Chapter 46: A Promise of a Long Future

Su Xuan never thought that Shen Chao’s canine teeth could sink into his cheek, leaving a full set of teeth marks. He was stunned, covering his face and looking at Shen Chao dazedly.

Su Xuan: “……”

‘What kind of dog-like behavior is this! He actually bit me!’

A neat row of teeth marks showed on his right cheek. Su Xuan put on a mask, laughing and crying at the same time. But even the edge of the mask couldn’t cover half of the teeth marks. After a moment of silence, he stepped a meter away from Shen Chao before speaking. Shen Chao’s gaze made him feel hot all over; Su Xuan turned his face slightly, touched the back of his neck, and changed the subject. “Hey, Shen Chao, I want to photocopy some of your files.”

Shen Chao’s gaze fell on the teeth marks peeking out from Su Xuan’s right cheek. He seemed in a decent mood. Leaning in, he encircled Su Xuan in his arms and asked in a low voice, “What for?”

Su Xuan had a subtle feeling that since they acknowledged their relationship, Shen Chao had become… a bit clingy.

And it was an unconscious clinginess—outwardly cold and indifferent, but physically very close. Su Xuan couldn’t handle it and turned his head away, thinking, ‘I just want to revisit the glorious days when you liked me.’ That sounded a bit narcissistic. His mind went blank, and he changed his wording: “I’m using your files to… learn English?”

Shen Chao: “……”

Shen Chao’s indifferent stare fixed directly on Su Xuan’s left face. Su Xuan’s back immediately bristled, feeling that soon there might be a pair of teeth marks from Shen Chao on that side too. ‘If I walk out looking like a New Year painting, what then?’ After all, Su Xuan was still a star who cared about his face. He couldn’t bite back like his boyfriend; being pinned against the wall and having a set of teeth marks was humiliating enough. There couldn’t be a second time!

Pressed by Shen Chao’s stare, Su Xuan had no choice but to confess nervously, “The doctor said it was a love letter written to me… I wanted to keep it as a memento, to read it.”

Shen Chao glanced at him. “Can you understand it?”

Su Xuan: “……”

Su Xuan felt provoked.

He said indignantly, “So what if I can’t understand? Does that mean I don’t deserve the love letter you wrote? It’s the internet age!! There are English courses everywhere!”

“And I can use all kinds of translation software!” Su Xuan emphasized.

Shen Chao pressed his lips into a straight line. “No.”

Su Xuan wanted to argue, but Shen Chao added, “But you can come to see it.”

That worked. This was probably Shen Chao’s final concession.

‘Knowledge really is power,’ Su Xuan sighed. Otherwise, if someone wrote you a love letter and you couldn’t understand it, it was worse than throwing pearls before swine—it was like writing a love letter to an illiterate person.

Su Xuan had to return to the “Jewel Thief” crew to film the remaining scenes. Shen Chao had come straight from the company after hearing the news, and it was obvious he didn’t intend to let Su Xuan go. But Auntie Qian’s pestering level was terrifying, and Su Xuan wanted to finish filming early.

However, Shen Chao’s pestering level was now on par with Auntie Qian’s.

And worse than Auntie Qian, Shen Chao also bit.

Su Xuan had no choice but to drag the biting Shen Chao along to film for the pestering Auntie Qian.

Shen Chao actually had a lot of work, but even with Wang Shou calling him eight hundred times a minute, he remained calm and unmoved, insisting on following Su Xuan. Shen Chao sat on a small stool on the set, watching Su Xuan intently, which dropped the jaws of many onlookers.

If Qian Huai hadn’t been busy directing, he would definitely have surrounded Su Xuan and gossiped about what happened after Shen Chao dragged him away, to make Shen Chao come watch Qian Huai’s filming!

It was no secret in the industry that these two didn’t get along! Qian Huai’s dislike for Shen Chao was practically written on his face!

Shen Chao watched Su Xuan film from a distance. When Su Xuan took a break, he remained as composed as a high monk, while the onlookers were itching with curiosity. There was clearly a story in how Shen Chao looked at Su Xuan!

