yao Shen rolls his eyes. "That doesn't mean you need to hang over my shoulder like a jealous boyfriend." He narrows his eyes at Xin Hulei's smooth face. "Let me talk with whoever I want."

"How am I stopping you?" Xin Hulei asks, the slightest note of incredulity tinging his words.

"You--" Yao Shen starts, but cuts himself short when he comes to a startling realization.

Xin Hulei doesn't really do anything, he just shows up and stands there whenever Yao Shen and Gao Wu are together.

It's Yao Shen's hyper awareness of his presence that makes him tense up, and feel as if he's intruding.

He can't really blame the guy for approaching his coworkers during breaks.

Some of the anger deflates out of him. "Nevermind," he sighs, stepping away from Xin Hulei. "Just ignore everything I said."

Xin Hulei holds him back by the wrist, his cool fingers wrapped in a circle around the slender bone. "Whatever animosity you feel towards me, you need to let that go."

Yao Shen pulls his arm away with a vicious tug, his mood immediately caustic.

That's easy for Xin Hulei to say, he isn't the one whose career was ruined because of him.

He lowers his head and walks back towards the set, focused on getting through the rest of the day without letting his temper get the best of him.

---

He has lunch alone in his trailer, relieved to be left to his own devices.

The incredibly annoying system has other opinions.

[Host should consider taking advantage of the opportunity he has been gifted and try and grow closer to the Demon King.]

Apparently that's a popular request, lately.

The universe seems to conspire to throw him in Xin Hulei's path, while all Yao Shen can do is kick and scream futilely while being dragged towards him by the ankles.

Life has a way of kicking you in the teeth in the ways you least expect.

Who would have thought that as a young teenager Yao Shen would see Xin Hulei acting through a crappy beat up laptop, and his virtuous performance would inspire him to hold fast to his own dream of becoming an actor -- only to end up hating the very sight of the man years later?

The afternoon goes by in a flash. It seems the more he dreads the upcoming dinner with Xin Hulei the faster he breezes through his scenes.

The rain has finally let up, the sun shining for most of the day until finally sinking into the horizon in an explosion of pinks and purples. The temperatures remain blissfully cool.

Yao Shen knows that won't last as spring turns to summer.

He has heard enough horror stories about Hengdian summers from other actors to know he's in for a bad time. Especially considering the many layers of his Yan Shuyi costume.

In the makeup trailer one of the hairstylists removes his wig, something that will be done from time to time, so the wig can be cleaned and re-styled and Yao Shen can wash his hair.

Without the extra weight his head feels so light Yao Shen half expects it to float away.

He looks at his reflection in the vanity mirror and almost doesn't recognize himself.

In just two days he's gotten used to seeing Yan Shuyi's face staring back at him.

He shakes his head to clear it. Experiencing character bleed two days into filming is beyond ridiculous.

He stays seated, fiddling with his phone until the hair stylists grow antsy with his presence.

Finally, he can stall no longer, and makes his way out of the trailer.

Xin Hulei is already waiting for him outside, leaning casually against the side of the trailer, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips.

Yao Shen approaches him with a frown. "I didn't know you smoked."

Xin Hulei hums, sucking on a drag, making the cigarette's cherry flare up bright orange. "It's a bad habit, I've tried to quit but it never sticks."

That's...perhaps he first bit of genuine personal information Xin Hulei has shared with him.

He half expects the system to tell him their closeness percentage has increased, but the eerie voice inside his mind remains silent.

Xin Hulei holds the cigarette between his index and middle finger, eyes locked with Yao Shen's as he sucks on a last deep drag, and then throws the cigarette to the ground, crushing it underfoot.

Yao Shen scowls. "Don't litter," he says, but when he looks down the cigarette butt is nowhere to be seen.

Right, Demon King. Yao Shen keeps his mouth shut, biting the inside of his cheek. Wondering why Xin Hulei is letting him see something so trivial.

Does he think Yao Shen wouldn't notice? Would think he saw wrong?

Xin Hulei is dressed casually in slim fit running pants, and a red hoodie open over a dark tank top. His wig has also been removed and his dark hair is pulled artlessly away from his face in loose waves, as if he run his fingers through it and just let it say that way.

It's effortlessly cool, like everything else about him.

Yao Shen feels young and gangly in his oversized jumper and jeans.

"Let's go," he says, walking away from the trailers and towards the nearby parking area.

Yao Shen can't help noticing his breath smells minty, the freshness overpowering the cloying scent of tobacco.

He follows after him, expecting to be led towards Xin Hulei's personal car, or a rental perhaps.

Instead, Xin Hulei comes to a stop in front of a sleek silver motorcycle.

There are two helmets dangling from the handlebar, and he picks one to hand to Yao Shen.

"Put it on," he says, slipping the other one over his own head. "And hold on tight to me."