Chapter 63.

Chapter 63.

After a few days of rest, Ning Yuyi returned to the film set.

After Ning Yuyi was bitten by a snake, the production crew scattered snake repellent around the set.

On Tuesday, Zhou Erhe cleared his schedule to stay by Ning Yuyi's side.

Sitting inside the makeup tent, Ning Yuyi was having powder applied to her face by the makeup artist.

Today's scene depicts a turning point in the attitude of the Ninth Prince, Li Anyan, towards the protagonist, Li Chengsi.

The cause for this change was set in the royal hunting grounds where Li Anyan chased a deer deep into the woods, only to be surrounded by lurking assassins. In the ensuing chaos, it was Li Chengsi who came to his rescue.

After eliminating the assassins, thinking he was safe, Li Anyan dismounted his horse to check on the deer he had been chasing. However, an injured assassin who pretended to be dead lunged at him with a knife.

At the critical moment, Li Chengsi rushed forward to shield him from the blow.

It was this very act that caused Li Anyan to fully lean his heart towards Li Chengsi.

Taking advantage of a break in her makeup application, Ning Yuyi went over her lines once again.

The director wanted to shoot some behind-the-scenes footage during the makeup process, but was promptly deterred by a stern look from Xie Yiezhou and retreated.

The scene involved many extras, and with so many people, marking the ground for positioning was essential to minimize retakes.

However, since only a few of the extras had acting experience, mistakes were bound to happen with such a large number.

They shot the scene for over two hours. Wearing her costume, Ning Yuyi was so exhausted she could hardly move.

After the final take, Ning Yuyi finally heard the director shout, "That's a wrap!"

The makeup artist quickly approached, touching up Ning Yuyi's powder and lipstick, and also adjusted her wig.

Zhou Erhe handed water to both her and Xie Yiezhou, saying, "Take a break. Your next scene is with Ji Xiaoning. Xie Yiezhou, you'll be shooting with Sheng Nianzhi on the second set."

"Is our schedule this tight?" Ning Yuyi recalled the director's shooting plan, "Was it always this packed?"

"It's a prime-time series aiming for the winter holiday slot at year's end. So, we'll likely be shooting non-stop for a while," Zhou Erhe explained.

"We won't finish by the end of the year, will we?" Ning Yuyi frowned, "So we'll be broadcasting while still shooting?"

"Yes, we'll air the first half and continue shooting the rest simultaneously," Zhou Erhe confirmed.

After sipping some water, Ning Yuyi was politely called by the crew to prepare for the next scene.

……

Her scene with Ji Xiaoning was a face-off between the two. Compared to scenes with extras, it should've been easier. However, they had even more retakes than the previous scene.

"Cut, cut, cut!" The director took a deep breath, his amplified voice echoing forcefully through the loudspeakers.

"Ji Xiaoning, can you put some emotion into it? How many times have you messed up this scene? Think when you act!"

As the makeup artist touched up Ning Yuyi's makeup, she caught a glimpse of Ji Xiaoning's trembling figure. Out of kindness and a desire to avoid further retakes, she approached Ji Xiaoning once her makeup was done.

"Is something wrong?" Ji Xiaoning asked, sitting despondently on a folding stool with her knees drawn up.

Ning Yuyi remained silent, unsure of what to say, and simply handed her a tissue.

The tears Ji Xiaoning had been holding back finally broke free. She choked out, "Did you come to mock me?"

"I don't have that kind of time. I've sent you the script for that scene. I've added notes to it," Ning Yuyi replied.

After saying that, Ning Yuyi left, thinking that Ji Xiaoning might be a bit paranoid. He just didn't want any more retakes; he yearned for some rest back at the hotel!

More than that, he wished to video call his boyfriend. QQ

He hadn't seen him for a whole day!

Ning Yuyi had annotated the script extensively with his interpretations, even discussing certain parts with Lin Chijing.

He genuinely adored the novel, so he wanted to give his best in adapting it to film.

After two more tries, they finally nailed the scene.

……

Due to a packed daytime schedule, the director postponed Ning Yuyi's night scenes. By eight, Ning Yuyi was finally free.

Returning to the hotel, exhausted and without an appetite, he took a shower and then flopped onto the bed in his shirt and boxers.

As soon as his back hit the mattress, he fell asleep, not even managing to pull the covers over himself.

He was jolted awake later, freezing cold...

Groggily, he pulled the blanket over himself, regretting that he hadn't initiated a video call with his boyfriend before sleeping.

Ning Yuyi checked the time on his phone and saw it was only around eleven.

Maybe he should try calling now?

Licking his dry lips, Ning Yuyi couldn't resist the urge, so he opened WeChat and sent a video call request to his top contact.

Expecting his boyfriend, Fan Zhongchuan, to be asleep, Ning Yuyi was taken aback when the call was promptly answered.

A familiar handsome face filled the screen, and Ning Yuyi was momentarily stunned.

"Why are you still up?" Ning Yuyi noticed the brightly lit study on the other end.

Fan Zhongchuan set his phone on a newly-purchased stand. "Waiting for a video call from my boyfriend."

Startled, Ning Yuyi frowned and began to scold, "It's already past eleven. You shouldn't stay up just to wait for my call. It's bad for your health."

Instead of being annoyed, Fan Zhongchuan burst into laughter at the reprimand.

Ning Yuyi quickly sat up, clutching a duck-shaped cushion to his chest. "You laugh, but what if you get sick? How are we supposed to grow old together?"

After speaking, he noticed an odd look in Fan Zhongchuan's eyes. Adjusting the camera view, Ning Yuyi realized that his shirt had slipped, revealing a shoulder.

