HEIFEIGU -Chapter 92

The filming locations were all real sites. The shooting location for Group B’s war scenes was much farther north.

It wasn’t even winter yet in the south, but here, it had already snowed several times.

The moment Xie Jixing got off the plane, he sneezed loudly.

His assistant, Xiao Zhong, immediately took out a high-quality thick down jacket and wrapped him up, then wound a cashmere scarf around his neck.

“Where did this come from?” Xie Jixing asked in confusion. He hadn’t considered temperature differences at all.

The jacket looked youthful and fit him perfectly, as if it had been bought specifically for him.

“President Qian told me to prepare it,” Xiao Zhong said. Though just an assistant, he was very good at grasping key points. “The nanny van has also been shipped over. It’s on the way and should arrive tomorrow.”

Feeling guilty, Xie Jixing pulled the scarf up to cover half his face. Even he thought he was being rather heartless.

He hadn’t properly said goodbye or thanked Qian Shuyun.

It was all Wei Tingquan’s bad advice.

And what exactly counted as “liking” someone, anyway?

They had only been apart for a short time, yet his mind was already full of Qian Shuyun.

One moment he wondered if Qian Shuyun was angry about his recent behavior.

The next, he worried that maybe Qian Shuyun was only being so nice out of gratitude—and if he had fallen for him, wouldn’t that be self-indulgent wishful thinking?

In short, he was extremely conflicted.

On the bus, he took out his phone and unconsciously opened his chat with Qian Shuyun.

Since returning from Nanxia Bay Island, they had been messaging quite often.

Back then, though, President Qian’s messages still felt official and polite.

After resolving Yin Wenshan’s matter, Qian Shuyun’s messages increased in number and became much more down-to-earth.

Only now, scrolling back, did Xie Jixing realize how many things he had casually mentioned to him.

【3 photos: It’s raining today. I hid in Wei Tingquan’s car to eat. So this is what a nanny van looks like inside.】

【5 photos: Room 714 isn’t that bad. It’s even bigger than the place I rented in C City.】

【1 photo: Today’s boxed lunch was super awful. Worse than eating bugs on the island! (soybean-grinning emoji)】

…

So Qian Shuyun had remembered all of this. That was why he had prepared so many things—and even made up several lies that would fall apart at the slightest poke.

Scrolling further down, beneath his heartless farewell message, Qian Shuyun had sent several follow-ups.

【It’s cold there. Make sure you stay in the car when you eat.】

【After filming starts, Xiao Zhong will stick heat packs inside your costume. Don’t find it troublesome.】

【Before wrap-up, have Xiao Zhong turn on the hotel AC first. Drink hot water from a thermos. Don’t be greedy for cold bottled drinks.】

He hadn’t mentioned the jacket or scarf at all. It sounded like he had also prepared heat packs and a thermos. No wonder Xiao Zhong had checked in so many suitcases.

If this was just repayment for helping him deal with the ghostly aura, was it really necessary to do so much?

And Qian Shuyun had already paid him very generously, as agreed.

After finishing this drama, he could buy an apartment in C City outright.

Thinking of this, Xie Jixing raised his phone, snapped a photo of the scenery outside the window, then took a selfie with his chin buried in his scarf, and sent them.

【2 photos: Almost there. It’s really cold here—I can even see my breath.】

Meanwhile, Qian Shuyun had just finished filming a high-conflict scene. His face was still tense, and he hadn’t exited his role.

Recently, his pressure level was even scarier than when he’d been haunted by ghostly energy.

Wei Tingquan secretly recorded a short video for Xie Jixing.

In it, Qian Shuyun was frowning while looking at his phone.

Wei Tingquan whispered off-camera, “Teacher Qian is so scary. Just now when I acted with him, I was so scared I couldn’t even say my lines.”

“How am I supposed to fight for the throne like this?”

“If I tied you up and delivered you to him now, would he spare my life?”

“Eh? Why is he suddenly smiling?”

