Today they were filming the scene where Bai Rui Di drove out to attend the birthday party Deng Xiao Xiao had arranged for him and was kidnapped by Tang Long.
The scene began with Bai Rui Di driving out of the villa, which immediately presented another major problem.
“You don’t know how to drive?” Lian Jue Xiu nearly fainted.
Xiao Bai nodded honestly.
Faced with that innocent face, Lian Jue Xiu could only direct his fury elsewhere. “Why doesn’t he know how to drive?”
Jia Zhi Qing happened to be that “elsewhere,” because at that exact moment he was cheerfully discussing tonight’s menu with Xiao Bai.
“……” Faced with such a question, Jia Zhi Qing broke into a deep sweat. “Because he never learned.”
“Why didn’t he learn?”
“Because I did.”
“Why does you learning mean he doesn’t need to?”
“Because I can be his driver.”
“Why do you have to be his driver? Why can’t he drive himself? Why? Why exactly?!”
“……”
Jia Zhi Qing finally snapped. “Damn it! He doesn’t know how to drive because he doesn’t know how to drive! You could question me to death and he still wouldn’t know how! What exactly do you want me to do about it?”
Why? Why does everyone always want to find the answers to Xiao Bai’s problems from me? He’s not an exam paper with the answer sheet filed separately!
Lian Jue Xiu abruptly calmed down. “Then we’ll have to use a stand-in.”
Jia Zhi Qing’s ears perked up, and he said with great dignity, “I don’t casually work as a stand-in. If I’m standing in for anything, it’ll only be a steamy scene.”
Lian Jue Xiu glanced at him. “What about Man and Dog: An Unfinished Love?”
Jia Zhi Qing replied seriously, “Depends who plays the dog.”
“You.”
Jia Zhi Qing turned and patted Xiao Bai on the shoulder. “I’ll sign you up for an intensive driving course.”
Lian Jue Xiu said leisurely, “Preferably one partnered with a hospital, so they can provide one-stop service.”
Jia Zhi Qing choked.
Lian Jue Xiu sighed and told the assistant director, “Find a flatbed tow truck.”
And so Young Master Bai went out for his drive.
—Sitting inside a BMW that was sitting on a tow truck.
Jia Zhi Qing sighed sadly to the assistant director. “I can hear the BMW crying.”
A dignified BMW, reduced to being carried by a tow truck. How was it supposed to preserve its pride?
The assistant director said, “I think it’s secretly delighted.”
“……Why?”
“Because the tow truck has broad shoulders. Very comfortable. Very dependable.” The assistant director even wore an envious expression as he said it.
“……” Jia Zhi Qing discreetly shifted farther away from him.
Although it was only a driving scene, Lian Jue Xiu’s obsession with perfection dragged filming all the way until dark. Tan Fei and Chen De Zhang, who had originally been scheduled to film afterward, wound up waiting for nothing.
Seeing Xiao Bai looking exhausted, Jia Zhi Qing asked sympathetically, “Tiring, huh?”
Xiao Bai shook his head blankly.
Looking at his dazed expression, Jia Zhi Qing secretly cursed Lian Jue Xiu.
If Xiao Bai continued being tormented by that Pervert Lian, sooner or later Little Bai would be turned into Big Bai.
“Xiao Bai, let’s go home.” Jia Zhi Qing glared viciously at Lian Jue Xiu in the distance.
As though sensing something, Lian Jue Xiu turned his head.
Their eyes met.
One second of stillness.
Jia Zhi Qing instantly bloomed into a flower. “Director Lian, we’re heading home first.”
“Wait.” Lian Jue Xiu suddenly walked over.
“……”
Did he somehow hear me greeting every generation of his ancestors inside my head just now?
Jia Zhi Qing nervously took half a step back and hid behind Xiao Bai.
Lian Jue Xiu asked, “You’re driving?”
“……Mm.”
“Then drive me home.” Without waiting for agreement, Lian Jue Xiu took the lead toward the door.
Jia Zhi Qing looked at Xiao Bai, then at Lian Jue Xiu’s retreating back, and suddenly missed Yan Su Ang more than words could express.
Great God might love dragging him into conversations, but at least his motives were always perfectly clear. He had never been this baffling.
Xiao Bai tugged at his sleeve. “Should we just give Director Lian a little money?”
