Nie Yangchen’s gaze darkened, his jaw clenched tightly; he had to gain his own voice. 

Breaking free from the constraints of popularity and speaking through ability was one thing, but freeing himself from Ou Juntao’s control was another. Otherwise, he would forever be a puppet on Ou Juntao’s strings.

Today’s filming was still intense. The crew planned to use all the locations the resort could provide because the villas here had excellent lighting, creating very textured visuals. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The villa’s third floor, originally Lu Pingfeng’s bedroom and a huge terrace, had been transformed by the crew in just one day into the murder scene of the film’s second victim. 

Transparent sunlight fell onto the terrace, where a young girl in a white tulle dress and a rose crown bent backward as if dancing. The sunlight coated her upturned eyelashes with a faint golden hue, while countless swords pierced her body, splattering the fabric of her dress with glaring red, like flowers blooming from hell. 

The girl’s expression was one of pain, her large eyes wide open. Even before her death, she had struggled with all her might, but fate showed her no mercy. 

The first scene of the day featured Wen Yuchi, played by Luo Yu, following his mentor to the scene for evidence collection and a preliminary autopsy. 

Ye Shengyi had done Luo Yu’s makeup in a very everyday style. He wore a casual shirt and, donning a hairnet and shoe covers, approached the entrance of the terrace. 

His mentor had already entered the scene with a box in hand. 

Unrelated staff members cleared out; they had to finish this scene quickly. Otherwise, the actress playing the corpse would have a very hard time. Additionally, if they had to reshoot, all the props on the actress would need to be readjusted, and she had to maintain a bent posture the entire time. 

Thus, every actor, including extras, was extremely focused. 

As the cue was called, the camera moved in, giving Wen Yuchi a close-up. 

His face bore a calm and objective expression as he pulled on gloves from the toolbox, slightly adjusting the fingertips afterward. His fingers were long, and the action of flicking the edges of the gloves had a cold sensuality to it. 

“Professor, I’m here,” Wen Yuchi said, bending over as he approached with the box. 

To avoid disturbing the bloodstains at the scene, they laid down a board on the floor. Wen Yuchi carefully stepped on it, inching closer to the beautiful corpse. 

At that moment, a gust of wind blew, lifting the victim’s tulle dress, intertwining the red madness with the white purity, creating a depth and indulgence in the sunlight. 

As the tulle fell, Wen Yuchi’s brow and eyes became visible. 

He bent over, wearing a hairnet and mask, only his warm and bright eyes showing, like fireflies flying into the morning light on a dark night. 

This moment of tenderness seemed like fate’s final compensation to the victim. 

Following the protocol, Wen Yuchi completed the initial evidence collection. 

He and his mentor recorded the angles of each sword strike, estimating the resulting damage. 

Detective Zhao Sicheng of the criminal police team approached the officer collecting evidence, saying, “We’ve confirmed the victim’s name is Xie Yan, a freshman at the Academy of Fine Arts.” 

Wen Yuchi lifted his eyes, looking into the victim’s eyes as if engaging in a silent conversation. “She studies fine arts? I think her posture looks more like that of a dance student.” 

Zhao Sicheng glanced at the information he had and replied, “She indeed studied dance, and because of that, she was a model for our great painter Lu Pingfeng half a year ago. Lu Pingfeng used her as a prototype for a painting titled ‘Sunset and Thorns.’ This painting sold for forty-six million at a Christie’s auction three months after it was completed.” 

Wen Yuchi furrowed his brow. “I thought a painter’s works… only become valuable after they pass away.” 

Wen Yuchi lowered his eyes, taking pictures of the victim’s face. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned to Zhao Sicheng, asking, “What’s that painting ‘Sunset and Thorns’ like?” 

Zhao Sicheng searched online for a long time before finally finding a not-very-clear photo. He held it up against the victim for comparison, revealing a look of surprise. 

“This can’t just be called imitation; it’s exactly the same.” 

“Is it?” Luo Yu stood up and walked over to Detective Zhao. 

The painting used some bright tones but emanated a sense of despair, as if the beautiful things in the world were polluted and destroyed. 

The woman in the painting was only in a bent-over position, her face unrecognizable, but one could faintly see her fear and cries for help. 

“I don’t understand why some people like to collect such paintings. Don’t you think staring at them for too long could make you mentally unwell?” Zhao Sicheng asked. 

“Because those who truly have dark hearts can feel vitality in such images. Look at the muscles in the woman’s legs and arms in this painting; she is clearly exerting herself. She is struggling to rise up from the suffocating thorns.” 

“Perhaps you forensic experts see it differently than we ordinary people. I feel the despair of the image; you see the struggle of the body.” 

“And the unwillingness of the soul to fall.” Wen Yuchi looked at the victim. “Though we haven’t started the formal autopsy, both my mentor and I believe the murderer avoided all the vital areas that could cause immediate death, allowing her to experience pain and the arrival of death. Until the final strike, which pierced multiple organs, causing massive bleeding.” 

