Chapter 36

Chapter 36

In *Purple Blade Moon*, Shang Xueyan's character is around the same age as he is in real life, both being twenty years old. At twenty, he obeys his master's command, traveling from Jiangnan to Mobei to deliver a letter for his master's old friend from afar, while also making his way in the martial arts world. Along the way, he meets friends he can trust with his life, as well as encounters deceit and life-threatening dangers.

Summarizing the storyline alone, it carries some heaviness, but there are also many comedic and thrilling elements. The twenty-year-old youth loves to show off and act cool, often claiming to have half-baked martial arts skills, only to encounter villains and defeat them easily while showing off.

The main characters, fearless and daring, balance the seriousness in the story, making the overall tone upbeat, positive, and even thrilling.

Shang Xueyan really likes this character—a young man full of passion who, after experiencing various trials and tribulations, remains determined to become the greatest hero, never losing sight of his original goals.

The role of Mu Yizhi hadn’t been finalized yet. After Shen Ling contacted the director, on the third day, Shang Xueyan signed the contract with the crew. The series involves many fight scenes, so a training camp was required.

In fact, the other actors had already begun training half a month earlier. Originally, an actor was chosen for Mu Yizhi who performed well in dramatic scenes but was clumsy in fight scenes, making the action look awkward. Director Hua was very particular about this series, which was why they opted for filming on location. Although difficult action scenes could be done by stunt doubles, the actors still needed to have decent physical coordination.

One director recommended Shang Xueyan, mentioning that he had once played a killer in his crew, with smooth and stylish movements and a suitable image.

On the afternoon of the day he signed the contract, Shang Xueyan joined the training facility of *Purple Blade Moon* in Beijing. The other actors had already been training for half a month, and the director was worried that Shang Xueyan might not catch up, especially since they were scheduled to leave for Yunnan Province for filming in just a few days.

The series is positioned as a road trip-style martial arts ensemble, with many horseback riding scenes. Shang Xueyan didn’t need to practice riding—he could even leap onto a horse. As for martial arts training, he was agile with good core strength, quickly mastering the moves taught by the martial arts director. There was no concern about him lagging behind.

Thus, before leaving Beijing, Shang Xueyan, like the actors who had trained for half a month, was given a two-day break.

Although daily training was held at the facility, the actors were not required to stay in shared accommodations. Shang Xueyan left early and returned late each day with Shang Xianwang, so they saw each other every day. Before departing, he invited Wang Xiantao and Shen Mengkun for a meal.

"Director Hua's series may not guarantee a groundbreaking plot, but the scenery will be stunning, and the cast will be handsome—a treasure trove for fan creations. Yan, you’re about to become a big star," Wang Xiantao said enviously.

Shang Xueyan replied casually, "I just want to act in something I like. Whether I become a big star or not doesn’t really matter to me."

Wang Xiantao said, "If anyone else said that, I’d think they were humblebragging, but coming from you, brother, I believe it."

Shang Xueyan smiled.

The three of them sat in a private dining room at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Wang Xiantao turned to Shen Mengkun, who seemed distracted, and asked, "Kun'er, what’s wrong? Something on your mind?"

Shen Mengkun hesitated, unsure how to phrase it.

Shang Xueyan frowned, "What happened?"

Wang Xiantao added, "Yeah, if something’s wrong, just say it. Three heads are better than one—we can figure something out."

"Is it Mengyue...?" Shang Xueyan’s heart tightened.

"Mengyue is fine. She’s been in good health lately. It’s..." Shen Mengkun gritted his teeth and confessed, "It’s about me. Recently, a girl has been interested in me."

"No way, you’re not thinking of dating, are you? We’re not even famous yet—how can you start a relationship?" Wang Xiantao blurted out without thinking.

Shang Xueyan asked, "Do you like her too?"

Under their intense gazes, Shen Mengkun nodded, "I think I do."

Wang Xiantao looked at his face and said seriously, "Kun'er, forget what I just said. We’re actors, not idols. If you want to date, go for it."

"Exactly, Sister Ling hasn’t banned dating. She just requires that you don’t cheat or mess around—relationships should be positive and healthy," Shang Xueyan added, leaning forward curiously. "Is she an actress from your crew?"

"I bet she is. Where else would he meet a girl?" Wang Xiantao thought for a moment. "Is it Zhang Shiyu?"

