Chapter 45 p2
Director Gao, a perfectionist, was obsessed with details and atmosphere, wanting every shot to be perfect.
She wanted to capture the magic of that moment, the flutteringt of hearts, the unspoken connection between the two women.
This was Xin Yao’s third attempt at this particular shot.
The first time, she had been too far away.
The second time, Xu Jingyu, sitting in the car, had seemed even more eager than Xin Yao, leaning forward slightly, disrupting the composition.
And the third time, still not meeting the director’s standards, Director Gao had walked over, tucked her script under her arm, told Xu Jingyu to stay still, then, placing her hand on the back of Xin Yao’s head, had guided her towards the car, adjusting the distance herself.
Xin Yao, her head pushed forward by the director’s hand, her gaze fixed on Xu Jingyu’s face, felt the distance between them shrinking, until their faces were inches apart, their breaths mingling in the small, enclosed space of the car.
It was too close.
Xin Yao’s lips parted slightly, her breath catching in her throat, her voice barely a whisper. “Director, isn’t this a bit too close?”
They were practically kissing.
“No! This is perfect!” Director Gao, peering through the camera, nodded in satisfaction, removing her hand from Xin Yao’s head. “This is exactly what I want! That impulsive, almost reckless closeness, the blurring of boundaries.”
“Hold that position! Don’t move! I’m going to check the framing.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away.
Xin Yao and Xu Jingyu were left there, frozen in place, one inside the car, the other leaning against the window, their faces inches apart, their eyes locked.
Xin Yao’s gaze lingered on Xu Jingyu’s deep, dark eyes, her elegant nose, her beautiful face.
She felt herself being drawn in, her breath catching in her throat.
As Xin Yao looked at Xu Jingyu, Xu Jingyu was also looking at her.
Xu Jingyu, easily aroused, felt a dangerous flicker of desire in her eyes as she gazed at Xin Yao, the close proximity, their almost-kiss, intensifying the tension between them.
Her dark eyes traced the curve of Xin Yao’s lips, then returned to her eyes.
The air in the car thickened, their breaths mingling, the atmosphere charged with unspoken desire.
Just as Xu Jingyu’s gaze darkened, her desire growing, Xin Yao spoke, her voice a soft whisper.
“If you dare kiss me, you’re dead.”
Xu Jingyu chuckled, her eyes sparkling.
“So there are rules. It’s not anytime, anywhere? You didn’t mention that earlier, Ms. Xin.”
“So?” Xin Yao raised an eyebrow.
“I’d like to request additional compensation. Another kiss, perhaps?”
Xin Yao was about to retort when a voice interrupted them.
“Look this way, please!”
They both turned their heads.
The quiet alley, the soft glow of the streetlights, their faces, framed by the car window, were captured by the camera, a beautiful, fleeting moment frozen in time.
The cinematographer, holding the camera, exclaimed, “Wow, that was a beautiful shot! We don’t even need to design a poster! We can just use this photo!”
Then, seeing Xin Yao’s confused expression, she smiled.
“Just taking some behind-the-scenes footage while we wait. What were you two talking about?”
Before Xin Yao could answer, Xu Jingyu, still leaning against the car window, her elbow resting on the frame, her hand supporting her chin, her posture relaxed, chuckled softly.
“Ms. Xin was saying…”
Xin Yao knew Xu Jingyu well enough to know that she was capable of saying anything!
Afraid that she would reveal their secret agreement, Xin Yao quickly interrupted her.
“I was saying! Yes! Ms. Xu was asking for additional compensation! And I agreed!”
She glanced at Xu Jingyu, a playful warning in her eyes.
She was so sneaky, always finding ways to get what she wanted.
Xu Jingyu, having achieved her goal, leaned back against the car seat, a smug smile playing on her lips.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Their cryptic exchange confused the cinematographer. What secret were they sharing?
She was about to ask when someone called her name, and she instinctively turned to answer, her camera, however, still pointed at them.
Xin Yao, seeing the cinematographer distracted, turned to Xu Jingyu, mouthing the words, “Are you happy now? You’re so sneaky!”
Xu Jingyu smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Fate favors the bold.”
But she still had some sense of propriety, mouthing back, “Four kisses. You promised.”
Xin Yao wanted to bite her.
“Fine! Four kisses!”
But she didn’t.
Not because they were on set, but because the director, having finally adjusted the lighting and the camera, was ready to resume filming.
The cinematographer hurried back to her position, and the scene continued.
