Translator: HillarybyHillary
Editor: Eric Rasputin
Quality Check: Isalee
First Published on Chaleuria
Chen Cheng-Sen angrily threw his phone down. “It’s over,” he huffed as he massaged his temples irritably. “If the reporters and fans continue to fight like this, we can’t continue filming!”
Chen Hsin lowered his head and didn’t say anything. His right hand was wrapped in a layer of bandages as it rested on his lap. Zhang Zhun sat beside him with a blank expression on his face. It was exactly this attitude that Chen Cheng-Sen couldn’t stand from Zhang Zhun. He scolded without holding back, “You must’ve been possessed. Otherwise, why would you come all the way over here and cause a scene even when you didn’t have anything to film on this set!”
“I’m sorry,” Zhang Zhun quickly apologized.
“How many times have I said this before? Do not bring personal emotions onto the set. This is, after all, a romance film. If our leads are caught in a fight, who would pay to come watch it? Would you?” What Chen Cheng-Sen said did hold a bit of truth.
The television behind Chen Cheng-Sen was currently broadcasting the entertainment news. As Zhang Zhun’s scene of him incapacitating Chen Hsin played repeatedly in the background, the anchor continued to comment enthusiastically. However, due to the television being on mute, all Zhang Zhun could see was his mouth moving up and down in silence. Suddenly, the scene changed to their hotel lobby, as Wu Rong could be seen pushing through a crowd of reporters and cameras while pressing down the brim of his cap. Even with his head tucked low, it still did not hide his displeased expression as well as the obtrusive band-aid on his nose.
The rolling caption at the bottom of the screen displayed the numerous questions fired at him by the reporters: “Wu-laoshi, is the wound on your nose really as the rumors said? Did the ‘King of the Silver Screen’ really use acting as an excuse to start a fight?!”
Wu Rong rolled his eyes and said, “How can there be no accidents when filming a fight scene? I’ve suffered from way worse injuries before. How come none of you cared as much back then?”
“Wu-laoshi! Deep in the Act’s other main lead — Zhang Zhun — was caught on camera beating up Chen Hsin, and the video has already spread quickly on the internet. There are rumors in the circle that he calls you ‘senior’ in private. Was this fight because he was stepping up for you?”
The moment they mentioned ‘Zhang Zhun,’ Wu Rong instantly blew up, “Why don’t you go ask him who he’s stepping up for?!”
“You are both action stars. How can you form sides in a film crew and even go as far as hurting someone else? Wu-laoshi, that’s…”
As Zhang Zhun read his lips, he could see that Wu Rong had clearly started swearing, but the captions obviously did not include them. He pointed directly at a reporter as he said, “I’m warning you. If you continue to make irresponsible remarks, I’ll sue you!”
“Last question, Wu-laoshi! Lately, there have been rumors online saying that the ‘YingWu couple’ is at odds with each other. Netizens have also uploaded a great deal of video evidence backing this up. Are they really as incompatible on set as the rumors state?”
“Incompatible?” Wu Rong threw back his head in laughter, then swiftly grabbed the microphone, “Their relationship is excellent. It’s so good that you guys can’t possibly fathom it!”
After the impromptu interview ended, the anchor made a few more comments on Wu Rong’s radical behavior. Chen Cheng-Sen let out a long sigh, then turned on the other two men and instructed, “Filming will be postponed for two days. You guys go back and reflect on this. Tomorrow is “Idol’s Fashion Night,” you better show up and improve your public images — both of you.”
Chen Hsin and Zhang Zhun stood up to leave as Chen Cheng-sen quickly added, “Remember to show them some love!”
As soon as the door closed behind them, Chen Hsin immediately reached out for Zhang Zhun’s hand, but Zhang Zhun brushed him off. Chen Hsin then leaned in to say something, but Zhang Zhun dodged the other way again. While keeping an eye on their surroundings, the two continued to go back and forth in that narrow hotel corridor. From a distance, the sound of an elevator stopping echoed toward them. The two instinctively jumped apart, Chen Hsin walking on ahead as Zhang Zhun followed at a distance behind him with his head down. After a few steps, he looked up and saw Wu Rong coming their way.
“Oh my god!” Seeing the two of them together, Wu Rong exaggeratedly dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t want to see you two together. I can’t take it anymore!”
Nervously, Zhang Zhun stopped walking, as he watched the two men draw closer and closer; only the sound of their footsteps could be heard as the atmosphere grew tense. Without a word exchanged between them, they stalked toward each other like enemies coming face to face on a narrow path. Zhang Zhun watched as the two stopped a foot apart, silently staring the other down. Just as he was about to rush up and jump between the two, Chen Hsin suddenly and randomly lifted his left hand. Wu Rong looked at him contemptuously, then stretched out his own hand and reluctantly high-fived the other man with a loud slap. They walked right past each other, chuckling like little kids.
