Recently, it had been rare to catch a rainy day, and who knew when the next one would come. To avoid delaying the crew, Cheng Ping refused the alternative plan of creating artificial rain later and returned to the set just one day after resting in bed.

This time, he was calm, silently reciting Buddhist scriptures in his mind, and watched the coffin being lowered three more times. Although his eye acting still didn’t reach the director’s vague and mysterious description, it was at least passable, and they completed the scene.

After enduring another day in the rain with a fever, Cheng Ping finally succumbed to a severe cold by dusk.

When everyone showed their concern, the assistant director couldn’t miss the opportunity to ask worriedly, “This time, how many days will you need to stop filming?”

Cheng Ping’s nails dug into his palms as he gave a look of deep apology, muttering, “I’m very sorry, my constitution is usually better than this. Perhaps the weight loss affected my immunity.”

He had lost weight for the role, and his illness was due to his dedication. The assistant director knew this wasn’t Cheng Ping’s fault but wanted to provoke him into losing his temper and making a scene in front of the script supervisor. Unexpectedly, Cheng Ping, having learned his lesson, suddenly admitted his mistake.

The assistant director had no choice but to act magnanimously: “In the future, take care of yourself and don’t play the hero.” He acted as if he was considering the crew’s best interests.

Cheng Ping, pale-faced, swallowed his pride and nodded.

The director, also startled by the incident, insisted Cheng Ping fully recover before returning to work, telling him not to lose any more weight and to eat properly.

Cheng Ping decided to use this time to find the elusive feeling the director wanted.

Initially, he planned to use his old method of observing similar roles, but for the character of Hiro, this approach didn’t work. Every reference he found was “heavier” than his own performance.

The same emotional expression that seemed full in others was excessive in Hiro. This boy seemed less like a living person and more like a creation of dreams, who would dissipate upon realizing this.

Cheng Ping felt it was difficult for his explosive nature to master such fine control.

He stayed in his room for a few days, even missing the crew’s Valentine’s Day event.

The event was actually suggested by Li Baixi, who urged the director to organize it, citing that many crew members’ families were visiting that day. It would be better to have a group outing to avoid any leaks.

Thus, after wrapping up that day, the entire crew headed into town and booked an entire restaurant.

In the middle of the restaurant, a band was playing to entertain. Initially, everyone didn’t pay much attention, but halfway through the meal, the music suddenly stopped. The band members took out a piece of paper and announced, “We received a private commission to convey the love of a certain Miss XX.”

The crowd cheered, looking around to see who this fiery lover was.

To their surprise, the band approached someone, serenading them with love songs. Everyone stared in dead silence—it was the assistant director.

Having worked with the crew for a long time, nearly everyone knew the assistant director was entangled with the script supervisor.

But not everyone knew he had a girlfriend outside the crew.

Although affairs within crews were common, encountering a genuine love triangle was incredibly awkward.

Everyone secretly watched the two main parties.

The script supervisor’s face turned beet red, and she quickly made an excuse to leave.

The assistant director couldn’t escape. The band surrounded him, playing endless love songs, their cheerful faces contrasting starkly with his grim expression.

Once the initial shock wore off, the crowd began to find the scene humorous. Some even took out their phones to record videos.

The assistant director wished he could die on the spot.

Finally, the band played the last note.

The assistant director awkwardly clapped a few times and forced out a “Thank you.”

The band members cheerfully wagged a finger: “This isn’t over! Miss XX also entrusted us with a gift!”

The assistant director: “…”

The band handed him a gift box and eagerly asked him to open it.

Cornered, the assistant director angrily tore off the wrapping.

A foul stench immediately filled the air, and everyone strained to see what it was, even those filming extended their arms to capture it.

It was a bag of feces.

Plus a note: “Have an unforgettable Valentine’s Day, bastard.”

The band insisted they were unaware of the gift’s content and were merely executing the commission.

The restaurant manager, furious, demanded the assistant director compensate for the environmental damage.