Zhao Sicheng gritted his teeth. “What a beast.” 

Wen Yuchi’s brows knitted together, his gaze seeming to pierce through that poor girl into the depths of hell. “Maybe a group of beasts.” 

At this moment, Gu Xiaowei and Nie Yangchen sat on either side of Director Sheng, watching Wen Yuchi in the monitor. 

His clear features seemed to be soaked in bright red blood, extending a powerful beauty, like a pure rose amidst decaying grass and mud, out of place yet piercing deep into the soul. 

This scene concluded smoothly, and Luo Yu walked over to help the actress playing the victim sit up. 

The actress revealed a shy expression, relieved that she could get up without having to maintain the bent posture the entire time. She hadn’t expected someone would notice the props making it difficult for her to get up and come over to help her. 

“Thank you, Teacher Luo.” 

“Not at all; you’ve worked hard too. When I took pictures for evidence, your expression didn’t change even once; you didn’t even blink. If you had moved a bit, we would have had to reshoot. We should thank your endurance,” Luo Yu said. 

The actor playing Zhao Sicheng, Yan Jun, also came over to thank her. “You contributed the most to our successful take! Tell the director to give you an extra chicken leg for lunch.” 

The actress laughed, “I have to maintain my figure; the chicken leg is for Teacher Luo. I watched ‘Counterattack’ yesterday, and Bai Ying is just too charming. Everyone says they watched ‘Counterattack’ once for Teacher Gu, twice for Teacher Luo, and three times for the two of you.” 

Mentioning ‘Counterattack’ opened Yan Jun’s floodgates. “You don’t know; my wife got obsessed with you after watching ‘Counterattack’ yesterday. In the middle of the night, she messaged me on WeChat, asking if Bai Ying is a complete villain and if he’s really beyond redemption.” 

Luo Yu chuckled. “Haha, no spoilers! Otherwise, Director Lin and Screenwriter Hua will come for my life with a giant knife!” 

Yan Jun glanced over at Director Sheng, tilting his chin. “Let’s go check how that take we just filmed turned out.” 

So the two of them walked towards Director Sheng together. 

Seeing Luo Yu and the others arrive, Nie Yangchen stood up, but Gu Xiaowei remained seated, seemingly wanting to watch the director’s playback. 

Yan Jun sat down, and since Gu Xiaowei wouldn’t give up his spot, Luo Yu had to stand behind him, resting his hands on Gu Xiaowei’s shoulders as he leaned in to watch. 

The director happened to replay the scene where the corpse’s tulle dress was blown up by the wind and then fell down, and Luo Yu’s eyes appeared on the screen. 

Time seemed as if it froze for him at that moment, and withered life gained a fleeting vitality from that glance. 

Just as Gu Xiaowei instinctively leaned forward to catch that image, Luo Yu suddenly leaned down, wrapping his arms around Gu Xiaowei’s shoulders. 

He was half-embraced by Luo Yu, and Luo Yu’s complaining voice sounded in his ear. “Are you a little tyrant? Hogging this chair and not letting anyone else sit! When it’s your turn to act, I’ll block the view so you have to stand and watch the playback!” 

“Don’t fuss.” Gu Xiaowei said softly. 

Luo Yu lowered his head; no one saw the corner of his mouth curl up. “Nuh-uh.” 

Just two syllables, and warm breath brushed against Gu Xiaowei’s neck. His hand resting on his knee tightened and relaxed, his breath still caught in his throat, suspended in between. 

After watching the entire playback, Sheng Yunlan said to Luo Yu and Yan Jun, “Let’s film the two parts with dense lines again, and keep one take.”

“Okay.” Luo Yu nodded. Just as he was about to remove his hand from Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder, the latter suddenly raised his hand and clasped Luo Yu’s wrist.

His palm was very warm, and his fingers didn’t apply much pressure, yet they kept Luo Yu in place.

“For the line ‘the soul’s unwillingness to fall,’ I think your delivery can be a bit colder. You are a forensic doctor; you don’t believe in the existence of souls—when the body perishes, the soul has nothing to cling to,” Gu Xiaowei said.

After he finished, Sheng Yunlan nodded in agreement. “Right, this line is a comment on that painting, not on the deceased. You wouldn’t care much about something that has never had life or thought throughout. Because without life, dissection holds no meaning.”

Luo Yu thought for a moment and nodded, saying, “That makes sense. Thank you for your advice, Teacher Gu!” He whispered the latter part into Gu Xiaowei’s ear.

Before Gu Xiaowei could raise his head, Luo Yu had already returned to the terrace.

The staff helped the female actress return to her previous position, and Luo Yu adjusted his emotions before recording two more takes with Yan Jun.

After an unknown amount of time, Gu Xiaowei finally raised his hand and touched his ear.

