HEIFEIGU -Chapter 89

After opening up, Xie Jixing’s acting hadn’t skyrocketed, but his natural portrayal of young prince Li Chengxu was sufficient.

When performing opposite Qian Shuyun, he could mostly get it right in one take.

Only his performance was a bit unstable with other actors, needing more takes, often resulting in a few NGs.

Especially when performing with Wei Tingquan, he still received Director Yang’s scolding.

“Wei Tingquan, what was that expression just now?”

“You’re princes, not princesses; brothers, not sisters!”

“And you, Xie Jixing, what’s that expression?”

“You’re facing off, not hugging! Be fierce!”

Wei Tingquan pouted, hugging Xie Jixing. “Director Yang is so annoying, why can’t we be sisters?!”

Xie Jixing echoed, “Exactly! This iron-blooded old man—looking at Wei teacher’s face, who could be fierce?”

Wei Tingquan instantly cheered up, laughing even more like a princess.

Winning the group NG leaderboard, after scenes, the two rookies would huddle with outdoor chairs behind the monitors, watching the pros’ scenes to study acting.

No more nanny rides or scrolling phones; the whole crew’s atmosphere became energetic, progress moved quickly, and even Director Yang’s frown lines relaxed.

If this continued, they might even wrap early.

The new actors improved quickly, but the old ones started having problems.

Specifically, an award-winning actor surnamed Qian.

Recently, every time Xie Jixing performed with him, he looked at Qian with a mixture of admiration and awe.

Especially when looking up at him, as if his whole heart and eyes were filled with him.

Being stared at like that by someone who likes you—no matter how good Qian’s acting was, he couldn’t control his physiological reactions.

Heart racing, blood rushing uncontrollably to his head.

“Cut! Qian Shuyun, what’s wrong with you?” Director Yang scolded. “He’s your younger brother, not your wife—why are your ears red?!”

Caught in front of everyone, Qian Shuyun nervously touched his neck and looked at the ceiling, afraid Xie Jixing would notice anything.

But Xie hadn’t figured it out—he didn’t notice a thing and still seemed in character, gently tugging Qian’s sleeve. “Brother, what’s wrong?”

His thick, curled eyelashes formed a natural upper line, making his gaze sincere and focused, like a young animal, but the small red mole under his eye added a hint of allure.

Help.

Qian Shuyun’s heart raced, ears reddening completely.

He wanted to raise a hand to lightly cover Xie Jixing’s eyes but couldn’t bear to.

Fortunately, the layers of the costume helped.

“Ha, the more you talk, the more excited you get, huh?” Director Yang snapped. “Makeup artist, put some foundation on the award-winning actor’s ears to cover it.”

Behind the monitors, Jiang Yueli crossed her arms, pointing. “Tsk tsk, I see Qian Shuyun has bad intentions. This old house might catch fire.”

Yin Wenshan, floating beside her, chimed in harshly, “Right! This person is deliberately leading astray with ill intentions, claiming to teach acting.”

Jiang Yueli: Who’s speaking?

Why does it suddenly feel cold?

She rubbed her arms, thinking it’s better not to gossip behind others’ backs in the future.

Yin Wenshan watched helplessly as Xie Jixing got led astray by Qian Shuyun—he hadn’t learned a thing. Furious.

From now on, he’d haunt Qian Shuyun in dreams every night, scolding him for a week first.

During this period, Xie Jixing and Qian Shuyun were together almost 24 hours a day, spending about half their time together, and their relationship grew familiar quickly.

Previously on Nanjiawan Island, even though they spent long hours together, Qian Shuyun was restrained in expressing himself and emotions due to uncertainty about the future. Now, without that concern, he could fully let himself go.

Meticulous care, all sorts of subtle gestures—this quiet intrusion, unnoticed by all but the slow-witted Xie Jixing, was felt to some degree by everyone else around him.

“Looks like Teacher Qian is pursuing Xiao Xie.”

That day there was another heavy dramatic scene. Wei Tingquan and Xie Jixing arrived early and took their usual spots to watch.

It was the wedding scene of the Crown Prince Li Chengye and Princess Consort Gongsun Yining. The content wasn’t extreme, but the director demanded that they portray a kind of ambiguous sexual tension, which left Qian Shuyun conflicted.

Should the set be cleared?

Although he had acted in many similar scenes before, this time someone he liked was present.

He worried Xie Jixing would see it and feel uncomfortable.

Even more, he feared that Xie Jixing might see it and feel nothing at all.

“Pathetic,” Jiang Yueli sniffed disdainfully. “Like ants on a hot pan.”

“What, afraid you won’t get into character with me?”

The two were old friends who often teased each other. Since Qian Shuyun had called Jiang Yueli to help look after Xie Jixing, Jiang Yueli had sensed something unusual.

“You better act fast.” Jiang Yueli glanced at Xie Jixing, who was whispering with Wei Tingquan. “He’s also my type—such a responsible younger brother, who could resist loving him?”

Qian Shuyun gritted his teeth and decided not to clear the set.

Inside, the pair of dragon-and-phoenix candles burned, and Gongsun Yining, wearing a glazed mask, sat quietly on the Luohan bed, her eyes downcast.

On the round table in front of the bed was a silver tray holding two neatly cut pieces of roasted meat.

Beside it sat a delicate golden goblet containing the “shared-bed wine” for the night.

After the groom entered, he would take the jade ladle tied with red silk and drink together.