Everyone, assaulted by the sight and smell, quickly lost their appetite and dispersed.

Unsurprisingly, this major gossip topic dominated their conversations for the rest of the day. It spread quickly, soon making the assistant director infamous in the industry.

After paying the compensation, the assistant director, like a wandering soul, left the empty restaurant and immediately called to resign.

Cheng Ping spent this Valentine’s Day in his room.

While he was eating dinner, someone knocked on the door. Li Baixi raised his phone and said, “I’ve got something to show you—oh, still eating? I’ll wait until you’re done.”

Cheng Ping: “What? Show me now.”

Li Baixi: “Trust me, you won’t want to eat after seeing it.”

Cheng Ping: “?”

What on earth are you planning to show me on this festive day?

Cheng Ping finished his meal and watched the video of the assistant director’s spectacular show.

Li Baixi: “Satisfied?”

Cheng Ping was dumbfounded: “Did you guys plan this?”

Li Baixi: “No. His girlfriend discovered his long-term infidelity and decided to take revenge. This is just karma.”

Cheng Ping: “How did his girlfriend find out?”

Li Baixi: “Apparently, someone anonymously sent her photos and videos as evidence. Wow, I wonder who the righteous person in the crew could be.”

Cheng Ping: “?”

Li Baixi: “The righteous person comforted her and helped plan the revenge.”

Cheng Ping: “So this righteous person is truly noble.”

Li Baixi: “Indeed, moved me to tears.”

Cheng Ping: “…”

Li Baixi: “Satisfied?”

Cheng Ping was elated but felt a bit embarrassed. Sitting on the bed, he scratched his head: “I was too immature, getting angry over that trash and making you all worry.”

Li Baixi raised an eyebrow: “Why say that? You did great.”

Cheng Ping: “.”

Li Baixi looked at him: “You always seem ashamed of your emotions. But shouldn’t you be angry at such trash? If joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are considered childish, then the adult world is too twisted.”

Cheng Ping was surprised.

He had always thought Li Baixi was just unusually tolerant of his personality, but now it seemed like genuine appreciation.

Cheng Ping: “Do you… like seeing me angry?”

Li Baixi slowly nodded.

Cheng Ping: “Why?”

Li Baixi pondered for a moment before admitting: “It’s just very hot.”

Cheng Ping: “?”

Li Baixi sat down beside him: “But it’s not just that… I thought I had fully expressed my admiration for your every expression… You have no mask. I used to be like that.”

He had once questioned his parents about why they painted pictures they didn’t understand and lived a mysterious life. They said, “You’ll understand when you grow up.” He thought he would never grow up to be like them.

But he did, and he failed.

He looked at Cheng Ping, both sad and tender: “You are the person I never became.”

Yes, he had accepted their roles: because the other was such a vibrant light, he could capture a trace of it from his face.

Perhaps people are more sentimental when sick; Cheng Ping suddenly reached out and held Li Baixi’s hand.

Li Baixi naturally held his hand back and turned to kiss him.

The kiss was deep and long, until Cheng Ping couldn’t breathe and pulled back, gasping: “My nose is still a bit stuffy.”

Li Baixi chuckled unkindly.

Cheng Ping glared at him. In doing so, he saw something he shouldn’t have.

Li Baixi looked down and asked with a smile: “Do you believe me now?”

Cheng Ping: “…”

Li Baixi went to hug him again, this time knocking him over onto the bed. Cheng Ping, sensing what was about to happen, gasped: “Wait!”

Li Baixi: “?”

Cheng Ping: “Not now, let me recuperate first.”

Hearing this, Li Baixi was puzzled: “…Ah. Are you feeling unwell?”

Cheng Ping nodded and kissed him reassuringly: “I’m afraid I won’t perform well and disappoint you.”

Li Baixi: “No need to be so meticulous; I’ll handle it.”

They silently stared at each other, both feeling something was off.

After a few seconds, Li Baixi’s eyes widened: “You think you’re the top?”

Cheng Ping: “…”

Cheng Ping: “And you?”