People came and went around them, the noise of conversations rising and falling, yet no one noticed that Gu Xiaowei’s neck and ears had turned red.

After this scene ended, the crew began preparing for the next transition.

Gu Xiaowei sat in the courtyard with the script, and Luo Yu came up behind him, bending down so that his chin was about half a fist away from Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder. Gu Xiaowei kept his eyes lowered and didn’t notice Luo Yu’s shadow on the script.

“Teacher Gu, you’re holding the script upside down.”

Luo Yu’s voice broke through the air, brushing against Gu Xiaowei’s ear.

Gu Xiaowei instinctively turned his head, but not expecting Luo Yu to be so close, his lips accidentally brushed against Luo Yu’s ear.

However, Luo Yu seemed unaffected, remaining still at that angle.

“I never hold my script upside down,” Gu Xiaowei replied.

Luo Yu shrugged and resignedly said, “Alright, alright, the only one who holds the script upside down is me; the only one who is distracted is me. Teacher Gu is always focused.”

Whether Gu Xiaowei had actually been attentive to the script, Luo Yu really didn’t know; the guy hadn’t even changed his expression, while his own ears were now very warm.

“It wasn’t intentional; you got too close,” Gu Xiaowei slowly replied.

Luo Yu laughed, “You didn’t say it just now; now you’re explaining. Was it intentional or not?”

Gu Xiaowei looked up and into Luo Yu’s eyes. “Your ears turned red; that’s why I thought you minded.”

The sunlight was so bright that all those repressed little thoughts seemed ready to spring forth, full of anticipation and anxiety. If only Gu Xiaowei’s expression didn’t look so indifferent.

“It’s my ear that made the mistake; I got too close to you. I’ll be careful next time…” Luo Yu apologized without any spirit.

“Next time, be careful, and absolutely don’t change. Right?” 

Luo Yu was momentarily stunned, looking at Gu Xiaowei, who had already lowered his head again, his serious focus on the script was infuriating.

However… several minutes passed, and Gu Xiaowei hadn’t turned to the next page of the script.

Luo Yu suddenly felt a bit regretful, thinking he had been too cautious; he should have pressed his ear closer to see if this guy truly didn’t mind or was just pretending to be serious.

A staff member came to notify them that the next scene was almost ready.

Brother Yan came over to touch up Gu Xiaowei’s makeup. Gu Xiaowei set the script aside, closed his eyes, and tilted his head back.

“Teacher Gu’s eyelashes are actually very long and curled upward, just like…” Luo Yu rested his chin on his hand, pondering, as if there were no words to describe the delicate beauty within Gu Xiaowei’s cold exterior.

“Just like the spider lily, beautiful yet unattainable?” Ye Shengyi, who was carrying a makeup kit and was about to help Luo Yu with his makeup, chimed in.

Luo Yu tilted his head and asked, “Have you been reading some old webnovels recently?”

Ye Shengyi scratched his head of purple hair. “I have so little romantic imagination; I use the rest to do your makeup! Brother Luo, adding to your charm is my greatest romance.”

The cameraman and lighting technician standing in the corner of the courtyard couldn’t help but laugh.

Brother Yan also couldn’t contain himself and nearly spilled the eye shadow while touching up Gu Xiaowei, “I remember that the flower ‘spider lily’ has the meaning of ‘the devil’s tenderness’? How does that fit Teacher Gu?”

Ye Shengyi, upon hearing this, also became interested, putting down the script and taking out his phone to look it up. “The spider lily has other interpretations, like ‘omen of death’ and ‘summon of hell.’ Although it doesn’t suit our Teacher Gu, it’s quite fitting for Lu Pingfeng, the death painter.”

Gu Xiaowei’s expression darkened.

Yet Luo Yu seemed to understand his mood at that moment; Ye Shengyi’s words represented the public’s perception of Lu Pingfeng. Even Lu Pingfeng himself might feel similarly.

His existence was solely to describe death.

“Hey, Gu Xiaowei.” Luo Yu softly called out his name.

“Hmm?” Gu Xiaowei opened his eyes and turned his head.

“In Sanskrit, the spider lily is called Manjusaka.”

“I know.”

“In the ‘Lotus Sutra,’ it is one of the four flowers of heaven, also interpreted as one of the auspicious signs from heaven; those who see this flower will have their evils removed.”

Luo Yu’s intention was to convey that while Lu Pingfeng was interpreted by the world in a biased and dark way, he, like the Manjusaka, also had a neglected side of holiness and purity that was often overlooked.

“It’s really just a type of Amaryllidaceae plant. Plants of this nature share the same characteristics—flowers bloom and leaves fall at different times, and flowers and leaves never meet. Perhaps because of this characteristic, along with the vibrant red color being too alluring, people have assigned it many meanings.”

Watching Gu Xiaowei’s serious expression, Luo Yu’s brows lifted slightly.

He was truly being foolish to think that Gu Xiaowei would be unhappy about being compared to the spider lily.

