Xiao Zhan can smile through the rain, but he must have already sent for an umbrella that is on its way.
This is why when he settles in later on to read the script that Yibo recommended, he sends him a message first.
"Your handwriting is terrible.
Then he starts to read.
The story is about a poor, delinquent, early twenty-something year old that steals someone's bag off the train. A woman sees him, and since she is able to identify him reports this to the authorities. It eventually leads to a trail of disastrous events when the boy is found, because it costs him and his family dearly. Because of this he goes on a vendetta against the woman. His plan is to destroy every part of her life, only for him to see it all and realize that she is just as broken and pitiful as he is. He falls in love with her, but then her child dies and she shatters. The script tells the story of how he fixes himself till he becomes strong enough to pick her up. too.
Xiao Zhan becomes so invested in the rawness of the emotions between these two people, that when Yibo's response comes in midway through he is unable to pull away from the story to respond. He does however eventually spare the few seconds needed to take a look at it.
"Who are you? Xie Lian?"
The text is strange and vague, and Xiao Zhan cannot for the life of him decipher what it means and neither does he have the current capacity to. So he continues on with his script and by the time he is done the sun has set.
He looks up from the shut document and is stunned.
The story and its characters have taken a hold of his heart and it is quite an exhilarating feeling. Immediately he calls Nini.
"Did you read the third script?" He asks the moment the call connects. He is pacing to and fro in his living room, quite unable to remain still.
"What third script?" She asks. "What's it called?"
He doesn't remember so he hurries over to snatch it off the recliner for a read of the title.
"One of These Things."
"I haven't," she replies."I just went through a quick summary but now I cannot remember what it was about."
Xiao Zhan inhales deeply as he considers what he is about to do. At his shuddering exhale, he makes up his mind.
"I want the role. I want to be involved. Is it too late?"
She goes quiet and he can understand her. It has been way too long since he has even remotely agreed to take up any projects.
"Um... " she begins, and then an excited laugh bubbles out of her. "Um s-sure. I will.. I will call the casting director. This was sent weeks ago so I doubt that it's still available but I will try my best."
"Alright please do." He says.
Just before he ends the call however she asks again. "You're serious right? You're not going to change your mind?"
"I won't," Xiao Zhan responds. "It's a great story." He thinks of Yibo. "I think I'll enjoy it. I want to be a part of it."
"Alright," she says excitedly and goes off.
Xiao Zhan smiles, and it is only then that he feels the toll of his remaining still and unfed for several hours. So he heads over to the kitchen and begins to warm up the breakfast that Yibo got him earlier that morning. He sits by the counter afterwards and can't help thinking about the boy. So he pulls up his message as he eats and rereads what Yibo sent.
"Who are you? Xie Lian?"
He thinks again and doesn't come up with any associations for the name so he texts Yibo back.
"Who is Xie Lian?"
It is about five minutes later before Yibo's response comes in and the moment the notification appears, Xiao Zhan feels his nerves begin to furl into little knots in the pit of his stomach
"Never mind," Yibo's response reads.
He puts the phone down and continues eating so that he can be as clear headed as possible as he thinks about the direction he is to take things with Yibo from now on.
Firstly, the kiss has to be addressed otherwise it will constantly make its appearance as the elephant in the room for all interactions between them from hence forth. But what exactly is he to say?
"I kissed you Yibo because I couldn't control myself. Because you looking into my eyes drives me out of mind, and being in your presence makes me want to fuck you till we both can't walk?
"But hm... I'm not to my knowledge exactly gay so what is all of this about? And how long will it last? And where exactly can we take it? We can't even currently be seen together in public, or else the whole of China will explode! Sooo...
"..."
Where could any of this possibly go?
He begins to feel immense panic then as the magnitude of his error begins to dawn on him.
It doesn't matter that Yibo was the first one to stir the hornet's nest because he responded and made the second move. No doubt this has given Yibo some kind of hope for them in a situation where he sees none.
The last thing in the world that he wants is to hurt Yibo, but it now seems that this is inevitable.
He is so deep in thought that the sudden ring of his phone makes him almost jump out of his skin.
With a deep breath to calm his erratic heart, and a fist to his chest to soothe the blow of its sudden jump, he looks down at the screen to see that it is Nini calling.
"Hello?" he responds.
"Can you be in Beijing first thing tomorrow morning? They already concluded the auditions and chose the lead role but it hasn't been announced so the director still wants to meet you."
"Um, sure," he says as he looks around the apartment. He feels a bit anxious to face the world again especially since he has been holed up in this cocoon for quite the period of time.
