Chapter 67#

The People in the Story (Part 4)#

“Extras, relax your expressions, don’t be so stiff. You’re watching a piano performance, not attending a funeral. And the female lead, look at the male lead, the male lead, the male lead! Don’t look at the camera or me. Finally, male lead, please stop adding your own drama, okay? Less of the lip-biting and frowning. You’re playing the piano on a formal occasion, not posing for a personal photoshoot in a studio.”

The external director from the Communication University was on the verge of a breakdown.

This year’s freshmen at Huai’an University were something else, each with their own rebellious streak.

He talked himself hoarse just to get this group of little troublemakers to settle down.

Ye Sheng was so bored the whole time he wanted to sleep. He found an inconspicuous spot in the audience, sat in the shadows, and just wished for this scene to be over quickly.

Everyone was unconventional, and just one scene took an hour to shoot. The director’s voice was tired from shouting, and he was mentally exhausted. Finally, he waved his hand to let them rest for a while before continuing.

Xia Wenshi squatted nearby, eating watermelon and watching the show with great interest. “So this is what a promotional video shoot is like. It’s so much fun, I love watching it.”

Luo Xingyan rolled his eyes. His assessment: not as good as a master.

Huang Qiqi, the scriptwriter, held her forehead in despair and ran to the director with the script to apologize.

Behind-the-scenes footage of the promotional video shoot was recorded by onlookers on their phones and posted on the Huai’an University BBS.

The forum also caused quite a stir.

[Title: The theme of this year’s freshman promotional video is, The Little Thing Called a Secret Crush. [Video]]

[1L: LMAO, is this supposed to be a secret crush?]

[2L: Everyone’s expressions are too forced, the acting is so artificial. It’s like a gathering of internet celebrities, all striking poses.]

[3L: Why did they cast Xie Wenci as the male lead? His temperament doesn’t fit at all.]

[4L: If you didn’t tell me, I really wouldn’t have known it was about a secret crush. The male lead on stage is looking up at the sky with a melancholic expression, while the audience below sits upright as if they’re at a funeral. The female lead is even wearing all white. Is this really not a memorial service on the night of the ghost’s return?]

[5L: I’m laughing.]

[6L: Hahaha, I’m laughing too. This year’s freshmen are really not good-looking.]

[7L: It’s not that this year’s freshmen aren’t good-looking, it’s that the good-looking ones don’t even care about the promotional video, like that young master.]

[8L: He’s the heir to a conglomerate, not some idle rich second-generation. He’s very busy, probably just has his student status registered at the school. How many classes has he attended in a week?]

[9L: Knowing that the young master is living so freely makes this old servant happy from the bottom of my heart. [Tears][Tears]]

[10L: It’s not just the young master, didn’t Ye Sheng also not participate in the promotional video? The three trending topics were ultimately for nothing.]

[11L: You guys are really blind. [Image], I dug this out from the corner, to wash your eyes.]

[12L: …Damn, that’s some killer looks. Bro apologizes to this year’s freshmen, bro admits my voice was a bit loud just now.]

[13L: So handsome. But this side profile of Ye Sheng sitting in the corner completely confirms that this is a memorial service. Oh, and he’s the murderer.]

[14L: Ye Sheng looks like the kind of cold-blooded villain who kills without batting an eye. After killing someone, he blends into the crowd to attend the victim’s funeral, coldly admiring his perfect work in the darkness.]

[15L: LMAO, you girls really love to imagine things. [Eye roll]]

[16L: I’m laughing too, the students at our school really love to laugh. [Smile]]

The sarcastic comments from the laughter-loving Huai’an people on the forum didn’t reach the ears of the actors present.

At the beginning, everyone was striking poses, and Ye Sheng’s expressionless face was unremarkable. With the contrast of his peers, he even seemed to have some acting skills.

However, after the director’s patient correction, everyone else changed their act, pretending to watch the piano performance seriously. In contrast, Ye Sheng’s abnormality became completely apparent.

Fortunately, he knew his acting was bad and found an inconspicuous spot in a corner. If the director didn’t want him to affect the overall shot, he could just film his shoulder, so he didn’t say anything.

The piano scene was filmed until the afternoon.

After the piano performance, there was a scene where the female lead goes backstage and overhears the male lead talking to his roommate. The boy she has a crush on is not only dazzling on stage but also a person with ideals and aspirations in life.

The male lead is an architecture student at Huai’an University, excellent in both character and studies. On his way back, he smiles and discusses the architectural details of the old gymnasium with his roommate.

Ye Sheng was not needed for this scene.

He chose to sit in his seat and play with his phone.

Xie Wenci had actually recognized him as soon as he entered the old gymnasium. Completely different from his arrogant attitude when they first met at the bar, this time Xie Wenci even smiled purely at Ye Sheng, his eyes particularly innocent. However, Ye Sheng had no good feelings for the Xie family, and after Huang Yiyue went to prison, he completely treated Xie Wenci as air.