Shen Mengkun’s eyes widened slightly, "How did you know?"

Wang Xiantao said, "Last time I visited your set, didn't I, remember? There was something off about you two, you know?"

"Who is Zhang Shiyu?" Shang Xueyan didn't recognize the name.

"She's the one playing the female lead's best friend in their production," Wang Xiantao pulled out his phone and found her photo online.

"A very pretty girl. Congrats, Old Shen."

Shen Mengkun put the phone away and tsked a couple of times, "Kun'er, when are you treating us to a meal?"

Shen Mengkun smiled bitterly, clinked his glass of lemon water on the table, and drank it all in one go.

Shang Xueyan and Wang Xiantao exchanged looks. Shen Mengkun said, "I clearly and firmly rejected her yesterday."

"Why? Weren't you mutually interested?" Shang Xueyan was puzzled.

Shen Mengkun opened his mouth, his voice coming out strained, "I feel like I'm not qualified to be in a relationship right now."

"How are you not qualified?" Shang Xueyan slapped the table.

"First of all, I owe so much money..."

"Wait," Shang Xueyan furrowed his brow, "You're not talking about that one million I lent you, are you? Kun'er, look at the shoes I'm wearing."

Shen Mengkun looked down—a pair of pretty cool-looking sneakers.

Wang Xiantao explained for him, "Limited edition from a brand-name, tens of thousands of yuan a pair."

"Forget it," Shen Mengkun said indignantly, "Unless I'm making ten million a year, don't even think about that one million."

"So, can you go pursue that Zhang Shiyu now?" Shang Xueyan asked.

Wang Xiantao also looked at him eagerly.

Shen Mengkun shook his head.

"Why?" Wang Xiantao didn't understand.

"Even if we just ignore the financial situation, my sister's health will need careful looking after for the next few years. My mom isn't in great health either. My acting skills aren't good enough—I still need to take acting classes and film scenes. Where would I find the time and energy to date? Wouldn't that just waste her time?" After saying this, Shen Mengkun picked up his water glass and downed it in one go again.

Even though he hadn't been drinking, when they said goodbye, Shen Mengkun seemed a bit drunk, his eyes red and watery. Shang Xueyan patted him on the shoulder and took him home.

The next day, when Shang Xueyan woke up, it was raining—the sky was hazy. Under the maple tree, a pile of red, rotten leaves had accumulated. The rain clattered on the leaves still clinging to the branches, the yellow leaves trembling weakly before finally succumbing and falling.

But even without this rain, the leaves that were meant to fall would have fallen sooner or later.

Shang Xueyan had a flight to Rucheng at 10:30 that day—a prefecture-level city in Yunnan Province. Their initial filming would all be in Yunnan before moving to Xinjiang, traveling between several locations.

During breakfast, Shang Xianwang mentioned, "Has the airline sent any messages about delayed flights?"

"No," Shang Xueyan shook his head, turning to look out the window outside. "The rain isn't that heavy anyway."

"Visibility is low," Shang Xianwang commented.

After breakfast, Shang Xianwang drove Shang Xueyan to the airport. By the time the Maybach reached the terminal, the rain had lightened compared to when they were home, but it was still drizzling steadily.

As Shang Xueyan unbuckled his seatbelt, Shang Xianwang stopped him. "Don't get out yet, A Yan."

He first opened the driver's door, quickly circled to the trunk, and pulled out a large black umbrella. Shang Xianwang opened the black umbrella and stood by the passenger-side door. Only then did Shang Xueyan open the door and step out.

The parking spot was only a few steps from the covered walkway. Shang Xueyan quickly walked under the corridor, while Shang Xianwang got Shang Xueyan's suitcase from the trunk. The rain was light, and the black umbrella was large, but the fabric on Shang Xianwang's left shoulder was slightly damp.

Shang Xianwang accompanied Shang Xueyan into the terminal. Fei Yu was already there. Fei Yu quickly stepped forward, "Bro Yan, Boss Shang."

Shang Xianwang handed Shang Xueyan's suitcase to him.

"Big Bro, you can go back now."

"Yeah, call me when you arrive."

Shang Xueyan gave a slight smile, "Of course."