At that moment, a staff member came to inform them that the next scene was ready.

Gu Xiaowei got up and glanced back at Luo Yu. “For Lu Pingfeng, Wen Yuchi is more like the spider lily—an allure from another world, a tenderness given by fate.”

Luo Yu smiled slightly; he felt that in some respects, he might truly lack the talent compared to Gu Xiaowei.

The two returned to the villa together, preparing for the next scene, which depicted Wen Yuchi following his mentor to perform an autopsy on a deceased female student. At the same time, he discovered that the fingerprints of the female student matched those of the person who had sent dead mice and other macabre gifts to Wen Yuchi. Wen Yuchi lowered his head, looking at the female student, and sighed, saying, “What an unexpected gain.”

Meanwhile, Captain Zhao Sicheng of the criminal police team was once again visiting Lu Pingfeng.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Unlike the last visit, a tower of pastries was placed on the glass coffee table in Lu Pingfeng’s villa living room, and the aroma of red velvet cake and chocolate mousse wafted through the air, adding a touch of warmth to the whole space.

Luo Yu didn’t need to appear in this scene for now; he held Gu Xiaowei’s thermos in his left hand and rolled up their scripts in his right, watching from the side.

At some point Nie Yangchen had also come to stand beside him, as if seeing Gu Xiaowei from Luo Yu’s position was different from seeing him from another angle.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

In the next moment, Luo Yu suddenly elbowed Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder, forcing him to tense every muscle to resist. At the same time, Luo Yu changed his direction of attack and struck between Gu Xiaowei’s upper arm and forearm. 

Instinctively, Gu Xiaowei let go of Luo Yu. 

Then, taking advantage of the force from leaning against the statue, Luo Yu raised his left leg to trap Gu Xiaowei and, with a powerful twist of his waist, pushed him to the side. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Gu Xiaowei was caught off guard and staggered a step, but by the time he regained his composure, Luo Yu had already jumped down from the statue. 

“You said I wouldn’t find my way back to the villa; that might be possible. You said I would be dealt with by Nie Yangchen—are you looking down on me!” 

After saying that, Luo Yu walked toward a small path. 

Gu Xiaowei’s voice rang out, “That way leads to the Blue Lake.” 

The impact wasn’t great, but the insult was quite strong. That chilly tone seemed to say, “Don’t you know yourself? Can you really get back on your own?” 

The Blue Lake is the one next to the resort, reportedly being developed for diving projects. During the day, the water is clear and bright, but at night, it becomes eerily quiet. 

Luo Yu, lacking any backbone, turned around and followed Gu Xiaowei. 

He then realized that this guy must have rushed out as well; he was still wearing his silk pajamas, with casual shoes on his feet. The shoelaces were noticeably loose, suggesting he had just slipped them on to head out. Over his pajamas, he wore a dark gray sweater, probably something he often wore at home while going through scripts. 

Luo Yu’s exit from his room was very quiet, and Gu Xiaowei must have followed him after hearing the sound of the villa door because there was some distance between them, so Luo Yu hadn’t noticed him. 

“Hey, what if the director sees Nie Yangchen’s lip injury tomorrow and says you did it?” Luo Yu didn’t want the other to remain silent all the way. 

Because Gu Xiaowei’s voice is genuinely pleasant. He liked listening to it, so he wanted to hear more. Otherwise, it would be a waste of Gu Xiaowei’s beautiful voice. 

“Then I’ll say he intended to do something wrong in the middle of the night.” 

“Oh, so you are the hero?” Luo Yu asked with a laugh. 

“Otherwise do you think I robbed him?” Gu Xiaowei retorted. 

“It was not much different from a robbery,” Luo Yu said, laughing as he walked ahead of him. 

Gu Xiaowei sighed from behind, “It’s to the right, not the left.” 

Luo Yu hurriedly stepped back, deciding to obediently follow Gu Xiaowei again. 

They returned to the villa, and it was already three-thirty in the morning. 

“If you can’t sleep, we can rehearse,” Gu Xiaowei said to Luo Yu before entering his room. 

Gu Xiaowei could notice that Luo Yu had gone out at midnight, which meant he wasn’t sleeping either. 

“I don’t want to,” Luo Yu chuckled lightly, turning back and saying, “If you can’t sleep… you can draw me.” 

Just as you said I could imagine everything about you, I also allow you to think of me more when you can’t sleep. 

Gu Xiaowei paused briefly, looking at Luo Yu with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. 

This made Luo Yu feel a bit frustrated; perhaps because he had never been in a relationship, and his previous words came off as narcissistic and silly? 

“Or you can leave the door unlocked. If I can’t sleep in half an hour, I’ll really come to rehearse with you.” Luo Yu found a way to salvage himself. 

“Ha.” Gu Xiaowei laughed coldly, apparently thinking Luo Yu’s sleep quality was much better than he imagined. 