Whether it was Xu Jingyu’s earlier boldness, or the lingering intimacy of their almost-kiss, Xin Yao found herself easily slipping into character, her performance more natural and fluid.
As the clapperboard snapped, she ran towards the car, the evening light illuminating her face, her hair swirling around her like a soft halo, a few strands brushing against Xu Jingyu’s face as she leaned into the open window.
And Xu Jingyu, looking into Xin Yao’s bright, sparkling eyes, wasn’t acting. She was truly, deeply captivated.
The scene, however, had taken a long time to film.
By the time they finished, it was late, and Xin Yao was exhausted.
Xu Jingyu had been called aside by the director for a discussion, so they didn’t return to the hotel together.
As Xin Yao reached the hotel lobby, Chen Jia, seeing her weary expression, offered to get her some food.
Xin Yao, feeling a pang of hunger, agreed, then headed towards the elevators alone.
She was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open as she pressed the button for her floor.
She was on the ninth floor, but in her sleepy haze, she mispressed the button, selecting the sixth floor instead.
And that’s when the unexpected happened.
The elevator doors opened, and Xin Yao, rubbing her eyes, stepped out.
But she froze, her body rigid, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead, her heart pounding in her chest.
She glanced towards the doorway, her eyes widening in horror.
Standing there was a woman in a tattered, bloodstained white dress, her long black hair matted and tangled, her breathing inaudible.
Hearing the elevator doors open, she slowly lifted her head.
The sight made Xin Yao’s legs weaken, tears welling up in her eyes.
The woman’s face was half-covered in blood, her features distorted, her eyes bulging.
And then Xin Yao realized, with a jolt, that she wasn’t on the ninth floor, but the sixth!
A ghost!
She had encountered a ghost!
And Xin Yao was terrified of ghosts.
The ghostly figure stepped towards the elevator.
Xin Yao’s heart pounded, her hands trembling, her back covered in a cold sweat.
Then, in a moment of blind panic, she lunged forward, pushing the ghost aside, and ran, her screams echoing through the hallway.
“Help! A ghost!”
The ghost, caught off guard, stumbled backwards, landing on the floor with a thud.
Then, she scrambled to her feet, her own screams even louder than Xin Yao’s.
“What ghost?! Where?! Ah!”
She ran after Xin Yao.
Xin Yao, not hearing her words clearly, only her terrified screams, thought the ghost was chasing her and almost burst into tears.
She skidded to a halt, then ducked into a nearby stairwell.
In moments of extreme fear, people instinctively sought out familiar places.
Xin Yao, without thinking, took the stairs two at a time, racing towards the ninth floor.
But she could hear the frantic footsteps behind her, the ghost still chasing her!
Xin Yao: “Help! A ghost!”
The ghost: “Where?! What ghost?!”
Their screams echoed through the stairwell as they raced upwards, like two frightened rabbits.
Xin Yao reached the ninth floor and burst through the door, running towards the elevators.
And as she emerged from the stairwell, she saw Xu Jingyu, having just returned from her meeting with the director, stepping out of the elevator.
Xu Jingyu, turning her head, saw Xin Yao running towards her, her face pale with terror, a strange, screaming figure chasing after her.
She was about to speak when Xin Yao, seeing her, realized, with a sudden clarity, how much she loved Xu Jingyu.
Her love for her had overcome her deepest fear, giving her a sudden surge of courage.
She skidded to a halt, turning to face the “ghost.”
Then, taking a deep breath, she headbutted the screaming figure.
A loud thud echoed through the hallway.
The ghost: “Gah!!!”
It collapsed onto the floor.
Xin Yao, not even feeling the pain, turned and ran towards Xu Jingyu, grabbing her hand and pulling her away.
Her hair, disheveled by the wind, framed her pale face, her expression a mix of fear and determination, strangely beautiful.
Xu Jingyu, unaware of what had happened, simply felt the intensity of Xin Yao’s love, the desperation in her grip as she pulled her away, their hands clasped tightly as they fled from some unseen danger.
She didn’t need to know what was happening. As long as Xin Yao was holding her hand, she would follow her anywhere, even into the depths of hell.
Their escape, their hands intertwined, was strangely romantic.
And the “ghost,” lying on the floor, clutching its head, groaning, couldn’t even get up.
It reached out towards them, its voice a desperate plea.
“Help me! There’s no ghost!”
“I’m still young! I can be saved! I want to live!”
“Take me with you!”
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