"Alright!" She squeals excitedly. "I'll get you on the first flight out, or do you want to move tonight?"
He looks around the apartment again, takes a deep breath and makes his decision
"Tonight is best. More obscurity and... I don't want to give myself the time to change my mind."
"Got it!" she says. "I'll send a car for you in an hour so please send the address, dear boss."
Her tone is happy but frustrated, and a teeny bit resentful all at once.
To that he laughs and finally relays it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
As per Xiao Zhan's request, the audition is extremely private as he expends every effort necessary to keep the details of his movement well away from the public.
It is difficult and near impossible to do but he is able to check into the designated five star hotel room in the city's main district without any fanfare. Although he is certain that someone must have spotted him along the way, but that is for his staff and Weibo to deal with.
The next morning, the audition is held in the living room area of the suite with all three of the shows directors-main, casting and assitant- arriving at his door. He sees them in and after some light chatter, it begins.
He is a bit unkept this morning by design, in order to blend seamlessly into the delinquent role. His chin is sporting a slight shadow, his hair only barely finger combed and his words, brief and distant. For that he takes some mental cues from his beloved Yibo in the presence of strangers, but he includes the coldness that has become quite characteristic of his gaze courtesy of all the torment that he has received from the public for the year.
The scene he is told to act out however is of when he meets the female lead all over again, after almost seven years have passed since they last met.
It is at a bar and he is behind it... serving her, which is all well and good since the room they are currently in has exactly that. The casting director Yuan Mei is female, so she stands on the opposite side of the bar and the scene is set.
Xiao Zhan drowns out everything and everyone else... looks into her eyes and pictures Yibo.
His heart starts to pound hard in his chest, and his blood simmer with longing. But there is also pain and uncertainty... and even fear.
She might not remember him from their past. And even if she does, she might not accept him in their present. He is better now, good enough by the world's standards for her but how about her standards? She has been through hell and back and he watched most of it.
What are her standards now? For a friend, and a lover. Or perhaps she has closed herself up forever?
He thinks about the death of her child, and of the loss that she endured so when he passes over her favorite drink to her, a sweet liquor in a long stem glass, h is two fingers linger on the base.
"For you," he says, and hears the director's breath hitch.
It takes a few moments before she reaches for the glass. Her hand moves forward... towards the base... the tips of two fingers lightly grazing his.
They both go still.
Because now they are both gazing into each other's eyes, and unable to say anything further.
His eyes mist and so do hers, and neither of them can put a stop to it.
"Cut!" The main director suddenly yells, and the spell is broken.
They all burst into laughter.
"I have chills," Yuan Mei shudders, hugging herself and to that Xiao Zhan simply smiles.
"You have the role!" The main director declares as he rises to head over to him.
Xiao Zhan is a bit taken aback by how immediate this is.
"You don't have to further consider... "
"There's nothing else to consider," he says and grips Xiao Zhan's hand in a handshake.
"Welcome to the team, Wei Liwu."
Xiao Zhan is already so invested in the script that he doesn't even startle at the mention of the new name.
It will be the one he will playing for the next few months, and at the realization, the lit fire in the pit of his stomach begins to burn just a bit brighter.
"Thank you," he says with emotion to the director and the older man nods in understanding. Nothing else needs to be explained between them.
They soon take their leave and Nini bursts into the room, filled with joy.
He has his bodyguard and Nini's assistant waiting, so they both also come into the suite from the adjoining room.
"Congratulations," she cries and Xiao Zhan nods in response. He feels somewhat happy too. Somewhat because he wants to tell Yibo.
For some reason, things don't seem official unless he has told Yibo. Perhaps it is because Yibo was the one to suggest that he give his attention to the script?
He doesn't want to think any more deeply on that so he simply pulls out his phone to call him.
"What are you doing?" Nini asks. "You can't tell this to anyone yet, it has to be top secret until filming is almost done. You're quite a sensitive person in the country right now."
He clicks his tongue at her. "Of course I know that. I'm just telling Yibo."
"Who? Wang Yibo?"
At her horrified exclamation, he pauses just as he is about to connect the call and turns to her. "Yeah. Yibo. What's the matter?"
She glances at the other two in the room and then moves closer to him. Then she holds onto his arm and says quietly. "You especially cannot tell Yibo."
"Why?" He asks, his brows furrowing.
"Before I called them yesterday they had already settled on an actor. Wang Yibo. They're going to call him now and revoke that."
Xiao Zhan's eyes are on her for the longest time, but to say that he barely sees a thing is an understatement.
Eventually he returns the phone to his pocket, and walks away.
Notes:
Who knows who Xie Lian is? This is homework. Very important. x- Moye.