Shang Xianwang glanced at Shang Xueyan once more. That glance seemed almost emotionless. Nearby, a couple was saying goodbye—the young man buried his head in the girl's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. There were also parents seeing their child off, their eyes red and filled with reluctance.

Compared to them, Shang Xianwang, as the family member seeing him off, was as calm as a bystander. His gaze was intensely focused, locked steadily on him. However, the focus did not last long. Before Shang Xueyan could feel awkward, Shang Xianwang withdrew his gaze from him.

"I'm leaving, A Yan," Shang Xianwang said softly.

Shang Xianwang turned and left, each step steady and decisive, without the slightest hesitation or lingering.

Shang Xueyan waited until his figure disappeared from view, then let out a long sigh. Turning around, he saw a dense crowd of people shifting in his field of view, yet not a single face stood out clearly in his mind. Dragging his suitcase, Shang Xueyan suddenly felt as if all his energy had drained away. He shook it off and said with renewed vigor, "Let's go, Brother Yu. Let's check the luggage first."

The flight was delayed by half an hour. When it took off, a light drizzle was still falling in the sky over Jing City, and visibility was still poor. After nearly four hours of flight, the plane landed at the airport of a small city in Yun Province.

The plane crossed plains, lakes, and hills, soared over mountains, and when it arrived in Ru City, Shang Xueyan noticed that the sky here was exceptionally high and blue. The fine dust floating in the air seemed faint and translucent, and the boundary between heaven and earth was as distinct as if drawn by a brush.

As the plane descended, Shang Xueyan took a photo by the window. Just as he was about to send it to Shang Xianwang, he paused abruptly. He sighed, feeling melancholy, and put away his phone.

Since he had decided to create some distance, he would start now!

After arriving in Ru City, the film crew transferred to a bus. Their filming location was still quite far away, in a neighboring city. However, since there were no direct flights to that city, the logistics team had chosen this mode of transportation.

Shang Xueyan had checked the straight-line distance—only a little over a hundred kilometers. But the area was mountainous, with steep terrain and winding roads. It took a full four hours to reach the destination.

The cast and crew were staying in a small town near the filming location. The accommodations were better this time than during the previous shoot in Suzhou. The hotel walls were smoothly plastered and painted white, and the bathroom had no unpleasant odors.

As one of the lead actors, Shang Xueyan still had his own private room.

After a long and tiring day of travel, Shang Xueyan had a hearty appetite. For dinner, he had the local specialty—small-pot rice noodles—and ate three bowls in a row.

Back in his room, he sent a message to Shang Xianwang, informing him that he had arrived at the filming location.

The next day, before shooting the first scene, the crew held a simple opening ceremony. The Chinese New Year was relatively late this year, and the crew wanted to finish filming before the holiday, so the schedule was very tight. Although Shang Xueyan was the second male lead, this was an ensemble cast drama, and he had not many fewer scenes than the male lead. He was busy every day.

Sharing trivial matters with Shang Xianwang had long become a habit. During a break in filming, Fei Yu handed Shang Xueyan his phone. Shang Xueyan took it, typed out a string of words enthusiastically, then deleted them one by one.

Before he knew it, over ten days had passed. It had been raining all day today. Fortunately, all the scenes scheduled were indoor ones. After finishing the day's shoot in the village, Shang Xueyan took the bus back to the town with the rest of the crew.

The rain pattered down, blending with the gloomy sky into a weary, melancholy scene. The driver parked the bus close to the corridor eaves. The wig Shang Xueyan wore today had pulled tightly on his scalp, making his temples ache. He followed his colleagues, ducking as he stepped off the bus.

He yawned and walked along the white-tiled corridor towards the hotel entrance, which had a touch of ethnic style.

"A Yan." A familiar male voice rang out.

Shang Xueyan turned towards the sound. Shang Xianwang stood under a lantern woven from colorful vines, wearing a pure black trench coat. The strong wind whistled, lifting the hem of his coat and tousling his dark hair. He stood slightly turned towards the hazy rain, his gaze resting on Shang Xueyan with a hint of a smile.

The moment Shang Xianwang saw Shang Xueyan, he felt a jolt of disorientation, as if time had slipped. With his long, satiny hair, black clothes with a subtle pattern, and narrow-sleeved attire, he didn't seem like a modern person. Instead, it was as if he had returned to the Da'an Dynasty and seen Shang Xueyan in riding attire.

