Chapter 24 Lovers Finally United...

"Cut! Bai Chenxi, why did you stop? Run over and hug Lantian!" The director’s booming voice echoed across the set.

"Let’s do it again." Bai Chenxi offered an apologetic bow to those around her.

"Cut! Cut!"

Bai Chenxi had barely wrapped her arms around him before the director called it off again.

"Bai Chenxi, what are you hesitating for? Go ahead and kiss him! And Lantian, put your arm around her!" This time, the director’s tone was gentler. He was well aware of the skills of these two; he knew exactly what was making them uncomfortable. Yet, the person responsible was also acting in this scene, so he couldn’t very well say, "Why don’t you take a walk outside for a bit?"

He addressed them both with meaning, "Take a break, you two. Try to find your rhythm."

At the director's call, Lantian let go as if he'd touched something scalding—he wasn’t joking; he felt as if his back was burning a hole.

"Sis, I get how you feel, but let’s grit our teeth and get this scene over with!" Lantian looked pleadingly at Bai Chenxi, nearly at his breaking point.

"I’d love to, but you can’t see Chu Muyun’s expression from behind—it’s like he wants to eat someone alive." Bai Chenxi could hardly voice her frustration; every time she threw her arms around Lantian, she caught sight of Chu Muyun’s gaze behind him, cold and intense, making her feel guilty for no reason, as if she could do nothing right.

Zhang Kai approached Chu Muyun, "Bro, if you’re jealous, could you at least pick a better time? They’re filming now. With you glaring at the poor girl like that, how is anyone supposed to go on acting?"

"Am I?"

"You tell me. Even with his back to you, Lantian’s about to have a heart attack. Just ask anyone here if they didn’t feel it."

Xiao Wen nodded vigorously, but Chu Muyun paid him no mind. Xiao Wen always saw him and Bai Chenxi through a romance-tinted lens anyway, so his opinion hardly counted.

"Besides, isn’t this exactly the expression my character should have in this scene?" Chu Muyun’s words left Zhang Kai momentarily speechless—it did make sense.

Staring at Bai Chenxi in the distance, Chu Muyun pondered for a moment before walking over. As soon as Lantian saw him coming, he bolted, refusing to be the third wheel.

As Chu Muyun approached, Bai Chenxi felt rooted to the spot, unable to move even an inch.

"So this is what you meant by relying on yourself, on your own ability? Do you think it's convincing? If this is the extent of your skills, then all I can say is your words are prettier than your performance."

Chu Muyun fixed her with a steady stare, but in Bai Chenxi’s eyes, his gaze was full of mockery and scorn.

Her hands unconsciously clenched at her clothes, her face burning with embarrassment. She had spoken so confidently before, believing in her own acting, certain she could earn respect through skill alone.

But what had just happened was a slap in the face—right in front of Chu Muyun.

Bai Chenxi drew a deep breath and looked up at him. "I’ll make you believe it."

"Good. I’ll be waiting," Chu Muyun replied, and walked away. In her sadness, Bai Chenxi didn’t notice the faint upward curve at the corner of his lips as he turned.

She took another deep breath, and at the cue, ran forward, her face glowing with a bright smile.

Like a fawn in the woods, the young woman bounded into her boyfriend’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek, teasing, "Did you miss me?"

Xu Qingzhe wrapped his arms around Ning Lulu’s waist, resting his head on her shoulder and replying playfully, "Of course I missed you."

"Ning Lulu!" Just as the two reunited lovers clung to each other, a furious shout rang out.

Startled, Ning Lulu pushed Xu Qingzhe away, glancing fearfully at the approaching figure.

Xu Qingzhe barely had time to react before a man strode over, eyes blazing with anger. On instinct, Xu Qingzhe pulled Ning Lulu behind him, facing the stranger. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The man laughed coldly at the question. "Who am I? Ning Lulu, why don’t you tell him who I am?"

From behind Xu Qingzhe, Ning Lulu timidly murmured, "Brother."

"Brother?" Xu Qingzhe turned in surprise, now thoroughly dumbfounded.

