Ai and the company squished to fit themselves at a corner to see the shooting right in front of her eyes. The most excited within them was none other than Ai herself. She had met Chyou before many times but this was the first time she was witnessing her in her work mode.
Jun's gaze darkened as he was completely sidelined. Siying chuckled. "There is no use getting cranky, bro. We cannot defeat Chyou."
"I can. I just need to brainwash Ai," he sneered.
His brow twitched. "Good luck with that."
Back at the stage and under the set lights, Chyou's outfit earned gasps as she looked ethereal in the historical outfit. She maneuvered herself flawlessly and comfortably while Yating, on the other end, had trouble walking steadily. He wasn't used to wearing the robes that men in ancient Chinese Dynasty wore.
Under Director Murong's guidance, he did practice carrying himself with the outfit and he only prayed that his efforts would prove to be fruitful.
Director Murong said in a louder voice from his seat, "So Chyou, Yating. You know the scene, right? I have tweaked the scene a bit so now it's a flashback of you gifting the pendant to Chyou. Just close your eyes and remember what emotions you have to portray."
Chyou took a deep breath. Up until now, she had spent countless hours practicing and shooting with Yin. There were memories associated with him and this movie and now everything was changing.
Can I really do this...? I don't want to remember him. I don't want to think about him.
I won't think about him. I will only think about my part and this movie...
She exhaled light, shaky breaths.
As Director Murong gave the signal, they got into positions. Chyou was ready and she looked up to find Yating gazing at her with a warm smile. The set light shone on his left profile and the memory of the fireworks festival at the lake lit inside her mind like a firework itself.
What if I want that woman to be you?
Yating was standing before her. It was the same sturdy figure, the same warm gaze and the same soft smile with which he had quietly whispered that question. Suddenly, that exact moment of that night was etched so deeply into her that she stumbled back a step.
Yating swiftly held her arm and pulled her steady.
"Cut."
Director Murong asked, "You stumbled back just now, right? Is everything okay?"
Chyou blinked rapidly and snapped out of her stupor. "Ah...? Ah! S-sorry! I wasn't paying attention."
"No worries. Be careful. Let's start again."
Chyou awkwardly apologized to Yating to which he didn't seem to mind. The cameras rolled once again and Chyou lifted her gaze, peering into Yating's eyes.
The words and the beautiful fireworks lights invaded her mind once again and she gulped down a hard swallow.
Focus! Focus!
"I want to give you something," Yating said in a low, whispering voice that was filled with love for his wife. His character as Chyou's husband deeply loved her a lot.
Natural. Be natural, she reminded herself.
After a few takes, Chyou finally found her rhythm and did her part without any mistakes. Then came the next part when Yating stepped behind her as her eyes were closed.
Chyou felt a strange warmth inching closer to her the more Yating approached her. Her back was lightly brushing against his chest, making her tremble.
Huh, huh? What is happening? Why is he standing so close to me?
She could feel tiny beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Then slowly and steadily, she felt the tip of his fingers graze against her neck till the back part of it as something metallic tingled her.
She froze as his seemingly teasing touch tickled her. Her mind went blank. Right now, he was touching her, standing too close to her with his chest against her and with his warm breaths that felt too intimate as they hit her hair. His fingers grazed and brushed at the back of her neck as if he was playing and teasing her.
Her mind short-circuited all of a sudden and she couldn't think straight. With her eyes closed, every bit of any physical feeling and sensation was heightened even more.
The result was that she stumbled once again, feeling weak in her knees.
And Yating pulled her back yet again.
Everybody - "..."
"Cut!"
Director Murong tilted his head. "What happened to you? Wait, your face looks too red."
Chyou exhaled short, messy breaths. By this point of time, her face had reddened as if infinite strokes of blushes were painted on her.
"I-I...why is Y-Yating standing behind me? Weren't we su-supposed to walk?"
Director Murong was speechless again. "Chyou...do you remember what scene we are shooting?"
"Of course."
"So why are you asking that question? The first scene is Yating gifting you the pendant as he wears it around your neck. Then you walk down the flowery path hand in hand. We are doing the first part."
"..."
Huh? Was it like that?
Wait, don't tell me I forgot my own scene!
It was then Chyou remembered the sequence of the scenes and her face reddened with embarrassment.
"Oh..." she waved her hands in dismissal and laughed brokenly. "O-Of course I remember it. I was just checking if you remembered it haha."
"..."