His eyes fell on the car parked nearby, and the sight jolted him back to the present.

"Big brother, when did you get here?" All Shang Xueyan's weariness instantly vanished. He strode forward, his voice filled with surprise.

"Just arrived a moment ago." After speaking, Shang Xianwang's gaze fell on Shang Xueyan's long hair.

"I just got back. I haven't even taken off the wig or changed yet." The crew was using a few rooms in the hotel as makeup and wardrobe rooms.

Shang Xianwang grunted in acknowledgment and said, "The hotel has no vacant rooms."

"Definitely not. There are dozens of people in our crew. You can share my room tonight." Shang Xueyan looked around. "Big brother, where's your suitcase?"

It was called a hotel, but it was more like a guesthouse, with only a dozen or so rooms in total—not even enough for the crew. The hotels on both sides had been booked by the crew. Shang Xueyan was on the top floor, the fourth. He hauled Shang Xianwang's suitcase back to his room. When he saw the large bed in the center of the room, it hit him that the situation was slightly awkward.

He rubbed the back of his neck.

Jeez, what's awkward about it? It wasn't like he hadn't shared a bed with his big brother before.

They were both grown men.

"Big brother, have you had dinner?" Shang Xueyan placed the suitcase next to the wardrobe.

Shang Xianwang scanned the room—it was spacious and clean, but basic—and shook his head.

"Then wait for me to change and get this wig off, and we'll go downstairs to eat together."

"Go change. I'll come with you to get the wig off."

The temperature in Yun Province was much warmer than in Jing City. In the late autumn of the capital, you'd need at least a sweater, cotton clothes, or a windbreaker. Today's temperature in Mang City was close to 20 degrees Celsius. Shang Xueyan wore a light white, thin, long-sleeved hooded sweatshirt and black sweatpants. After returning the costume to the wardrobe department, he went to the makeup room to remove his makeup and wig.

Shang Xueyan had sharp, clean features, and since they were filming a martial arts drama, he didn't wear any makeup, so the makeup artist worked quickly.

After the wig was removed, as they left, Shang Xueyan rubbed his forehead. Shang Xianwang noticed his action. "Is your forehead uncomfortable?"

"The wig today was a bit tight."

"Let me see." Shang Xianwang held Shang Xueyan's shoulder and slightly lowered his head. Shang Xueyan hadn't had a haircut for almost a month—a method Feng Yixi had told him about. By not cutting his hair and letting it grow a bit longer, he could use his own real hair to blend with the wig. This would not only look more natural and attractive but also prevent a receding hairline.

Feng Yixi was the male lead of this series, playing the role of the scheming, sickly Lin Mo. He was four years older than Shang Xueyan. He had lifted his own bangs to show Shang Xueyan, saying with a grave expression that it was the result of years of filming period dramas.

Although Shang Xueyan felt he didn't have that problem yet, he decided to take precautionary measures and follow his advice.

With his hair longer, the texture became softer. Shang Xianwang slid his fingers into Shang Xueyan's thick hair roots, his fingertips touching the warm skin of his forehead. He lifted the bangs with his fingers and examined them carefully. "Your forehead is a bit red."

"No, it's fine." Shang Xueyan took two steps back, ruffling his hair to both sides. "The pain will go away in a bit."

"Does wearing the wig often cause headaches?"

"Not really."

Shang Xueyan sighed heavily. "But it can cause a receding hairline."

"A receding hairline?"

"Later, I'll let you admire Feng Yixi's hairline."

Although Shang Xueyan had intended to reduce the frequency of chats and calls with Shang Xianwang, he hadn't completely shut him out of his world. He just wanted to return to a pure brotherly relationship.

He had selectively shared stories about the crew and people with Shang Xianwang, so Shang Xianwang knew Feng Yixi was the male lead of the series.

"Has his hairline receded a lot?"

Shang Xueyan and Shang Xianwang walked downstairs, scanning the area. Shang Xueyan leaned closer to Shang Xianwang, lowering his voice to whisper, "He said his receding hairline is all because of wearing wigs for costume dramas. But honestly, I think that factor accounts for at most fifty percent—his forehead was already pretty big to begin with."

He tilted his head up, studying his Elder Brother's hairline. "Someone like you, Elder Brother, could probably wear wigs your whole life and still not end up like him."