Li Chengye had already removed his crown robe and changed into his formal attire: a rare crimson outfit embroidered with wild geese and cloud patterns, giving the usually composed prince a striking, lively flair.

When he entered the room, he didn’t speak, but a rare smile played across his face, bordering on playful and even a little aggressive.

He reached for the person on the couch with a pull, a hug, a press.

The atmosphere instantly became charged with ambiguity.

Wei Tingquan tightly grabbed Xie Jixing’s hand, gasping in a whisper, “Ahhh, so exciting! Teacher Qian is amazing!”

The difference in their body sizes only heightened the effect; Qian Shuyun’s embrace seemed custom-made for Jiang Yueli, completely enveloping her.

That uncomfortable feeling in the chest returned—and even more intensely.

Xie Jixing lowered his head, ignoring Wei Tingquan.

He didn’t fully understand.

Why did this feeling only appear when he watched Qian Shuyun act intimate with Jiang Yueli?

On camera, the two were already lying on the couch; the bed curtains were drawn, blocking most of the scene, leaving only two overlapping shadows flickering in candlelight.

The director called cut, and only then did Wei Tingquan dare poke Xie Jixing.

“Xingxing, stop squeezing, my hand’s about to break!”

QAQ!

Xie Jixing realized he had left several finger marks on Wei Tingquan’s arm.

“Sorry.” He sheepishly withdrew his gaze.

“Did you hear what I just said?” Wei Tingquan asked.

This scene still required close-ups, so the leads had to remain in place while touching up makeup.

Seeing Qian Shuyun’s gaze drifting over, Xie Jixing turned his body away. He didn’t want to look.

“Didn’t hear. What did you say?”

“I’m asking if you’re still waiting for Teacher Qian?” Wei Tingquan whispered shyly. “My boyfriend is here and wants to treat you to dinner.”

“He said I don’t have many friends and it’s rare to meet someone so connected, so he wants to thank you for keeping me company.”

Xie Jixing’s heart sank further!

Maybe it was time to summon all the ghosts and destroy this sour, stinky world.

“He actually arrived a few days ago, but you’re always with Teacher Qian, so it’s hard to schedule.”

After Qian Shuyun finished a close-up, when his eyes drifted over again, Xie Jixing and Wei Tingquan’s seats were already empty.

The next scene required a location change, giving a long enough break. He asked his assistant for his phone—it had no messages.

Had Xie Jixing really just left without a word?

—

Wei Tingquan’s boyfriend was also surnamed Wei, named Wei Zhenfeng.

As soon as they entered the private room, Xie Jixing watched Wei Tingquan rush into his boyfriend’s arms, affectionately calling, “Brother.”

You guys are that flirtatious?!

Little Xie was shocked.

“Don’t play around, your friend’s still here. Don’t make us look ridiculous.” Wei Zhenfeng lifted Wei Tingquan off himself politely and greeted Xie Jixing. “I’m going to make a call outside; you two chat for a bit.”

“Well…” Xie Jixing hesitated, looking at Wei Tingquan picking up a small fork to eat fruit. “You guys…”

“Different fathers and mothers,” Wei Tingquan anticipated the question and answered decisively.

“Funny coincidence,” Xie Jixing said, holding a Sunshine Rose grape. “You’re both surnamed Wei?”

“Not really.”

The opportunity arose; love history incoming.

Wei Tingquan cleared his throat, sipped juice, and began to explain in detail.

“I changed my surname myself.”

“My mom and his dad remarried. By the time I joined the Wei family, I was already in my teens.”

“You know how torturous it is for a teenage me to have such a handsome, non-blood-related older brother?”

Xie Jixing: I don’t know, thanks.

“I wanted to date him, but feared that if he rejected me, we wouldn’t even remain siblings. That period was excruciating.”

“Later I heard the family arranged a blind date for him. I was devastated—turns out my brother’s straight.”

“I definitely couldn’t bend him because I was queer, so I changed my surname to Wei and decided to remain his little brother for life.”

“Unexpectedly, my brother—heehee…”

“Also likes you…” Xie Jixing deadpanned.

Wei Tingquan widened his eyes, mock-surprised: “How did you know?”

“I’m not stupid, thanks.” Seriously—speechless!

You built up this story just to make me respond?

In this world, Xie Jixing had few human friends.

There was Meng Zezhou, even sillier than him.

Finally catching someone aware, maybe he should ask Wei Tingquan.

“How did you realize you liked him?”

“I’ll tell you,” Wei Tingquan leaned in and whispered, despite there being only two in the room. “I dreamed every night…”

“Always dreaming someone kissed me or pressed against me… you get it.”

“Then one time, I saw in my dream that the one pressing me was my brother—and I woke up happy.”

Wait, how did you wake up?

Xie Jixing found the answer a bit too stimulating.

“After waking, I sat on the bed thinking… maybe everyone I dreamed of before was him.”

“Even then, I couldn’t react, maybe that person was a fool.”

He couldn’t apply such experiences himself.

Xie Jixing had only experienced sleep paralysis, with a pesky ghost asking for snacks while sitting on his chest.

“So if…” Xie Jixing carefully chose his words, “you see someone being close to another, and it makes you feel uncomfortable, what does that mean?”

“Who?” Wei Tingquan’s little head spun, suddenly smart. “You felt uneasy seeing Teacher Qian and Sister Jiang act intimate?”

Xie Jixing’s eyes widened: Who told you to answer?

Wei Tingquan grinned mischievously. “You’re done for, Xingxing.”