What on earth happened? I’m so curious!

But this crew of Qian Huai’s, as gossipy as it was, no one dared to approach Shen Chao and ask what happened.

Shen Chao had an aura that kept people at arm’s length. Moreover, everyone in the circle who could be part of this crew knew how to read people. Shen Chao currently seemed hard to get along with—a clear difference from his previous calm state. He looked deep, suppressed, and aggressive—

The way Shen Chao looked at Su Xuan had a suppressed intensity, as if he wanted to do something to Su Xuan but held back, while desperately controlling himself.

Andy said that Shen Chao was now in a state of high stress, having been greatly stimulated. She said this was the main reason Shen Chao had finally agreed to date her—he could no longer control his protective and possessive instincts toward her, but Shen Chao needed a legitimate identity to excessively protect and interfere in her life. A boyfriend was very suitable.

Although something had strongly stimulated Shen Chao, Andy was clearly reluctant to tell Su Xuan about it.

Su Xuan had a headache when, during a break, he found that Shen Chao hadn’t left yet. Shen Chao seemed to be watching Su Xuan, who was in the light from the distant lighting equipment, with a gaze that penetrated everything—calm and persistent. Standing in the darkness, he was like a sword that would not bend, a sword that had not bowed its head in the confrontation with UK three years ago and was not ready to compromise now.

But Su Xuan didn’t want to confront UK head-on. He wanted to infiltrate and gather evidence, to eliminate UK completely, leaving no chance for this industry cancer to harm Shen Chao or others.

However, Shen Chao had his own methods.

Qian Huai came over, arms crossed, with ill intent. “What, hasn’t Shen Chao fucked you yet?”

Su Xuan: “……”

Su Xuan looked at Qian Huai with a ‘What did you say?’ expression. Qian Huai sniffed smugly and said, “The way he looks at you is off. Did you provoke Shen Chao? It’s like he wants to f*ck you.”

Su Xuan: “…”

Su Xuan said fearfully, “It can’t be that bad…”

He now unconditionally trusted Auntie Qian’s gaydar. In his life, he had never seen such a real-time measuring device for gay tendencies. If Auntie Qian weren’t a person, Su Xuan would have bought a Qian Huai to measure Shen Chao’s desire index or tendency to do it.

After all, Shen Chao was always silent and expressionless, but his inner drama—judging by that thick English psychological file—was probably an order of magnitude greater than Su Xuan’s.

And thinking of the teeth marks on his own right cheek, Su Xuan mentally added that Shen Chao’s aggression was probably an order of magnitude stronger than he had imagined.

Qian Huai glanced at Shen Chao, who was still staring at them. “Why not? I tell you, Su Xuan, I’ve seen many people, but I’ve never seen Shen Chao’s desire for you…” Qian Huai seemed to be searching for an adjective but couldn’t find one. “It’s way beyond normal. It doesn’t feel like normal human feelings. I like filming this kind of thing, but in real life, honestly, I’m a bit afraid of someone with such obsessive devotion.”

Su Xuan understood. Qian’s gaydar was giving him a red alert.

Qian Huai pulled a cigarette from his back pocket and asked if Su Xuan wanted one. Su Xuan declined. Qian Huai put it in his mouth without lighting it and sighed, “I really didn’t expect you two to be together. I thought he was dating Song Xiao. I never thought a gay couple could hide under my nose. You two are really deep in the closet.”

Su Xuan thought, ‘I only recently dug out Shen Chao’s inner world with a bulldozer. He was indeed hiding deep—since the milk tea incident.’

Qian Huai spoke bluntly, making Su Xuan’s face flush. Qian Huai glanced at the teeth marks covered by concealer on Su Xuan’s face, clicked his tongue, and took a sip of mineral water with the cigarette in his mouth. “Shen Chao is a brute. Why did he bite you?”

Su Xuan thought for a moment. “He didn’t want me to continue working with Leaf Media because Leaf Media cooperated with UK.”