Shang Xianwang let out a laugh—a rare expression he rarely showed around others, but one that often surfaced when he was with Shang Xueyan.

The cook was a local chef who had been reminded that most of the crew were from the north and couldn't handle too spicy food. The chef adjusted the spiciness level, and though it was still a bit too hot for most, the flavor was excellent, and everyone was satisfied.

After dinner, Shang Xueyan called Feng Yixi over to the stairwell and casually lifted his bangs. "See, Elder Brother? Big enough for a basketball court, right?"

"Damn it, Shang Xueyan!" Feng Yixi exploded, grabbing Shang Xueyan's arm and ready to punch him.

Shang Xueyan swiftly dodged, bounded up two steps, grabbed Shang Xianwang's wrist, and dashed upstairs.

"Shang Xueyan, stop right there!" Feng Yixi chased after them.

"Only an idiot would stop," Shang Xueyan retorted without turning around.

Rushing up to the fourth floor, Shang Xueyan pushed the door open, pushing Shang Xianwang inside first before slipping in himself. Just before Feng Yixi reached the door, Shang Xueyan slammed it shut with a snap.

"Open the door, you bastard Shang," Feng Yixi panted heavily.

"Do I look like an idiot to you?" Shang Xueyan stood behind the door, chest heaving.

Feng Yixi took two deep, angry breaths. "Just you wait!"

"Oh, I'm so scared."

After a while, Feng Yixi cursed under his breath as he left. Shang Xueyan turned around and happened to meet Shang Xianwang's gaze—the clear amusement in his eyes hadn't yet faded. Shang Xueyan's heart skipped a beat, his head feeling warm and dizzy.

He cleared his throat lightly. "Elder Brother, why don't you take your shower first?"

"Alright."

Shang Xianwang opened his suitcase, took out his toiletries, and went into the bathroom. Shang Xueyan sat down on the simple canvas sofa in the room, shook his head, pulled out his phone, and saw Feng Yixi had sent a series of furious, kicking-and-punching stickers.

Shang Xueyan replied with an "I'm sorry" sticker.

Just as he thought he'd managed to calm the other's anger, Shang Xueyan, on impulse, sent another message: "Alright already, Forehead."

Feng Yixi exploded, sending more angry stickers while cursing.

The phone dinged with a system notification. Shang Xueyan looked closely—it was a news alert. Just dozens of kilometers from the film set, a bus traveling from Ru City to Mang City on a winding mountain road had skidded on the rain-slicked road and overturned that afternoon.

Shang Xueyan pressed his lips together.

After Shang Xianwang finished showering, Shang Xueyan took his turn. The two-meter-wide bed was more than enough for two grown men, with plenty of space to spare. Lying side by side with Shang Xianwang, Shang Xueyan turned off the light. Silvery moonlight filtered through the partially drawn light gray curtains. Staring at the ceiling, Shang Xueyan said, "Elder Brother, when are you heading back to Beijing?"

"Tuesday noon."

"That's not much time." Today was Saturday.

"Yeah, things have been busy lately."

If he was so busy, he really didn't need to come all the way to Yunnan—such a long, rough trip. From home to the hotel, the fastest trip took over ten hours. A round trip would mean almost two days on the road.

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Shang Xueyan forced them back. "But I have to film tomorrow and won't have time to show you around. There are some nice spots nearby, though—especially Sun-Moon Lake where we shot a few days ago. How about I ask Fei Yu to take you around tomorrow?"

"It's fine. I'll go with you to the set tomorrow."

"...Oh."

"Not asleep yet?"

"Going to sleep now." Shang Xueyan turned over, facing the wall, and closed his eyes. He had a remarkable ability: no matter how troubled his mind, once he closed his eyes and tossed and turned for a moment, he could fall into a deep, steady sleep.

Shang Xueyan's even breathing soon filled the room. Shang Xianwang lay still, hands folded, appearing calm.

After a while, he turned on his side, propping up his upper body.

Shang Xueyan lay on his back, sleeping in a standard position, breathing steadily. Shang Xianwang gazed at the outline of his profile for a moment, then shifted slightly toward the edge of the bed, putting a little more distance between them. In a voice barely audible, he whispered, "Goodnight, A Yan," before closing his eyes.

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Author's note: [kiss][kiss][kiss]