Luo Yu returned to his room, lay down on the bed, and when his head hit the pillow, he thought of many things. 

In this life, Gu Xiaowei felt very close, while in the previous life, Gu Xiaowei had a sense of distance. 

But even when he was far away, he once slept against his shoulder after drinking two cans of beer. 

Wait… Xiao Qin seemed to have said that Gu Xiaowei had a good tolerance for alcohol. 

Alcohol tolerance shouldn’t change between lives. 

Suddenly, Luo Yu had a certain thought; blood rushed to his heart, making his heart tremble, almost causing him to sit up and think wildly. 

He covered his heart and told himself to stop thinking; he had teased that guy several times, yet he remained unaffected. It was completely a waste of effort and feelings. 

Rest, just take a break. 

Once he regained his energy, he could properly boil water to catch a frog tomorrow. 

He absolutely had to make him jump. 

Gu Xiaowei closed the door and paused while locking it. 

Two seconds later, his hand dropped, and he turned around, leaning against the bedroom door, tilting his head back and letting out a deep sigh. 

He leaned against the door for a long time; Luo Yu’s casual remark, “If I can’t sleep in half an hour, I’ll really come to rehearse with you,” left him with a sense of anticipation. 

He could even imagine how Luo Yu looked, sleeping with his profile nestled in the pillow. 

If he knew that he wanted to kiss him in the shadow of that statue, to possess his breath and heartbeat under the gaze of the gods, igniting those rebellious myths, and that he was the only aesthetic that constituted his world… would Luo Yu flee from his world? 

The sky gradually lightened, and the shadows were slowly dispelled, revealing large patches of roses blooming in vibrant colors. 

The phone rang, and Luo Yu, with his eyes closed, fumbled around for a while before reluctantly sitting up. 

Downstairs, the sound of Ye Shengyi coming down in slippers indicated that breakfast had been delivered by the resort. 

Next came the sounds of Xiao Qin, Brother Yan, and Ye Shengyi washing up and chatting. 

Luo Yu opened his eyes, swaying slightly as he opened the door. It was indeed torture to get up after only three hours of sleep. 

As soon as he opened the bathroom door, he saw Gu Xiaowei bending over the sink, washing his face with water.

His legs are really long.

He had been dead tired, but upon seeing him, that restless feeling in his heart stirred again, and Luo Yu felt a bit guilty.

He didn’t say anything and just kept looking at him until Gu Xiaowei straightened up and wiped his face dry.

“Have you been standing behind me this whole time?” Gu Xiaowei asked, looking at Luo Yu in the mirror.

“I just suddenly remembered that you had a movie last year, and the poster showed your back. The lines were really nice… Was that real, or was it photoshopped?”

Gu Xiaowei turned to look at him and said in a calm tone, “Haven’t you tried it yourself? If it’s real or photoshopped, how would you not know?”

Luo Yu was taken aback, “I… What have I tried?”

“Squatting while princess carrying you. Otherwise, what do you think I meant by trying?” Gu Xiaowei’s eyebrows slightly raised.

Luo Yu’s heartstrings also lifted.

He had once lifted him up from the edge of the swimming pool and could easily grip his waist to place him on the statue.

In front of Luo Yu, Gu Xiaowei unexpectedly held an absolute advantage in strength.

Luo Yu decided to go find a personal trainer; Gu Xiaowei’s physical prowess was too intimidating.

If he really was overstepping, one day when things blew up, and Gu Xiaowei shouted, “I see you as a brother, but you want to sleep with me,” he would have to defend himself, and it would be best if he had some sort of countermeasure… Luo Yu suddenly felt he was being very positive and optimistic.

“I’m done with the bathroom.”

Gu Xiaowei sidled past Luo Yu, who was standing at the door, as if he was carefully trying not to brush against him.

Luo Yu walked to the sink to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Thinking about the serious expression on Gu Xiaowei’s face just now, Luo Yu felt a bit annoyed. If he had known, he might as well have lifted his shirt and said he wanted to admire his abs; maybe he would have blushed a little.

When they arrived at the villa where they were shooting, they saw the assistant director talking to Nie Yangchen.

“What’s going on with you? One side of your face is all swollen! Even the most skilled makeup artist can’t reduce that swelling! Did you really slip and fall in the bathroom?”

Yan Jun, who played Zhao Sicheng, passed by and couldn’t help but chime in, “Looks like you got punched, right?”

Brother Yan, are you not planning to spare him any face?

Nie Yangchen’s acting was genuinely good. He touched his cheek with a lamenting expression, “I also feel like it hurts as if I was punched… But the problem is, in this semi-closed resort, the only people who could have hit me are the crew. Want to take a bet on who hit me?”

Yan Jun laughed, just as he was about to joke with Nie Yangchen when Gu Xiaowei, dressed in a black trench coat, walked between them.

“I did it.”

After those three words dropped, Yan Jun looked at Gu Xiaowei’s back in shock, “What…? Gu Xiaowei hit you? Why? When and where did he hit you?”

