Shi Qing was on the verge of bursting into laughter inwardly. Of course, he maintained a stern expression on his face as he directly pushed away Jing Yuanqi's hand from his waist and got up to straighten his clothes.
Seeing the opportunity slipping through his fingers, Jing Yuanqi didn't care about the "who's on top" matter anymore. He stood up bonelessly and embraced Shi Qing from behind.
His magnetic voice elongated, sounding especially sweet. "Actually, I don't mind these things. It's all the same to me, whoever's on top."
That was a lie. Ever since he became interested in the leading actor, all he could think about was how to have him pinned beneath him in various ways.
Of course, Shi Qing had also considered various scenarios while sitting on top of him. However, one couldn't always speak their mind.
Calculating in his heart, Jing Yuanqi pretended to be docile on the surface and said, "As long as Teacher Shi wants it, I can do anything."
Shi Qing turned around, his tone cold and indifferent. "Anything?"
Jing Yuanqi chuckled.
With suggestive intent, he leaned closer and rubbed his face against the leading actor's shoulder. "Indeed, anything. Whatever Teacher Shi says, I'll do it."
Shi Qing responded, "Take your hand off."
Jing Yuanqi hesitated for a moment before silently lowering his hand.
Like a feline creature, he still couldn't help but nuzzle the leading actor's shoulder.
But Shi Qing's heart remained resolute. "Move your head away."
"Teacher Shi, you're being too heartless," Jing Yuanqi protested, feigning a look of grievance. "Even a fool like Cui Yunqing can see our relationship. Why are you acting this way?"
"Yunqing is not a fool," the leading actor said, frowning. "He's just young."
Jing Yuanqi shrugged and stopped pressing the issue. "Teacher Shi, am I mistaken? Why do I feel like you treat Cui Yunqing better than me?"
Shi Qing paused as he adjusted his clothes. Then, with slightly faster speech and a hint of guilt, he said, "You're all my juniors, and I treat you all the same."
Even though his tone seemed fine, it didn't sit well with Jing Yuanqi.
He had been diligently pursuing Shi Qing every day, not missing any opportunity to get closer. He had even endured eating devil's peppers just to please him. Yet, in Shi Qing's eyes, he was no different from the young Cui Yunqing?
The sunlight that had just appeared on Jing Yuanqi's face slowly faded away.
Eyebrows? Shi Qing liked Cui Yunqing's eyebrows?
When Jing Yuanqi thought of Cui Yunqing's delicate, rabbit-like face with its fine eyebrows, he couldn't help but compare it to his own strong, arched brows.
"You like his eyebrows? You like this kind?" Jing Yuanqi asked, surprised that Shi Qing had actually answered him.
In his opinion, Shi Qing was just pretending to like Cui Yunqing's smiles to take care of him a little.
But now, Shi Qing had actually given an answer.
Jing Yuanqi felt even more uncomfortable.
He might be playing around, but even in play, he didn't want to see Shi Qing thinking about someone else.
Especially not Cui Yunqing, who was such a naïve little fool.
Jing Yuanqi grumbled to himself with dissatisfaction, but he maintained a calm façade, sticking to the leading actor. "I'm so sad. I only have Teacher Shi, but Teacher Shi still has Cui Yunqing in his heart. It's so unfair."
His words made it seem like he was the one being wronged, as if Shi Qing were a two-timer.
The leading actor didn't pay any attention to him and simply removed Jing Yuanqi's hand from his waist. "Yunqing came to say that he has fans visiting. I have to go."
With that, Shi Qing turned and left without any sentiment. Jing Yuanqi was left alone in the dressing room.
As the door closed, the expression of grievance on Jing Yuanqi's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a sinister look. After pondering for a while, he seemed to come up with an idea. His peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly, his expression turned smug, and he raised an eyebrow before opening the door and walking out.
Cui Yunqing, this was the first time he had come to the set since he grew up, and it was also his first time seeing fans visiting the set.
He didn't have much fame, so he was curious and fascinated by fans. He stopped a passing actor and asked, "Hey, who are these fans for?"
"They're not fans of the actors; they're fans of the original novel that this TV series is adapted from. There's also an official fan club. Since we're about to wrap up filming, the director contacted them to visit the set and livestream, to attract more attention."
Cui Yunqing suddenly understood. When he came for the audition, his teacher had told him that this was a major IP adaptation, which had its pros and cons for actors.
The pros were that each character already had a fanbase, making it easier to gain popularity.
The cons were that if an actor didn't perform well, the original fans would be furious and might even criticize the actor for ruining their beloved novel characters.
Cui Yunqing's role had limited screen time, but it was a likable character in the original work, and he already had some fans. His teacher had specifically instructed him to read the original novel thoroughly. This was the first time he had appeared in front of the public since he grew up, and he couldn't afford to mess it up.
Now that he heard fans of the original work were visiting the set, Cui Yunqing instinctively wanted to hide. What if the fans weren't satisfied when they saw him?
After greeting some senior actors, he was about to slip away when Jing Yuanqi caught him.
Jing Yuanqi seemed to be in a good mood, his peach-blossom eyes slightly squinted as he smiled warmly and asked, "Little Cui, where are you rushing off to?"
Cui Yunqing noticed a momentary awkwardness in Jing Yuanqi's demeanor. After all, he had seen this cheerful senior recently in a rather submissive position under Teacher Shi.
However, after hearing Jing Yuanqi's question, he completely forgot about that awkwardness and trusted him enough to express his worries about the fans visiting for the original work.
