Yao Shen makes his way up to Xin Hulei, aware of all the eyes watching them attentively.
Xin Hulei is leaning against the craft table, drinking from a water bottle, and watching Yao Shen approach over the bottle's rim, a flicker of amusement playing at his lips.
Yao Shen leans his hip against the opposite end of the table, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
He's preternaturally aware of Bi Jialu clinging to her tablet on the far end of the room. He can almost hear her sharp intake of breath.
Poor Bi Jialu, Yao Shen is going to ask Boss Huang to give her a raise.
Xin Hulei waits for Yao Shen to say something, when he doesn't, he breaks the ice first:
"How was your morning?" he asks, between sips of water.
Yao Shen smiles a little to himself, pleased that he was the first to break. "It was nice, except that Tan Liansi was mean to Ye Fang just because she is superstitious."
Xin Hulei hums. "Liansi doesn't need incentives to be mean."
She sure doesn't, but it's funny to Yao Shen that that's what Xin Hulei decides to focus on.
Before he can say something else, Director Chen claps once, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, please everyone remember that this scene is very important for the development of the drama. We're going to shoot it two ways: First, Xie Huan's romantic idealization of what should happen when he declares his intentions..."
Yao Shen reads over the script as Director Chen goes over the gameplan.
Perhaps, 'declares his intentions' is too generous a description. It's more like he comes in with all bluster and no subtlety but loses steam halfway through, ending up saying something that sounds almost threatening -- all things considered.
While it's true that Yan Shuyi is being more oblivious than is plausible, it's not like Xie Huan makes things clear either.
Yao Shen wonders if things happened like that in reality too.
It's almost unthinkable to imagine cool, confident Xin Hulei stumbling all over his words like Xie Huan.
He always seems to know what to say around Yao Shen.
A bitter, small-minded part of his brain chirps up to remind him: it's because he loved Yan Shuyi, but doesn't love you.
Yao Shen has been feeling very good about himself lately, his usual insecurities haven't been nearly as debilitating. Maybe that's why he can dismiss the little mean voice so quickly.
So what if Xin Hulei loved Yan Shuyi? Yao Shen isn't looking for love, he's looking for a good time, and he's getting that.
He's so focused on his own train of thought that he doesn't notice that Xin Hulei has moved close to him across the edge of the table.
"You're frowning," Xin Hulei says, reaching over to smooth out the wrinkle between Yao Shen's eyebrows. "Don't strain your pretty eyes."
Yao Shen smacks him on the arm with his script for using such a cheesy line. Although, along with the disappearance of his frown, the little nagging voice falls silent for good.
Director Chen clears his throat loudly, drawing their attention. "As I was saying," he says, casting Xin Hulei and Yao Shen a brief judgmental look. "The second shoot will depict the events as they happen in reality, outside of Xie Huan's fantasy. We'll start with the first scenario, everyone please go to your marks."
Yao Shen takes his place at the low table, picking up the brush and holding it over the creamy sheet of paper where a series of Daoist maxims is already written down in exquisite calligraphy.
A thick winter robe falls on his shoulders, making Yao Shen feel overheated at once.
"The days are getting colder, Shizun should be careful," Xie Huan says, placing a small hand warmer on Yan Shuyi's lap as well.
Yan Shuyi shoots him a kindly smile. "I'm afraid I still haven't mastered the art of writing while holding a hand warmer."
Very boldly, Xie Huan takes the hand that isn't holding the brush and cradles it above the hand warmer. "Shizun can at least keep the hand he isn't using warm."
The corners of Yan Shuyi's eyes turn up in amusement. He pulls his hand free from Xie Huan's hand and lets his long, billowy sleeve cover his fingers. "Your Shizun has his own strategies to fight the cold."
Xie Huan returns the smile. "This disciple thinks Shizun should have more heating in his quarters." A muscle works in his jaw and he swallows dryly. "This disciple really cares about Shizun's well being."