The assistant director was also stunned, “Didn’t you say you fell in the bathroom?”

Luo Yu raised the corners of his mouth in a smile, eager to see how Nie Yangchen would handle this.

“Well, it’s not a big deal. I couldn’t sleep at night and went out for a smoke, and I saw Teacher Gu and his lover taking a walk. I couldn’t help but crack a joke, and that’s how I got hit.”

The assistant director and Yan Jun went silent for two seconds, looking at Nie Yangchen’s expression, and they felt that he was just talking nonsense.

“Hehe, who is Teacher Gu’s lover?” the assistant director asked irritably.

It was clear that no one believed Nie Yangchen’s tall tale.

“You’ll have to ask Teacher Luo about that, right?” Nie Yangchen deliberately looked at Luo Yu, passing the buck to him.

When the assistant director and Yan Jun looked over, Luo Yu remained calm.

“Gu Xiaowei currently has no lover. However, I’m quite clear about who your lover is, Nie Yangchen,” Luo Yu said with a smile, his eyes narrowing.

Nie Yangchen’s expression remained calm as he teased back, “Oh, who is my lover then?”

“Hermaphroditus, the beautiful Greek god whose beauty is unrelated to gender.” After saying this, Luo Yu walked past Nie Yangchen, “You have such unique taste; it’s probably embarrassing to tell the assistant director, right?”

The assistant director and Yan Jun exchanged glances, puzzled.

“Herm… Herm what is that?” the assistant director frowned and asked.

“A Greek god! What kind of god is that? I’ve never heard of it!” Yan Jun looked confused; he only knew Zeus, Apollo, and Athena from Greek mythology.

Nie Yangchen quickly retreated, “That’s a statue in the resort.”

“Oh… no wonder. There are so many European-style statues here; I don’t know who they’re all modeled after,” the assistant director thought for a moment and then shouted, “You need to ice that face quickly!”

Nie Yangchen quickly followed Luo Yu, whispering, “You seem to be able to walk alright; it seems Gu Xiaowei didn’t go crazy last night. I took a hit for nothing.”

Luo Yu stopped and calmly said, “Last night, you were venting your emotions onto me and Teacher Gu because you were forced to break up, weren’t you?”

Nie Yangchen’s gaze darkened, and his voice grew cold, “Don’t worry; I’m not that despicable. I won’t go around spreading your business. After all, Teacher Gu has laid the groundwork for your brotherly bond, open and public. No one would believe me anyway.”

“So, you’re very jealous that our mutual care and affection are also open and honest, right?” Luo Yu asked.

Nie Yangchen fell silent.

“Nie Yangchen, if one wants to have the freedom to indulge, they must first have the ability to clean up the aftermath. It’s the same for you, and it is the same for me and Teacher Gu.”

Having said that, Luo Yu walked towards Gu Xiaowei.

At that moment, Nie Yangchen seemed to understand what Luo Yu meant.

By choosing Dijun Media, he chose the path of capital marketing, so he had to follow Ou Juntao’s arrangements. Breaking up with his lover was the price he had to pay.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

And Luo Yu, having been suppressed all the way, began to rise up starting from Bai Ying. Nie Yangchen had only watched two episodes of “Counterattack” to feel Luo Yu’s mature and tension-filled acting skills.

He didn’t market his persona, nor did he have ambitions for gaining traffic. When he paved the way for his acting career with one role after another, even if one day he really ended up with Gu Xiaowei and everyone knew about it, he would still have the strength to stand in the industry based on his acting skills and reputation, continuing forward.

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ

Luo Yu was not interested in other people’s affairs, and since Nie Yangchen was his colleague in the same crew, he had no intention of making things awkward for him. However, Nie Yangchen stepped closer, “That’s right, this is my jealousy. Gu Xiaowei can use every acting role to openly express all his ambitions, gradually getting closer to you. Meanwhile, I am constrained by Ou Juntao’s demands, forced to stay hidden. But Gu Xiaowei can act recklessly… Ah, no, he is still cautious. He fears that you might discover his little thoughts and avoid him.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Luo Yu’s heart raced, nearly leaping from his throat. 

Why would Nie Yangchen think of this? He had only watched two episodes of “Counterattack” and had only been filming with them for two days.

Moreover, Director Lin and Screenwriter Hua, along with many actors, didn’t seem to have this thought. Why did Nie Yangchen come to such a conclusion?

“You’re confusing me,” Luo Yu said, controlling his expression to appear steadfast and unyielding.

“Don’t believe me? Then let me verify.” Nie Yangchen smiled and suddenly leaned closer to Luo Yu, the angle almost resembling a kiss.

Luo Yu’s nerves tensed, reacting instinctively; he raised his elbow to press against Nie Yangchen’s chest. But before he could exert any force, a fist swung in from the side, striking Nie Yangchen directly in the face.