"Cut! Excellent, that’s a wrap for this scene. Get ready for the next one." The director’s voice was noticeably more cheerful.

At the call, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. Lantian felt like hugging Bai Chenxi and weeping—Chu Muyun’s earlier outburst had made him jump, and if the camera had caught it, they’d have had to start all over again.

Chu Muyun approached Bai Chenxi, his tone cool. "Well acted."

"Thank you," Bai Chenxi replied politely, taking a bottle of water from her assistant and turning away.

It all happened so quickly that Lantian hardly had time to process it. "What’s going on now? Weren’t things fine just a moment ago?"

He gave a few awkward laughs. "Brother Chu, you were incredible just now."

"Was I?" Chu Muyun didn’t sound particularly pleased, turning and walking off in another direction.

Watching the two of them leave, Lantian muttered, "Fine, you both can walk away—I’ll go too."

The three of them sat in the restaurant, staring at each other in silence. Under the table, Ning Lulu stealthily kicked Xu Qingzhe.

Brought back to himself by the pain, Xu Qingzhe spoke up, "Hello, sir. Let me introduce myself—my name is Xu Qingzhe, and I’m Lulu’s boyfriend."

Ning Lulu anxiously pinched his waist, just as she’d expected, Ning Yuan’s face darkened at Xu Qingzhe’s words.

He had already suspected something from their earlier behavior, but hearing it aloud filled him with complicated emotions.

Ning Yuan struggled to restrain his temper, but his voice still came out through gritted teeth. "Ning Lulu, care to explain?"

Ning Lulu looked at Xu Qingzhe beside her, finding a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "Brother, he’s my boyfriend."

"Ning Lulu, you’re something else. Dating someone and not telling your family."

Sensing her brother’s genuine anger, Ning Lulu promptly abandoned her boyfriend and ran over to cling to her brother’s arm, her only thought now to pacify him.

She shook his arm, gazing up at him with wide, pleading eyes, her voice soft and coaxing. "Brother, I was wrong. Please don’t be angry~"

...

"Cut! Chu Muyun, did you forget your lines? Where’s his assistant? Help him review them quickly." The director was uncharacteristically patient—this was a guest star, after all, and he had to show some courtesy.

At the director’s call, Bai Chenxi immediately let go of Chu Muyun’s arm. When Xiao Wen came over, she quickly stepped aside.

In fact, Chu Muyun hadn’t forgotten his lines. It was simply that, when Bai Chenxi clung to his arm and acted spoiled, he’d momentarily lost himself, forgetting he was supposed to be acting. As soon as Bai Chenxi let go, snapping out of the role, he regained his composure.

Chu Muyun flipped through the script a few times, then signaled to the director that he was ready.

Ning Lulu clung to her brother’s arm, acting spoiled, when a chilly voice came from above her head, "Is that so? And what exactly did you do wrong?"

"I shouldn’t have dated someone behind my family’s back, but..." Ning Lulu’s tone was more resolute than ever. "I truly love him and want to be with him. Brother~"

Faced with her sincerity, Ning Yuan found himself unable to be angry. He patted her head gently, his voice soft. "Go see what you’d like to eat, take a look around. I’ll have a word with this young man."

Ning Lulu glanced worriedly at Xu Qingzhe, but he gave her a reassuring smile.

With Bai Chenxi’s part finished, this scene was no longer her concern—the rest was left to the overprotective brother and the boyfriend’s duel.

Still, she didn’t leave, watching as the two continued acting.

She had thought Chu Muyun was only good at singing, but it turned out his acting wasn’t bad either. Her own earlier performance had truly been unprofessional.

As she watched him, she suddenly realized Chu Muyun was looking back at her. Bai Chenxi quickly looked away and left in a huff. Even if he was right, seeing him still made her upset.

Chu Muyun simply watched her retreating figure, sensing her simmering anger. Was she truly angry, unable to see that he was just trying to provoke her? Who would have thought her intelligence was so questionable.

Shaking his head, Chu Muyun couldn’t help but feel a touch of regret for someone’s lack of wit.