"Oh, you're worried about that?" Jing Yuanqi still smiled, reassuringly saying, "I think you're doing great, really. You don't need to worry about disappointing the fans when they see you."
Cui Yunqing was still somewhat hesitant. "But I don't have many scenes today, and I'm wearing my regular clothes with short hair. I might not look like my character, and they might be disappointed."
"No worries. Fans are mainly concerned about your appearance."
Jing Yuanqi patted Cui Yunqing's shoulder comfortingly and said, "You see, it's just your eyebrows. They're a bit too delicate."
"My eyebrows?" Cui Yunqing dumbly touched his eyebrows.
Jing Yuanqi nodded with a serious expression. "You're playing the role of a young sect leader and a martial arts prodigy in the novel. Your eyebrows shouldn't look delicate. Look at your eyebrows; they're too thin, and the tails are drooping. They give off a delicate vibe. When you get your makeup done, don't the makeup artists make your eyebrows thicker and slightly arched?"
Jing Yuanqi hadn't paid much attention to Cui Yunqing's makeup, but he had spent more time in the entertainment industry and knew that, generally, makeup artists made women's eyebrows more delicate and men's eyebrows thicker. Arched eyebrows were also common in historical dramas.
Cui Yunqing didn't know these details, but the more he thought about it, the more he believed it was true. He nodded repeatedly. "Yes, the makeup artist does my makeup that way."
"You see," Jing Yuanqi said with an expression that seemed to say, "I'm right." He then continued, "It's not a big deal, just your eyebrows. Everything else about you is great, and I don't think the fans will be too concerned about this minor issue."
Cui Yunqing, looking worried, said, "I can't take it lightly. This is my first time being exposed on the internet. I need to take it seriously."
Panicking, Cui Yunqing covered his eyebrows with his hands and said, "Jing Ge, can you help me fix my eyebrows? Please."
Jing Yuanqi hesitated, saying, "Well, I've trimmed my own eyebrows before, but I'm not a professional."
"Please, Jing Ge, I'm begging you. Can you help me fix them? The fans are about to arrive."
Jing Yuanqi, with a reluctant expression, finally relented. "Alright, since you're so insistent, I'll help you. Let's go to Teacher Shi's dressing room; there won't be many people there."
Shi Qing was in the process of summoning his high-quality bodyguards.
The reason the original owner had earned a reputation for being arrogant was primarily because of these bodyguards. Each of them wore sunglasses, dressed in suits, and was tall and imposing. There were more than a dozen of them.
Apart from during filming, the original owner was almost always surrounded by his bodyguards.
Interviews? The bodyguards encircled him tightly.
Promotional events? The bodyguards formed a protective circle around him.
Even when he went to the restroom, the bodyguards followed him inside.
The reason for the original owner's behavior was simple: he wanted to emphasize his status as a movie star, showing how high above others he was.
At the same time, he had done so many shady things that he was afraid, always concerned that someone he had wronged might suddenly come looking for trouble.
Someone had once taken a photo like that.
In an empty street with just a few pedestrians and two or three stray cats, there were at least a dozen bodyguards guarding the movie star as if they were on high alert.
When this photo was posted online, it caused a lot of discussion. People mocked the movie star for being arrogant.
However, even if people made fun of him online, it didn't matter. As long as Shi Qing's background was still there, he remained a highly regarded movie star in the industry.
When Gao Zhi received the order to summon the bodyguards, he inwardly refused.
These days, he had been getting along with Shi Qing and found that he wasn't as temperamental as rumored. He just didn't like dealing with people and enjoyed eating devil peppers. Although he didn't talk much, the salaries and bonuses were generous.
Gao Zhi thought that following such a big star wasn't bad at all.
With a growing attachment to Shi Qing, Gao Zhi tried to persuade him when he heard about summoning the bodyguards. He said, "Shi Ge, it's just a few fans coming to visit. There's no need to call the bodyguards. If they see you like this, they might think you're acting arrogant. How about I stand by your side when the fans arrive? I'll protect you."
Shi Qing remained unmoved by Gao Zhi's well-intentioned persuasion. He simply said, "Let them come."
Gao Zhi could only sigh and make the call.
The bodyguards were actually quite close, staying in the same hotel as they did. Since the crew often filmed in the vicinity, they would wander around, making it convenient for their employer to call them at any time.
Gao Zhi estimated that these well-trained bodyguards would arrive at the set within five minutes.
Gao Zhi was furrowing his brows, worrying about what people might say online after the fans live-streamed the bodyguards. He didn't know how to explain Shi Ge's actions.
Then, a knocking sound came from outside the door.
It was Cui Yunqing.
Considering what had happened last time when he knocked and pushed the door open, he had learned his lesson this time. After knocking, he shouted from outside, "Is Shi Ge in there? It's Xiaocui. Can I come in?"
Gao Zhi glanced at Shi Qing, who nodded, and then opened the door.
Cui Yunqing entered the room happily.
With a cheerful expression, he asked Shi Qing, who was sitting in a chair, "Shi Ge, do you think my new eyebrow shape looks good?"
Shi Qing lifted his head and took a look. He paused when he saw Cui Yunqing's face and the eyebrows that were quite attractive but completely different from before.
Lowering his head, then raising it again, he looked once more. After confirming that it wasn't an illusion, Shi Qing slowly revealed a perplexed expression on his face.
The door was pushed open again, and Jing Yuanqi walked in.
The young man had a triumphant smile on his face as he showed off the eyebrow-shaping knife in his hand to Shi Qing.
"I did it for him, and I didn't charge him."
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