Nie Yangchen fell to the ground, the impact sending him sliding across the floor.

Luo Yu stood frozen; he hadn’t thrown that punch.

And they still had filming tomorrow. If he were to hit someone, it wouldn’t be Nie Yangchen’s face.

He saw a figure storm past him, and the next moment, Nie Yangchen was yanked up by his collar, just as a second punch was about to come down!

What the hell!

“Gu Xiaowei—” Luo Yu rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Gu Xiaowei from behind, trying to pull him back.

Nie Yangchen’s lip was already split, but he looked unconcerned, watching his opponent with a provocatively obvious expression, seemingly eager for a second punch to land.

“You… you… listen to me! If you smash his face to the point where makeup can’t cover it, how are you going to explain it to the director?”

Damn, Gu Xiaowei was so strong; Luo Yu couldn’t even pull his arms back!

“Then I’ll aim for a place where makeup doesn’t need to cover.”

Gu Xiaowei radiated a chilling aura; his voice and expression held no warmth, abandoning all restraint and decorum. With one kick, Nie Yangchen would be done for.

Luo Yu made a quick decision and hoisted Gu Xiaowei up by the waist, shouting at Nie Yangchen, “Get lost already—”

Nie Yangchen leisurely climbed to his feet, shrugging at Luo Yu, “Look, I didn’t do anything to you; I just got a little closer—why does he want to hit me?”

—Because of jealousy.

“Because you’re asking for it,” Luo Yu shot a cold glare at Nie Yangchen.

Luo Yu was generally seen as gentle and tolerant, lacking an aggressive aura, but in this moment, his gaze was sharp, slicing through the space like a string, tightly gripping Nie Yangchen’s throat, cutting off his blood flow and thoughts.

The warning and pressure made Nie Yangchen inhale.

“Aren’t you leaving yet?”

Just those four words made Nie Yangchen experience what it felt like to flee in panic for the first time.

Once Nie Yangchen left, Luo Yu finally let go of Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei’s expression was completely cold, his gaze as if it were going to freeze Luo Yu in place.

“How did you suddenly appear?” Luo Yu asked.

“Can’t you figure it out?” Gu Xiaowei countered, looking into Luo Yu’s eyes.

“So… since I left the villa, you’ve actually been following me?”

Luo Yu didn’t feel angry about being followed; after all, he was just out for a walk, not doing anything wrong. 

And it was understandable that Gu Xiaowei was worried about him, following from a distance at this late hour.

But how did Gu Xiaowei manage to do this without him noticing at all?

“Otherwise, would you come back by dawn?” Gu Xiaowei asked again, his voice lowered by an octave.

Luo Yu felt as if he were a child wandering outside after school, unaware that his father was following closely behind, observing whether he was buying snacks or giving candy to a girl.

“I thought you were asleep, so I didn’t call you,” Luo Yu said, walking over and placing a hand on his shoulder, trying to persuade him gently, “Okay, okay, no more being upset. I couldn’t sleep and came out for a walk in the middle of the night. If you quietly follow me like that, I might think you’re a bad person and kick you, don’t underestimate my turning kick; it’s enough to send you to the hospital.”

“You really know what a bad person is?” Gu Xiaowei tilted his head, looking at Luo Yu.

The gloom that belonged to Lu Pingfeng permeated the air.

“After living this long, how could I not know what a bad person is? Plus, with you following me, worrying I’ll get lost or be bullied by Nie Yangchen, does it matter whether there are bad people or not?”

“Maybe a bad person is someone who makes you let your guard down the most. Like me.”

“Okay, okay, okay, you’re a bad person. Show me how bad you are…”

Before Luo Yu could finish, his wrist was grabbed by Gu Xiaowei, causing him to stumble and almost crash into him.

But Gu Xiaowei didn’t turn; instead, he pulled Luo Yu backward step by step until they reached the ambiguous statue.

“Wait, Gu Xiaowei! It’s really late; let’s go back!” Luo Yu looked into Gu Xiaowei’s eyes, feeling no ripple, yet sensing thousands of nerves were being pulled, even this distance that was neither far nor near was a torment. He would rather engage in a childish fight with him… or simply lean against his chest and hold him tight.

In that moment of impulse, Luo Yu’s heart raced, hearing Nie Yangchen’s words—Gu Xiaowei could use any acting role to openly express all his ambitions, inching closer to you.

This was not merely temptation, but rather shattering all reasonable excuses, revealing a maddening truth.

Suddenly, Luo Yu felt his waist being gripped; he knew Gu Xiaowei was very strong, but being lifted off the ground made him panic. He instinctively reached for Gu Xiaowei’s shoulder, but Gu Xiaowei coldly pressed him against the curve of the statue’s back, “Do you know who Nie Yangchen was with last night?”

Such a Gu Xiaowei didn’t scare Luo Yu at all. No matter how forceful he appeared, he always restrained his strength, not causing Luo Yu any pain, as if putting on a show of power to frighten him.