At the end of the video, Qian Shuyun, scrolling on his phone, seemed to see something. In an instant, his gloom cleared, and he became bright and relaxed, tapping a reply.

Xie Jixing pressed his lips together. As soon as he exited the video, he saw Qian Shuyun’s reply.

【Xiao Zhong has gloves. If you play in the snow, remember to wear them, or you’ll get chilblains (poking little snail’s antennae)】

【Got it, got it (impatient nodding cat)】

After replying, Xie Jixing put his phone away and planned to rest.

Xiao Zhong secretly took a photo and reported to his boss.

【1 photo: The location is far. Teacher Xie is already getting ready to rest.】

In the photo, Xie Jixing was leaning his head against the window, resting on his down jacket hood, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

The conditions for filming the war scenes were far harsher than at H City Film Base.

Xie Jixing had heavy screen time here. Almost every scene was filmed from morning till night, with many action sequences.

Snow and mud splashed up by horses’ hooves, along with cold, sticky fake blood, often covered his face.

Because of the low temperature, his skin became numb and fragile. Sometimes it was only when his blood froze that he realized he had been injured.

In this environment, metal armor was like a natural refrigerator. Even with a thin down jacket underneath, it barely helped. After every scene, Xie Jixing would be shivering violently.

The three ghosts were helpless. They could only lower temperatures—they were useless when it came to heating things up.

So everything Wei Tingquan had said about “liking” someone was completely pushed to the back of Xie Jixing’s mind.

But habits were hard to suppress. When he ate bad boxed lunches at noon, he still couldn’t help complaining to Qian Shuyun.

【The pig we ate today died for nothing.】

That afternoon, Xiao Zhong somehow bought a bag of braised meat and plenty of pork jerky snacks.

Even with President Qian’s remote guidance and Xiao Zhong’s careful care, after only one week of filming, Xie Jixing had visibly lost a lot of weight.

He had underestimated the impact of war scenes on himself.

The cruelty, desolation, and constant deaths kept reminding him of the riot before his transmigration.

A once-harmonious world—immortal mountains collapsing, sects falling one after another. Ghosts slaughtered civilians and cultivators at will, until their tiny three-person sect had to save the world.

He had forcibly sent away his weak master and senior brother, then turned himself into a curse, spreading the ten-thousand-year accumulation of Shancai Sect into a sea of ghostly blue flames.

They burned away hellish evil spirits—but also burned away his fallen comrades.

Just like the scene before him now: waves of soldiers fell before Li Chengxu, and he was powerless. For the peace of the border, there was only one word—fight.

He was resolute like a spear: either pierce the enemy’s chest, or shatter and sink into the battlefield.

In the short videos Qian Shuyun received, Xie Jixing’s condition was clearly deteriorating.

Even during breaks, his expression was heavy with pain. His brows were always furrowed, his posture tense.

Once, while he was napping in the nanny van, Xiao Zhong quietly took a photo on silent mode—and Xie Jixing was startled awake.

The look in his eyes, full of panic and vigilance, showed that he still couldn’t leave the role.

Qian Shuyun lightly tapped the small red mole in the photo with his fingertip.

Many actors had suffered problems from being unable to exit their roles. Some developed mental illnesses; in severe cases, some even took their own lives.

He decided to finish all his H City scenes within two days and then go find Xie Jixing.

That night’s final scene was a rare moment of warmth.

Li Chengxu and his soldiers sat around a fire in the camp. At dawn the next day, they would launch a total attack to drive the enemy back to the capital.

One moment, these rough men were still telling dirty jokes. The next, they were wiping away tears and entrusting each other with their last wishes.

Li Chengxu looked especially young among them.

He had grown thinner recently. His once-boyish face was now marked with many small scars, sharp and striking in the firelight.

He didn’t join the others’ conversation, but stared intently at the flames.

There was only one thought in his heart: he would bring all of them back alive.

After the director called “Cut,” the other actors stood up to stretch.

On a freezing night of over ten degrees below zero, sitting on stones outdoors—even with a fire nearby—made one’s legs go numb.