This attitude of disregard made Xie Wenci’s face turn pale with anger.

Luo Xingyan felt uncomfortable everywhere in this old gymnasium, always feeling that something was strange. He slipped away midway to investigate.

Xia Wenshi went out with Huang Qiqi to buy water.

Seeing Ye Sheng sitting there alone, Chen Can instantly felt that his chance had come. He proactively approached, sat down next to Ye Sheng as if they were very familiar, “Xiao Si, what are you playing?” But when his eyes saw Ye Sheng’s phone, he almost instinctively said, “Wow, your phone looks so old, Xiao Si. What brand is it?”

Ye Sheng turned off the screen and said, “An off-brand.”

Chen Can: “Off-brand? Oh my, Xiao Si, you’re in university now, you should treat yourself better and buy a new phone. I’ve already changed two this summer. Hey, the first one was accidentally dropped. At that time, I was returning to China after a trip to Europe with my dad, and at Charles de Gaulle Airport in France…” He suddenly stopped, as if remembering something. The pride and superiority on his face disappeared, replaced by an unknown embarrassment.

He thought of Ning Weichen’s personal history, and then of Ye Sheng’s calm and indifferent demeanor when he got into that Maybach. His sense of superiority popped like a balloon.

He didn’t know if Ye Sheng would introduce his roommates to Ning Weichen and then show him the chat history in their dorm group…

After all, every word Chen Can had said in the group before was intentional.

Intentionally showing off his wealth, intentionally being sarcastic.

Chen Can desperately tried to remedy the situation, “Ahaha, Xiao Si, what are you playing?”

Ye Sheng was extremely bored. He swiped his finger across the phone screen, slowly analyzing Chen Can’s logic of speaking.

It was actually quite simple. Chen Can’s logic was always “self-centered.” No matter what you said, he could find a keyword, then relate it to himself and boast about it, showing himself off in all aspects through subtle bragging.

Quite interesting.

Everyone he knew was interesting in their own way. A normal life meant meeting all sorts of people.

Ye Sheng said, “Nothing.”

Chen Can intentionally tried to get close to him, “Xiao Si, I should have pulled you to run for the election. Your looks completely crush Xie Wenci, okay? Not just looks, but your studies and character are also way better than his. That weakling Xie Wenci, who paid his way into Huai’an University, why should he be the male lead?” Chen Can was being sincere, and the more he spoke, the angrier he became.

Ye Sheng’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

At this moment, a gentle and pleasant female voice interrupted their chat.

“Ye Sheng.”

Chen Can looked up and saw a girl in a long-sleeved shirt and pants, with gentle features, standing in front of them. She was even more beautiful than Guang Xueping, whom he was trying to woo.

Chen Can was dumbfounded.

Su Wanluo smiled, her gaze only on Ye Sheng. “I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

Ye Sheng was not surprised to see her here.

Su Wanluo looked down at Chen Can and said, “Classmate, I have something to say to junior Ye Sheng. Could you please leave for a moment?”

Chen Can was actually reluctant, but Ye Sheng’s attitude was lukewarm, so he had no reason to stay.

Su Wanluo said, “I noticed your gaze has been surveying the surroundings. Are you very interested in the old art museum?”

Ye Sheng didn’t deny it, “Yes.”

Su Wanluo suddenly smiled and said, “Last time at the Luo Lake Mansion, I already thought you were very brave. Ye Sheng, how about we cooperate once?”

Ye Sheng looked at her quietly, “What do you want to do?”

Su Wanluo said, “Since you participated in the Luo Lake Mystery, it means you’re also interested in ghosts. There’s a little-known strange tale about the old gymnasium of Huai’an University. Do you want to hear it?”

Ye Sheng said, “The worker who fell into the cement mixer and was bricked into the wall?”

Su Wanluo froze, her face slightly pale. She nodded, “Yes. So you already know.” She forced a smile, extended her hand, and opened it to reveal a set of keys. “I want to find out the truth of this strange tale. Will you join me?”

Ye Sheng looked down at the keys in her hand and said indifferently, “We’ll see.”

He was not used to cooperating with anyone. Anyone.

Su Wanluo, expecting to be rejected, smiled and said, “If you change your mind, you can come find me anytime.”

In the evening, Ye Sheng received a call from Ning Weichen.

“Brother, where are you?”

Ye Sheng directly said the name of the old gymnasium.

When Ning Weichen arrived, the director was filming the last scene of the day.

In this scene, the male lead, as the president of the student union, goes on stage to give a speech, welcoming and blessing the new students. The female lead sits in the audience. After a painful and silent third year of high school, she has successfully been admitted to Huai’an University and looks at her light with eyes full of happiness and love.

To create an atmosphere of a secret crush, the director turned off all the other lights, leaving only the magnificent chandelier directly above the stage.