The water and cigarette spray landed on Su Xuan’s head. “Leaf Media cooperated with who??”

Qian Huai didn’t even wipe his mouth; he grabbed Su Xuan’s shoulders and shook him frantically, eyes wide. “Is Leaf Media crazy?! Do you know what UK is? You should be the most influential artist in your company, didn’t you stop Leaf from joining forces with UK?”

“Couldn’t stop it.” Su Xuan wiped his face. “You know UK. They do whatever they want, very domineering.”

“Then you can run!” Qian Huai said angrily. “It should be easy for you to find another company!”

“It is easy.” Su Xuan sighed long and looked at Qian Huai. “But where can I run? Do you know why UK acquired Leaf Media? Because of me.”

Qian Huai caught on. UK was targeting Su Xuan. He cursed, “Damn, they want to elevate you. UK has some taste, choosing an artist I like.”

Su Xuan: “……”

Qian Huai didn’t know the ins and outs between Su Xuan and Shen Chao. He simply commented on the cooperation between Su Xuan, UK, and Leaf Media. He frowned, pulled another cigarette from his back pocket, lit it this time, and took a deep drag.

“No, Su Xuan, this can’t happen.” Qian Huai exhaled smoke, gesturing with his index and middle fingers. His expression was serious. “UK is a weird company. I’ve worked with UK artists and some directors, and I felt…”

Qian Huai tapped his forehead with the cigarette-holding hand and said solemnly, “These artists all have something wrong with their heads. Their desires and emotions don’t seem normal—almost the same inside and outside movies. I like filming such intense emotions, but in real life, it’s not okay.”

“I haven’t been in UK, but there are many rumors in the circle. I don’t know which are true.” Qian Huai’s gaze solidified, showing a terrifying depth, as if a whirlpool that could swallow people was in his eyes. The hand holding the cigarette trembled, as if trying to flick the ash, but it dropped to the ground. Qian Huai spoke slowly, “But I heard one thing is true: Wang Muzhe called the police while filming for UK, alleging that the director illegally detained him.”

Su Xuan’s eyes widened slowly. “What does ‘illegally detained’ mean?”

“He was filming ‘Gray Dynasty’ at the time—the movie that won him Best Actor—which was produced by UK.” Qian Huai said.

An indescribable chill rose up Su Xuan’s spine, as if a poisonous snake was slithering up his back. He and Qian Huai stared at each other for a long, silent moment. Qian Huai stamped out the glowing cigarette butt with his foot, opened his mouth, and said, “You wouldn’t think that Wang Muzhe, an artist so good at networking, would do something like overturning the table, calling the police, and suing his own director, would you?”

Su Xuan slowly shook his head. “I wouldn’t have imagined.”

He spoke with difficulty, “Director Qian, do you know why Emperor Wang did that?”

Qian Huai glanced at him, then seemed to think of something unacceptable. He clicked his tongue in disgust. “You know Wang Muzhe is gay, right?”

Qian Huai said, “In ‘Gray Dynasty,’ Wang Muzhe played a crown prince with improper intentions toward his stepmother. To highlight this feeling, the director set up several passionate scenes between Wang Muzhe and the stepmother actress. But he said Wang Muzhe didn’t show enough desire and sexual tension for the stepmother; the scenes lacked tension.”

Qian Huai was silent for a long, long moment. “Wang Muzhe acted for a long time without getting it right because the director wasn’t satisfied with his performance, said he wasn’t immersed enough… He required Wang Muzhe to rehearse privately with the actress, and the actress agreed.”

Su Xuan looked extremely slowly at Qian Huai, whose face was now grim. Qian Huai rubbed his fingers and avoided Su Xuan’s eyes. “Wang Muzhe refused the night rehearsal. The director took extreme measures, locking the actress and Wang Muzhe in a room together. In the end, Wang Muzhe called the police…”

“In the end… Did Emperor Wang get that scene right?” Su Xuan asked.

