Chà Chà Novel

Chapter 6

News of Xia Liangzhi’s unexpected arrival on set immediately sent the trending charts into a frenzy.

Before that, The Golden Age had attracted little attention. Nearly all its actors were newcomers, and none had a large fanbase. Among the countless idol dramas being made, it had caused barely a ripple, and few people were looking forward to it.

But once Xia Liangzhi appeared, topics about him and The Golden Age kept climbing the trending charts. The drama had become famous before it had even aired.

Ling Xiao sat in his car, his expression cold. As the production’s largest investor, he could come and go without anyone stopping him. From where he sat, he could see Xia Liangzhi clearly.

Ling Xiao had provided the funding but had little involvement in Director Zhang’s casting decisions. Dan Shen had won his role through an audition. This was only one of the many projects Ling Xiao had invested in; neither the drama nor Dan Shen gave him a reason to visit the set in person.

He simply had not expected Director Zhang to persuade Xia Liangzhi to join the cast.

Ling Xiao had learned the news a little earlier than everyone else, but only a little. If Zhang Li had not been so excited yesterday, once Xia Liangzhi’s arrival had been confirmed, that he called to tell Ling Xiao, he would have found out today along with everyone else.

Zhang Li had said Xia Liangzhi accepted the script before returning to the country. The Golden Age had delayed filming until now to accommodate his schedule.

He had accepted the script long ago. That meant he had known Dan Shen would play the other lead. If he could calmly film alongside Dan Shen, then he truly did not care about the relationship between Dan Shen and Ling Xiao…

How cruel.

Two years ago, Xia Liangzhi had left him behind without looking back. Since returning, he had treated Ling Xiao with the same distant indifference.

Every action Xia Liangzhi took told him that what had existed between them was over. Ling Xiao was the only one still trapped in the past, tormenting himself. He had first kept Dan Shen by his side to upset Xia Liangzhi. Now Dan Shen’s presence seemed to mock him for imagining that his feelings were returned.

How ridiculous.

“Xia Liangzhi, do you have no heart…?”

Ling Xiao murmured, pain flashing through his eyes.

“Host, Ling Xiao has left…”

The midday sun was harsh. Ling Xiao certainly had patience to sit in his car for hours.

Xia Liangzhi reclined in a lounge chair, drinking iced coffee with a small fan in his hand. His gaze rested on the young man sitting atop a horse, sword pointed at his opponent. Dan Shen looked down with proud, narrow eyes; the slight downward tilt at their corners lent him an air of reckless arrogance.

That single look had gone straight to Xia Liangzhi’s heart~

“Cut! That’s a take! Well done. Dan Shen, go get your makeup touched up. We’ll film the first meeting in the Cold Palace next.”

At last, it was his turn!

Dan Shen’s performance was captivating. Watching him had made Xia Liangzhi eager to enter the scene with him.

Their first meeting in the Cold Palace…

Ba La La sounded close to despair. “That’s right! You’re happy now, aren’t you? In a moment, you’ll have an official excuse to flirt with him!”

Dan Shen appeared to be a skilled rider. He dismounted in one clean, decisive movement. When the director called out to him, he instinctively looked toward Xia Liangzhi. Xia Liangzhi was smiling brightly at him and even raised a thumb in praise.

The set was crowded, with plenty of young Alphas around. Xia Liangzhi had removed his pheromone-blocking patch so it would not show on camera. Although he was not in heat, he had taken a suppressant. If someone like Li Nan accidentally released their pheromones near his exposed scent gland, it probably would not cause a strong reaction, but it would certainly make him uncomfortable.

Dark clouds hung over the Cold Palace. The air was damp and stifling. A flute melody rose from somewhere, slow and graceful enough to draw anyone in.

As soon as it ended, footsteps sounded, drawing closer…

Yan Jue looked at the young man whose back was turned to him. He was slender, his waist astonishingly narrow beneath its belt. Long black hair fell down his back, nearly concealing it.

Only when the footsteps stopped did Shen Qing’an turn around. His pale face should have made him look sickly, yet against his crimson robes, it was strikingly beautiful.