Only Xie Jixing didn’t move.

He kept staring at the flames, as if his world now contained nothing but himself and that cluster of fire.

When Qian Shuyun arrived, dragging his suitcase, he happened to see this scene.

The lonely figure in the firelight stabbed straight into his eyes, making his breath tighten.

It felt as if, if he didn’t step forward and grab him right away, Xie Jixing would disappear completely.

“Xingxing, Xingxing.”

The voice sounded familiar—like it shouldn’t be here.

Xie Jixing lifted his head and looked over in confusion.

It really was Qian Shuyun.

He looked exhausted. There were deep dark circles under his eyes, fresh stubble on his chin, but his eyes were still bright.

Those smoky-gray pupils carried a gentle warmth as they stared unblinkingly at Xie Jixing.

He reached out to him again. “Teacher Xie, your legs must be numb from sitting so long. This time, let me pull you up.”

Compared to Xie Jixing, who had been sitting by the fire, Qian Shuyun’s hands were even colder. Yet the moment he held them, it somehow made him feel inexplicably at ease.

The grip didn’t loosen when Xie Jixing stood up. He was tugged forward a small step, and his dusty costume was wrapped tightly in Qian Shuyun’s clean down jacket.

This embrace was very similar to the one in his dream.

Close, warm, and carrying Qian Shuyun’s unique, pleasant scent.

Xie Jixing gently rubbed his cheek against it. Right now, he didn’t want to think about anything.

But he still had to think about Xiao Zhong!

There were lots of extras here. If some strange rumors really spread, it would be troublesome.

Pushing Qian’s luggage, Xiao Zhong steeled himself and walked over. “Ahem, Teacher Xie’s scenes are finished for today. The makeup artist is still waiting to remove your makeup.”

Qian Shuyun gritted his teeth.

Xiao Zhong pouted. Whatever. Even if he’s the boss, he can’t show off affection here, right?

“If you don’t go now, the assistant director will come urge you personally.”

Reluctantly, Qian Shuyun let go of Xie Jixing.

A red-hot “star” slowly floated out of his arms.

“I’m going to remove my makeup first!” Xie Jixing threw out quickly, then ran toward the dressing room.

Behind him, Xiao Zhong interrogated Qian Shuyun. “President Qian, why did you come here?”

“I also have a few scenes here, so I filmed the others overnight. His condition has been getting worse these past few days.” Qian Shuyun looked worried.

“Yeah,” Xiao Zhong sighed. “He doesn’t eat properly, wakes up easily. Before, he’d chat with you guys on his phone during breaks. Now he just spaces out.”

“And he gets distracted easily. Sometimes I have to call him several times before he responds.”

By the time they finished talking, Xie Jixing had also come out after removing his makeup.

“Are there any rooms left near Xingxing?” Qian Shuyun asked a deadly question.

Xiao Zhong hesitated. Should I say yes, or no?

He closed his eyes and hardened his heart. “The conditions here are bad. There aren’t many hotels, and the crew has filled them all.”

“Then I…” Qian Shuyun dragged out his tone.

Acting!

Xie Jixing rolled his eyes. “You can sleep in the nanny van. It has a big-bed mode. It’s very comfortable.”

Qian Shuyun was speechless for a moment.

Instead of getting angry, he laughed. This sharp-tongued Xingxing was much more lively.

He deliberately put on a pitiful face and looked at Xie Jixing. “Alright, then.”

How could they let the boss sleep in a car? Xiao Zhong immediately assisted. “President Qian, sleep in my room. I’ll sleep in the van.”

“My room is small, though. Only a single bed. Don’t mind it.”

They were clearly playing along together.

“Come sleep in my room. I have two beds,” Xie Jixing said softly, then added quietly, “Anyway, it’s not like we haven’t slept together before.”

Qian Shuyun raised an eyebrow. “Really? I won’t disturb Teacher Xie?”

Still acting?!

Xie Jixing glared at him.

Qian Shuyun lowered his head and smiled gently. “Then I’ll trouble you, Xingxing.”