Qian Huai paused. “Yes.”

“He finally acted… very well.”

Qian Huai’s expression was strange, as if grieving or relieved. Eventually, all these emotions merged into a complex expression Su Xuan couldn’t read, subtly present on Qian Huai’s face, eerie and mask-like.

Qian Huai looked at Su Xuan with a hint of pity. “You’re gay too, Su Xuan.”

“If you have to act in their kind of scenes, what will you do? After finishing that movie, Wang Muzhe was so dazed he almost fell from a building. If you also accidentally fall, who will catch you?”

Su Xuan said nothing. He thought, ‘I won’t let myself get to that point. I have many cards and escapes.’ But his gaze inexplicably turned toward Shen Chao.

Qian Huai followed Su Xuan’s gaze, took a drag, and sighed long. “Su Xuan, if you really reach the point of torment and collapse, ready to jump, I guarantee from my years of judging people: Shen Chao won’t pull you back.”

Su Xuan was genuinely curious. He looked at Qian Huai and asked, “Why?”

Qian Huai glanced at him calmly. “If you reach that point, Shen Chao will hold your hand and jump with you. Wherever you are, he will be. Even if it’s hell, he’ll accompany you.”

…

Finally, the last day of Su Xuan’s overtime with the “Jewel Thief” crew arrived. After filming the final few shots, Qian Huai waved and declared Su Xuan’s scenes completed.

Wang Muzhe wasn’t on set; he was like Su Xuan, someone who had long finished most scenes and was only called back occasionally by Qian Huai for reshoots.

Since Su Xuan was officially done, according to tradition, he had to take a group photo with the entire crew. Since Wang Muzhe wasn’t there, Su Xuan, as the popular second male supporting character, was pushed to the center by the crowd of cheerleaders.

Qian Huai’s face had been heavy ever since he heard about Leaf Media cooperating with UK, but seeing Su Xuan almost having his pants pulled off by the rascals posing for the camera, Qian Huai couldn’t help but laugh and swear at the crew not to go too far.

Su Xuan stood in the middle of a large group. The noise of the crowd was so lively that it could almost make him forget all his worries. In the midst of this clamor, Su Xuan suddenly turned around to look for the person Qian Huai said would jump with him.

Shen Chao wore a dark trench coat, hands calmly in his pockets, standing alone in a corner far from the crowd, silently watching Su Xuan being hugged and bid farewell by everyone.

The dim light from the set illuminated his jawline, reflecting in Shen Chao’s eyes the image of Su Xuan turning back to look at him. Shen Chao’s eyes were like a camera recording Su Xuan being intimate with others.

When Su Xuan was chatting and laughing with others, Shen Chao was like a director who only films one actor his entire life.

Shen Chao watched everything related to Su Xuan distantly but intently, always keeping a distance that could capture all of Su Xuan’s expressions. He constantly observed his exclusive leading actor, Su Xuan, interacting with some insignificant extra, recording everything seriously and devoutly, as if watching was equivalent to being close and playing with Su Xuan.

But he never came close.

Su Xuan was lost in Shen Chao’s bottomless eyes. Inside them seemed to be the shadows of countless scenes where Su Xuan played opposite others, while Shen Chao always watched Su Xuan from a corner, never participating, yet unwilling to leave. He just stood at a neither-close-nor-far distance, letting Su Xuan’s smiling face to others slice and torment his love like countless blunt lines.

Then, at some point, Shen Chao would suddenly fall into uncontrollable self-loathing—hating himself for envying those close to Su Xuan, hating himself for never being able to be a normal person, hating his own rampant possessiveness and surging desires. Just a casual smile from Su Xuan, not even meant for Shen Chao, could push Shen Chao to the brink of his self-control.

In his heart lived a beast with long fangs that wanted to kiss a rose. But at the slightest opening of its mouth, before the kiss and desire even landed, it would leave tooth marks and scars on the rose’s petals. The rose, unaware, would shake its petals at the beast, naively thinking the beast was just a strange-looking thorny flower, and smile at him, saying, “Kiss me.”