Yan Jue had not expected someone so beautiful to have grown up in the Cold Palace. His narrow eyes tightened slightly.

“Your Highness, you are more resourceful than I thought. After so many years in the Cold Palace, you can still send word to the outside.”

He offered no bow, nor even the barest show of respect. Between a young general and a prince forgotten in the Cold Palace, it was clear which of them held power.

Shen Qing’an’s lips curved. A smile reached his peach-blossom eyes.

“We haven’t seen each other in years, General. Must you be so harsh the moment we meet? I merely wanted to reminisce.”

Yan Jue looked as though he had heard something absurd. Mockery settled between his brows.

“And which memory would Your Highness like to revisit? The time you called me a lowly wretch, or the time you made me kneel so you could use my back as a seat?”

The smile in Shen Qing’an’s eyes only deepened.

“I was young and foolish then. You’re a powerful general now, while I’m only a deposed crown prince. Surely you won’t hold it against me anymore?”

From anyone else, those words might have sounded like a careless demand to forget the past. Yet Shen Qing’an said them so naturally that Yan Jue felt something strange stir within him, as though he ought to indulge this man.

Even though Shen Qing’an had fallen so far…

Yan Jue grew impatient. Unwilling to prolong the conversation, he turned to leave.

“Three years ago, of the four sons of the Yan family who went to war, you were the only one fortunate enough to survive. A battle you were certain to win nearly cost your entire family their lives. Yan Jue, do you truly not know why? Do you truly feel no hatred?”

Yan Jue stopped. He turned back, his face cold. He gave no answer, but he did not leave.

“Yan Jue, we share an enemy. You hold great power now, yet you still cannot avenge your family. I can help you. All I need is to regain my position as crown prince.”

Yan Jue narrowed his dark eyes and stared at Shen Qing’an.

“Why should I trust you?”

Shen Qing’an smiled softly and approached him step by step. Then he slowly loosened his belt. Without it holding his robe in place, the fabric slipped down one shoulder, revealing a flash of startlingly pale skin.

Yan Jue’s pupils contracted. Flustered, he took a step back, his entire face turning red.

“Cut! Dan Shen, what are you doing?! Who are you acting like a shy little wife for? You’re supposed to be cold! Why are you backing away?!”

Dan Shen’s face was already red. After the director scolded him, he dared not even lift his head.

Xia Liangzhi pulled his robe back into place and looked at him with a faint, knowing smile.

He really was terrible at keeping his composure. Xia Liangzhi had barely done anything. A glimpse of collarbone was enough to leave him like this.

Deliberately teasing him, Xia Liangzhi echoed the director, amusement clear in his voice.

“A shy little wife?”

Dan Shen was mortified.

“Mr. Xia…”

There was none of his earlier commanding presence in his narrow eyes. He even looked a little aggrieved. Xia Liangzhi did not have the heart to tease him further. Turning to the director, he said, “I’ll take his reaction as a compliment. I’m quite happy about it. Let’s do another take.”

Everything before that point was usable; they only needed to reshoot a short section at the end. The two returned to their marks.

“Action!”

Shen Qing’an loosened his belt. Against the red robe, his porcelain-white skin caught Yan Jue’s eye.

“What is Your Highness trying to do?”

Yan Jue knew perfectly well. He asked only to humiliate him.

Shen Qing’an seemed not to notice. Years in the Cold Palace had taught him to stop caring about something as laughable as pride. He reached out and wound his arms around Yan Jue’s neck, warm breath accompanying his words.

“This is my show of sincerity. Whether you accept it is entirely up to you, General.”

Yan Jue stared at him without expression. For a long while, he did not move. Then, without warning, Shen Qing’an’s feet left the ground.

In the final shot, Yan Jue carried Shen Qing’an in his arms. The doors to the inner chambers slowly closed. At that very moment, a piece of crimson fabric fell to the floor.

Knowing the camera could not capture it, Xia Liangzhi lightly poked Dan Shen in the chest. His peach-blossom eyes gleamed as he lowered his voice.

“Little wife, your ears are red.”