The more he acted this way, the more Luo Yu wanted to draw closer to him.

“Someone beside him. I can’t remember exactly who,” Luo Yu replied.

“It was a man,” Gu Xiaowei said.

Luo Yu opened his mouth, momentarily stunned, searching his memory for the people around Nie Yangchen.

His makeup artist hadn’t changed, but his assistant seemed to be absent today. He vaguely remembered that it was a pleasant looking, organized person.

If Nie Yangchen liked his assistant and it was a man, then it would explain why Ou Juntao was so anxious to force Nie Yangchen to break up with him. Because Dijun Media’s marketing strategy was to fill fans with fantasies about their artists. Once it was revealed that Nie Yangchen and his assistant were in a romantic relationship, the fantasy atmosphere created by Dijun Media would be completely shattered.

“Since he likes men, how can you be sure you’re not his type?” Gu Xiaowei leaned even closer, “You don’t look better than that man? Aren’t you more likely to ignite Nie Yangchen’s desire for conquest?”

The moonlight illuminated Gu Xiaowei’s deep amber eyes, allowing Luo Yu to see the tightly restrained emotion within, as if once it surged forth, it would completely destroy him.

This was jealousy.

And possessiveness.

This was what Nie Yangchen intentionally approached him to prove.

Luo Yu could not describe the feeling at this moment; it felt as if he had been splashed with strong liquor, igniting an insatiable fire that even the vastness of the world could not contain.

He had already been reborn once, and Gu Xiaowei was the most important person in his life, his only recognized rival and comrade.

He couldn’t easily ask that question because he didn’t know if it was Lu Pingfeng crossing the line with Wen Yuchi or Gu Xiaowei suddenly losing control after scheming for him.

But so what?

This man made his heart race, not just once, but countless times… in the moments he unconsciously ignored and deliberately suppressed, it had happened countless times.

Suddenly recalling, Gu Xiaowei had recognized him in the elevator while he wore a mask, tying up his loose hair for him; that night in the studio city, he had hand fed him mint candy and sent him trending on Weibo; every straightforward show of support and share, along with every “Senior Brother” he had uttered… all seemed like subtle yet blatant declarations of love.

Damn… what kind of man is so eager to take pictures of his senior brother and post them on his Weibo, as if… showing off his affection? 

The more he thought about it, the faster Luo Yu’s heart raced. 

He probably wouldn’t have a chance to be reborn again; his fate had already changed a lot, and what truly changed was his relationship with Gu Xiaowei. 

In the previous life, they admired each other but seemed to have an insurmountable boundary between them, and in this life… Luo Yu hoped to be reckless and fearless, wanting what he desired. 

Alright, Gu Xiaowei… If I’m being overly delusional, then it’s your fault. I will pull you into my world and make you mine. 

But if all your approaches are cautious, then I’ll let you know that we’re both addicted to each other. 

To bully you is the price for your temptation. 

I’ve never cared for flowers or applause, but I love acting, whether it’s in TV dramas, movies, or stage plays. 

But you are different, Gu Xiaowei. With you, I can’t make mistakes, because once you retreat back into your world, the distinction between you and me will be clear, and that kind of regret cannot be compensated for, no matter what achievements I attain. 

So this time, we won’t compare who acts more passionately, but rather who makes the other absolutely dependent on him. 

“Luo Yu, what are you thinking?” Gu Xiaowei’s voice was cold. 

Luo Yu looked up at the statue’s face and slowly asked, “Do you know who this statue is?” 

“En?” 

“The most famous hermaphrodite deity in Greek mythology is probably Hermaphroditus. He was originally the illegitimate child of Hermes and Aphrodite.” Luo Yu lowered his head and leaned closer to Gu Xiaowei bit by bit. 

The closer he got, the more forcefully Gu Xiaowei gripped his waist. 

“In the Louvre, there’s also a statue of him. It is said to look delicate and smooth, with an enchanting figure.” 

Luo Yu gazed at Gu Xiaowei, whose breathing was steady. The oppressive feeling from earlier had eased, and his eyes even carried a hint of mockery, as if he could see right through Luo Yu. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“I’ve seen that statue. From the back, it looks like a woman with a beautiful curve, but when you go to the other side, it resembles a man more. It’s a work by the famous Italian sculptor Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini.” Gu Xiaowei, still holding Luo Yu’s waist, slightly pulled back the distance between them. He wasn’t embarrassed or shy but was deliberately making sure Luo Yu looked him in the eye clearly, “Senior Brother, are you discussing this statue with me to divert the topic from your dangerously reckless night outings?” 

Luo Yu’s heart skipped a beat; he had finally managed to steer the conversation toward something suggestive, and Gu Xiaowei ruthlessly turned it back. 

Ha, Nie Yangchen, I believe you like a fool. 

If you would like to show some ♡  then please consider supporting this translator! ლ(⌒εー)ლ