The rose didn’t know that the beast’s kiss was a devouring, a biting, an inseparable fusion of stars, a collection of all abnormal obsessions and likes—all the ugly forms Shen Chao hated and didn’t want Su Xuan to see.

Shen Chao lowered his eyes and looked away from Su Xuan.

People swarmed around Su Xuan. He struggled to turn his head and look at Shen Chao, then suddenly shouted loudly, “Shen Chao!! I’m done filming!!”

All the noise in the crowd immediately subsided. Shen Chao’s voice was faint but exceptionally clear. A spark of star-like smile flickered in his eyes, gone in an instant, merging back into his night-deep pupils. His tone was light and earnest. “You acted very well.”

Su Xuan stood in the center of the crowd, locking eyes with Shen Chao for a long time. Suddenly, he turned to Qian Huai and said, “I want Shen Chao to take the group photo with me.”

Qian Huai didn’t think much of it. “Sure.”

But Shen Chao didn’t move. He stood still as if he didn’t want to take a photo. He explained softly, “Taking a photo with me here isn’t suitable, Su Xuan.”

The photographer popped out from behind the tripod and asked, “For the group photo, should we write under Director Shen’s name that he’s visiting the set?”

Usually, group photos with the crew required an identity—Su Xuan’s was his character.

Shen Chao wasn’t part of the crew. If he was to be in the photo, he needed a legitimate reason to appear.

“Don’t write ‘visiting.’” Su Xuan paused, looking at Shen Chao, who was keeping his distance as if obedient, feeling a sudden pang in his heart—both sour and soft. He said softly, “Just write… write that Shen Chao is Su Xuan’s family member.”

Even though his eyes clearly showed a desire to come closer, yet he stayed firmly in place for my sake. Shen Chao, Shen Chao, would the universe collapse if you were a little more honest with yourself?

When Su Xuan finished speaking, a strange silence fell over the entire set.

But Su Xuan seemed unaware of the shocking words he had said. The photographer turned his head back and forth between Su Xuan and Shen Chao in shock, but the two of them only looked at each other, ignoring everyone else, inadvertently making the photographer blush. He coughed lightly and stammered, “Should I write, Su Xuan’s family member, Director Shen?”

Qian Huai slapped Su Xuan on the back of the head. Su Xuan covered his head and yelped in pain, turning to look at Qian Huai.

Qian Huai glared at him in irritation but still had to save face for Su Xuan. He said to the photographer, “Write ‘brother.’ What family member?!”

Shen Chao, standing in place, paused for a few seconds, then began to walk toward Su Xuan step by step. Su Xuan, holding the back of his head, was about to argue that they weren’t brothers, but when he saw Shen Chao calmly parting the crowd, he fell silent. The crowd parted, and Shen Chao slowly stood beside him.

Shen Chao took his hand. He didn’t look at Su Xuan, just lowered his eyes and said softly, “There’s plenty of time.”

His fingertips tightened and curled involuntarily, trembling slightly as if he couldn’t control it. Shen Chao repeated solemnly, his voice low and hoarse. “Su Xuan, you and I, there will be plenty of time.”

The rose tilted its petals and gently kissed the beast, giving him a mark.

The beast finally understood how to kiss a rose without hurting it: wait for the rose to kiss him.

If not, he would guard the rose for a lifetime.

But he had waited for it.

Su Xuan gently squeezed Shen Chao’s hand back, intertwining their fingers. Shen Chao’s palm was warm, and their fingers fit snugly together without any gap. Su Xuan looked at the photographer and also smiled. “Yes, there’s plenty of time.”

The days ahead are many, and they may not be less bitter, but at least they will be long.

Long enough that one day, perhaps Su Xuan can openly promise to turn ‘brothers’ into ‘family members,’ perhaps Shen Chao won’t stand outside the crowd gazing into his eyes, perhaps every wrap photo of their story will have the other’s shadow.

Su Xuan was willing to make a big bet for this long future.

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