Fan Zhongchuan pondered Ning Yuyi's last words and found them quite valid.

An idea began to form in Ning Yuyi's mind.

He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, exposing fair skin and a hint of a tattoo. Then, kneeling on the bed, he gazed enticingly at the phone.

"Big bro, since you're up, let's chat," Ning Yuyi said in a deliberately softer voice, almost making himself sick with the coyness.

But teasing Fan Zhongchuan was worth it.

He tossed the duck cushion to a corner out of view and gave Fan Zhongchuan a sultry look.

Fan Zhongchuan's gaze was fixated on Ning Yuyi's collarbone and the tiny visible tattoo. He swallowed hard.

"Big bro~" Ning Yuyi cheekily wiggled and, seeing the darkening look in Fan Zhongchuan's eyes, smirked.

Smugly thinking, "Mission accomplished."

He suddenly leaned in close to the camera, "Goodnight. That was your punishment for not sleeping early."

After ending the call, Ning Yuyi joyously rolled around in bed.

Once he grew tired from the rolling, he lay panting, clutching the blanket and grinning foolishly.

……

Staring at the now-black screen, Fan Zhongchuan sighed, closed his laptop, and left the study in the dark.

r

Soon after, the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.

The next day, Zhou Erhe went to call Ning Yuyi and found him already squatting down, eating breakfast.

With the ongoing film shooting, the director constantly reminded them to watch their diets and absolutely not gain weight, turning Ning Yuyi into a reluctant herbivore.

Finishing his salad with a grimace, Ning Yuyi poured himself a large glass of water.

"Why are you up so early?" Zhou Erhe put down the bun in his hand.

Ning Yuyi's eyes darted to a hint of filling in the bun. "Is that a meat bun?!"

"Yes," Zhou Erhe responded with a twist, "But you can't have it."

"What kind of torment is this?" Ning Yuyi exclaimed, feigning despair.

"Don't cry, I'll split it in half for you," Zhou Tuesday comforted the actress who was dieting.

Ning Yuyi's eyes sparkled, "With half the meat filling?"

Zhou Tuesday smirked, "Bargain any further, and you won't even get half of the bun."

Eventually, Ning Yuyi received a bun half, without any meat filling...

After breakfast, Ning Yuyi changed into something more comfortable and headed to the set for makeup.

Xie Yezhou, who had been filming a night scene until past midnight, hadn't arrived yet. In contrast, Sheng Nianzhi was already in the makeup room, yawning.

"Didn't you film a night scene last night, Miss Sheng?"

Typically, after a night scene, one wouldn't shoot an early scene the next morning.

"Yes, but today we're filming at dawn," replied Sheng Nianzhi, asking the makeup artist if she could take a short nap.

The makeup artist agreed, as long as she lay back and didn't interfere with the makeup application.

Not wanting to disturb Sheng Nianzhi's nap, Ning Yuyi remained silent, quietly reading a bestselling novel on JJ Literature City.

By the time the makeup was done, Sheng Nianzhi woke up just in time, although she was still yawning.

Sheng Nianzhi suddenly inquired, "Did you give Ji Xiaoning a tissue yesterday?"

"Mhm," Ning Yuyi, engrossed in a climactic scene in the novel where one character was pinning another to the wall for a kiss, distractedly replied, "There were no cameras pointing in our direction, so I handed it to her."

"It's not about the cameras," Sheng Nianzhi stretched, "But you, being there in her vulnerable moment..."

"Erm, will there be any repercussions?" Ning Yuyi, slightly anxious, looked at Sheng Nianzhi.

Observing her hesitant demeanor, Ning Yuyi thought that if she ever wrote for JJ, she could masterfully create suspense.

Finally, Sheng Nianzhi revealed, "She might develop feelings for you."

"?" Ning Yuyi slowly typed out a question mark.

"Didn't you notice the way she looked at you after yesterday's scene?" Sheng Nianzhi recalled, marveling, "If she used that look on Xie Yezhou on-screen and got some press coverage praising her 'expressive eyes', she'd definitely rise in popularity again."

Ning Yuyi: "..."

Ning Yuyi resolved to keep his distance from Ji Xiaoning and secretly pinched his right hand with his left.

Serves you right for being meddlesome! And for offering that tissue!

Not long after the topic was dropped, there was a knock on the makeup room's door, to which Sheng Nianzhi responded with an invite to enter.

Ning Yuyi heard a timid female voice, "Hello, Miss Sheng, I'm looking for Mr. Ning."

"Aren't you Ji Xiaoning's assistant?" Sheng Nianzhi swiveled her chair toward the doorway, pointing inside. "He's right here."

Ning Yuyi then watched as Ji Xiaoning's assistant walked in with a paper bag and placed it on his makeup table, "Miss Xiaoning said she got you breakfast as a thank you for the script you provided yesterday."

After speaking, the young assistant left, not giving Ning Yuyi a chance to decline.

Ning Yuyi stared at the breakfast before him, a hint of a headache forming, while Sheng Nianzhi chuckled.

"Stop laughing," Ning Yuyi said, lifting the breakfast with a troubled expression, "What do I do with this?"

"Now you understand what I was saying," Sheng Nianzhi reached out, "Give it to me. I haven't eaten yet."

Having already had his breakfast, Ning Yuyi handed over the paper bag.

He thought that would be the end of it, assuming Ji Xiaoning had sent breakfast merely as a gesture of gratitude.

However, during a break in filming, he saw Ji Xiaoning in a light blue costume, rushing over and shyly lowering her head.

"Did you like the breakfast I sent this morning?"