This point will mark the biggest difference between the two scenes. The first scene will show Xie Huan being suave and effortless, and Yan Shuyi being flustered and overwhelmed, but obviously corresponding his affections.
The contrast between expectations and reality is bound to create a moment of lightness for the audience, which at this point will have watched a tense few episodes.
"This master really cares about his disciple," Yan Shuyi says, placing his brush back in its holder.
Xie Huan takes the hand that was holding the brush, and is therefore cold, and brings it towards his chest.
"If Shizun is ever cold, please know that this disciple will keep him warm even in the thick of winter."
Yao Shen lowers his lashes, and drops his hand from Xie Huan's chest hurriedly, holding the expression for a beat so that the cameras can get a close up of his flushed cheeks and ears.
"That is...," he clears his throat lightly. "Of course Xie Huan can count on this master for anything, too."
Xie Huan shakes his head and takes Yan Shuyi's hand again, this time rubbing his thumb over the protruding knuckles. "I hope Shizun can forgive me but...my feelings for Shizun are not filial."
At this Yan Shuyi is supposed to try and take his hands away, but Xie Huan uses to momentum of his actions to pull him against his chest.
Yao Shen's gasp at being pulled into Xin Hulei's embrace is all his. He knows they're acting, but it feels thrilling to do something like this so brazenly, and in front of so many other people.
Xin Hulei's arms come around his back, holding him in place. "This disciple understands if Shizun can't bear to look at me after this declaration, but please allow me to convey the depth of my emotion."
Before Xie Huan can continue, Yan Shuyi wraps his own arms around Xie Huan's back, and nuzzles against his chest, whispering quietly, "I...this master, feels the same way."
"Cut, that was great," Director Chen says, grinning from ear to ear while looking into his monitor. "Let's quickly reset for the 'real' scene and avoid losing momentum. I want things to feel organic, so we'll shoot both scenes, and then repeat both in sequence."
Xin Hulei lets go of Yao Shen but not before pinching the side of his waist discreetly, under the cover of their bulky robes.
Yao Shen smiles a little to himself while getting up to his feet.
So he wasn't the only one feeling a little thrill at being so daring in public.
Xin Hulei will sometimes looks a little morose when shooting more intimate scenes. Yao Shen can imagine that being reminded of his past with Yan Shuyi isn't easy for him, but today he's in an unusual carefree mood.
They have a little time for themselves while the crew resets everything for the scene, and Yao Shen uses the excuse of drinking a sip of water to walk up to Xin Hulei, who's doing the same by the craft table.
"What was it like when you confessed to Yan Shuyi?" he asks, keeping his voice down.
He can't exactly say why he's always so curious about Yan Shuyi and Xin Hulei. More often than not, he ends up hearing things he doesn't like -- but something compels him to ask anyway.
Morbid curiosity perhaps. He's playing the role of Yan Shuyi, perhaps it's only natural to want to know more about him.
Xin Hulei answers his question with a single raised eyebrow. "I never did."
Right, just another thing about the novel that doesn't match the real events.
"Did he find out on his own?" Yao Shen asks, twisting his costume's sleeve between his fingers.
Xin Hulei shoots him another complicated look. "No."
That's all he'll say on the matter, leaving Yao Shen to stew in his confusion.
After some time, Director Chen calls everyone back to their marks.
Yao Shen once again sits behind the table, holding the calligraphy brush vertically above the paper.
Xin Hulei as Xie Huan stands still for a moment, blinking his eyes rapidly to dispel the imagined vision from his mind before approaching Yan Shuyi.
Suddenly, Yao Shen feels a cold shiver down his spine as the temperature drops abruptly.
A familiar voice rings from his left. "Oh, good, you're here," Jia Hao says, taking a seat on the low table, and crossing his legs. "I need your help, and don't even think about saying no! Don't forget you owe me."
Behind him, Yao Shen hears Xin Hulei's steps come to an abrupt stop.