The female lead’s expression was just not right. When Ning Weichen came in, the director was explaining the scene to her.

Ye Sheng was sitting in the third row, playing with his phone with his head down.

He had been on his phone very frequently today, constantly looking up information about the old gymnasium.

Sensing a tall shadow covering him, Ye Sheng looked up and met Ning Weichen’s smiling peach-blossom eyes.

“I came to pick you up for dinner. Hmm, when do you get off work?”

Ye Sheng said, “There’s one last scene.”

Ning Weichen sat down next to him. Hearing this, he curled his lips with an unreadable meaning, “So you’re acting here.”

Ye Sheng felt he had done okay today and admitted it generously, “Yes.”

As a result, the director, having finished with the female lead, turned the megaphone towards Ye Sheng, “The handsome guy in the black T-shirt in the third row, I don’t mean to single you out. It was one thing for you to slack off in the last scene, but this time you’re playing a freshman of Huai’an University, and you’re sitting in the front three rows. Please be more serious and pay attention to your expression. You’re not here to collect debts or kill someone. Smile.”

Ye Sheng: “…” He suspected this director was deliberately targeting him.

Ning Weichen laughed out loud beside him.

The director then shouted at the whole set with the megaphone, “We’ll wrap up after this scene. Everyone’s been hungry all day, so let’s not make it difficult for each other. I’m begging you, please be serious.”

Before putting down the megaphone, the director looked at Ye Sheng again, “Handsome guy, smile.”

“…”

Ye Sheng looked down and turned off his phone.

Smile my ass. If he smiled, it would definitely ruin the atmosphere even more.

But he didn’t want to be the idiot who held everyone back.

So, the choice Ye Sheng made was to adjust his posture, trying to let the shadows cover his body more completely.

Ning Weichen, sitting next to him, immediately understood his intention and couldn’t stop laughing. Then, his cool, slender fingers grabbed Ye Sheng’s wrist, “Baby, why are you so cute?”

Fuck.

Ye Sheng held back the curse and looked at him coldly in the darkness.

Ning Weichen’s peach-blossom eyes were filled with a lingering affection as he said with a smile, “Do you want me to teach you?”

Ye Sheng said, “No.”

Ning Weichen’s voice was light and soft, “Although you’re beautiful when you cry, I want to see you smile even more.”

Ye Sheng looked at him as if he had seen a ghost. He had seen himself in the mirror with red eyes from crying, looking as terrifying as a stillborn fetus. How insincere must Ning Weichen be to say “beautiful when you cry.”

Ye Sheng had no intention of letting the film emperor give him pointers. He said, “No, I have my own way.”

He closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, and forced himself to focus his gaze on the chandelier above the stage.

Before Su Wanluo left, she had told him all the information she had gathered about the gymnasium, including the two arguments between the vice-principal and the foreman. So, Ye Sheng had been paying attention to the building materials and interior decoration here. The old gymnasium cost 300 million yuan. Logically, the lights here should be of the same grade as those in luxury mansions, seeking stability and beauty.

But as he looked at the gently swaying chandelier on the stage, he was almost certain that it was a cheap, shoddy product… with very low safety.

After the director shouted “action,” Ye Sheng started looking at the light.

He fell into thought, and his expression was finally no longer so unapproachable.

The performance proceeded step by step.

The whole place fell silent, only the pre-recorded speech on the stage played slowly from the sound system.

Ning Weichen had never been an audience for anyone. Nor did he have any interest in watching anyone’s clumsy performance in front of him.

But this time, he sat next to Ye Sheng. In the changing light and shadows, his eyes smiled, full of interest as he looked at him alone.

The director took several shots and was about to have a breakdown over the two lead actors.

After discovering that Ning Weichen had arrived, Xie Wenci was so excited that his whole body was trembling. He completely ignored the director’s words and added a lot of his own drama.

Lowering his eyes, biting his lip, the picture of pure innocence.

And the female lead’s performance was not at all like looking at a secret crush. Her pupils were deliberately widened, and her lips were pulled into a big smile, like an unlucky person forced by kidnappers to make a video call to her family.

The director said, “…If this can be filmed as a secret crush, then I’ve seen a ghost.”

It would be better to film a murder case based on the temperaments of Ye Sheng, Xie Wenci, and Guang Xueping.

—Let him see how the murderer behaves.

When the director cut the camera to Ye Sheng’s side, he was stunned.

Ye Sheng still had no expression, his jaw tense, his head tilted up. He was looking at the stage, the brilliant light reflecting in his pupils, forming a dark river.

And the person sitting next to him was looking at him with his head tilted, openly and without concealment. His crimson thin lips curled up, and his naturally affectionate eyes held no false ambiguity, just the simplest, most casual smile.

Everything was clearly on the table.

An open preference, an open affection, but he felt that this was just the tip of the iceberg.

Many things were still hidden under the deep sea.

He didn’t know if this was also a secret crush.