“Zhun-er,” Wu Rong called out affectionately as he walked over to him with his arms wide, “Do you want to go for a drink tonight?”
***
That night Zhang Zhun didn’t go out. After chatting with Wu Rong for a little while, he returned to his room. When he got to his door, he half expected Chen Hsin to be waiting for him there, but there was no one around. At that moment, Zhang Zhun wasn’t sure whether to feel relaxed or disappointed. After the door shut behind him, Zhang Zhun leaned back against it, exhausted, and took a few deep breaths. Before he even had the chance to remove his shoes, his phone started to ring — it was Chen Hsin.
“Hey, why didn’t you come over?” Chen Hsin complained.
“You didn’t come over either,” Zhang Zhun retorted, his tone just as bad.
Chen Hsin paused for a moment, before raising his voice, “Why does it always have to be me coming over to you? You nearly broke my hand today. Will it kill you to take the initiative and come over to me for once?!”
“I just don’t want to see you right now,” said Zhang Zhun as he thought back to the magazine incident this afternoon, remembering the muscular and greased up bodies of those men and women. “Since you started pestering me, I don’t even f***ing recognize myself anymore!”
Laughing coldly, Chen Hsin repeated, “I’m bugging you… Why do I like bugging you so much!?”
Just as Zhang Zhun was about to bring up the twenty million and complain about the other man’s assuming and self-opinionated nature, Chen Hsin hung up.
Zhang Zhun froze. Chen Hsin had always been courteous and respectful to him. He had never hung up on him before. An unexpected sourness filled Zhang Zhun’s heart; he felt wronged and wanted to grumble about it. This feeling was very strange to him; as if he had really started to become a woman from the inside, he seemed unable to stand being treated coldly by his lover. Attempting to push his emotions aside, he took off his clothes and got into bed. He then aimlessly swiped at his phone, going from Weibo to WeChat. Eventually, he found the courage to search his own name. The moment he pressed search, numerous articles and discussions popped up saying:
“This film crew must be blind to find someone like Zhang Zhun to co-star with Master Chen!”
“Exactly, there are so many other up-and-coming teen idols out there. Why would they pick this old man? Who wants to see that? Definitely boycott!”
“This Zhang Zhun must be some kind of god, not sure who’s leg he’s sticking to. A few years back, he was just a lackey for Master Chen, beating up so many no-namers. If I was Master Chen, I must be feeling so exhausted right now.”
“F***! Causing negative gossip with Master Chen, who the hell does he think he is?!”
He couldn’t control his emotions as he scrolled through the articles. Zhang Zhun buried his head in the soft feather pillows as his fingers pressed hard against the bridge of his nose. For the first time, he truly understood how it felt to be isolated and helpless, to endure by himself all that unprovoked abuse while dealing with his own inner turmoil. The struggle in both his physical and psychological state, the weight of the unspoken twenty million, as well as Chen Hsin’s misunderstanding all came crumbling down on him like a massive boulder that made him feel suffocated. At that time, his phone rang once more. He glanced at his phone with tear-filled eyes — it was Chen Hsin again.
He answered the call but didn’t say anything. On the other end of the phone, Chen Hsin was quiet as well. This was a silent contest to see who would give in first. In the end, Chen Hsin hung up again.
Crazy bastard! Zhang Zhun thought to himself. Oddly, he started to feel his mood pick up a little. He held onto the phone, filled with expectation. Sure enough, in less than five minutes, Chen Hsin called back again.
“Fine. I was wrong, okay!” The moment the phone connected, Chen Hsin blurted out confidently, without any intention of admitting his mistakes. Zhang Zhun refused to answer, but the atmosphere had clearly changed. Chen Hsin could feel it through the phone as well — Zhang Zhun was smiling.
“My hand really hurts,” Chen Hsin complained into the silent phone as if he was simply talking to himself. “I can’t even do that.”
Zhang Zhun didn’t understand what he meant by ‘that,’ nor did he bother to ask. Chen Hsin continued to ramble on, “Did you know a lot of your old photos are topless? That’s quite arrogant if I do say so myself”
Zhang Zhun instantly realized what ‘that’ meant. His cheeks blushed furiously as he finally opened his mouth to speak, “Where did you see those?”
“On the internet. I just searched you, and they all came up,” said Chen Hsin as he cheekily added, “By the way, your V line is so deep…”
Chen Hsin’s shamelessness seemed to be contagious. Zhang Zhun’s voice also softened as he teased back, “Stop talking as if you haven’t touched it before.”
A rustling noise could be heard from the phone, like the sound of sheets rubbing together. Followed by Chen Hsin’s low voice as he asked, “Are you in bed?”
“Mm.” Zhang Zhun answered absent-mindedly.
After a while, Chen Hsin asked, “Are you wearing clothes?”
What a strange question, Zhang Zhun thought. Just as he was about to answer, he suddenly thought of something. Zhang Zhun swallowed hard in trepidation before asking, “What do you want?”