“……”
“Is that really necessary?” Jia Zhi Qing suddenly realized he might have underestimated Xiao Bai all this time. Who would have thought that at such a crucial moment, Xiao Bai would actually come up with the idea of paying money to avert disaster? Apparently all the entertainment-industry rules he had taught him had not gone to waste.
“How much do you think we should give him?”
“I don’t know where Director Lian lives.” Xiao Bai dug six one-yuan coins out of his pocket. “This should be enough for bus fare, right?”
Jia Zhi Qing stared. “Bus fare?”
“Right.” Xiao Bai said seriously, “I’ll be fine, but if Director Lian gets into an accident riding in your car, that’ll be a problem.”
Jia Zhi Qing helplessly patted his shoulder. “Can’t you have a little faith in me?”
Xiao Bai said gravely, “I have lots of faith in you. I’ve been expressing my faith in you with my own life.”
Jia Zhi Qing put the coins back into his pocket. “Take the bus home by yourself today.”
“Why?”
Jia Zhi Qing wiped his face. “I’m preparing to express my fury at him with my own life.”
In the end, there were still three people in the car.
Xiao Bai was squeezed into the back seat.
Lian Jue Xiu leaned against the passenger seat with his eyes half closed, seemingly asleep.
Jia Zhi Qing sat behind the wheel feeling awkward beyond description. He glanced in the rearview mirror at Xiao Bai’s listless face. “Xiao Bai, what’s wrong?”
Xiao Bai looked at him blankly.
“You don’t seem very energetic.”
After a moment of silence, Xiao Bai asked, “Why didn’t Yan Su Ang come today?”
Xiao Bai is asking about Yan Su Ang on his own? Jia Zhi Qing’s sense of crisis soared to unprecedented heights. He could tolerate Yan Su Ang’s one-sided confession, but if Xiao Bai also developed feelings for Yan Su Ang… that would be terrifying.
Jia Zhi Qing began considering whether he should secretly trip Great God up a little.
Lian Jue Xiu suddenly said, “He went to guest-star in Black Wall.”
Jia Zhi Qing secretly congratulated himself for not acting impulsively. Otherwise, if word reached Great God’s ears, Great God would absolutely talk calluses onto them.
“Oh,” Xiao Bai said.
Silence descended inside the car again.
“Are you very close with Yan Su Ang?” Lian Jue Xiu asked.
Xiao Bai answered firmly, “We’re friends.”
Lian Jue Xiu said, “Why?”
“……”
He really is Master of Ten Thousand Whys. Jia Zhi Qing discovered that every time Lian Jue Xiu said the word “why,” his head began to hurt.
Xiao Bai frowned. “There isn’t a reason. We’re just friends.”
Lian Jue Xiu curled his lips. “I’ve never seen Yan Su Ang sit around on a film set for no reason just to watch a friend act.”
Xiao Bai blinked, apparently failing to understand the implication.
Lian Jue Xiu patiently explained, “You’re the exception.”
Jia Zhi Qing listened to the conversation with his heart pounding.
Maybe Xiao Bai’s feelings for Yan Su Ang were already more than friendship but not yet love. If Lian Jue Xiu kept misleading him like this, the eventual result would be impossible to predict.
He scratched his hair and decided that no matter what, he had to find a way to stop them from continuing this conversation.
So he rolled down the windows.
Wind came roaring through all four windows.
Lian Jue Xiu pushed his windblown hair aside and frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Going for a drive.” To enhance the experience, Jia Zhi Qing slammed down on the accelerator.
Lian Jue Xiu tried to open his mouth twice and discovered that all he got was a mouthful of wind, so he obediently remained silent.
The wind slapped Xiao Bai’s face until his head hurt. He was just about to lie down and sleep when an emergency brake suddenly shrieked.
The car stopped as though it had slammed into a wall!
Xiao Bai’s head struck the seat back hard.
Lian Jue Xiu’s forehead hit the windshield with a thunk.
“What are you doing now?!” Lian Jue Xiu roared at Jia Zhi Qing while clutching his forehead.
Xiao Bai resignedly said, “Either an accident or a ticket.”
Then Lian Jue Xiu saw a traffic officer walking toward them.
Jia Zhi Qing whispered to him, “You’re a famous director.”
Lian Jue Xiu uneasily shifted closer to the window. “So?”
Jia Zhi Qing smiled fawningly. “Do you think he might let me off because of you?”
Lian Jue Xiu turned his head away. “I would never do something that tacky.”
“……”
Lian Jue Xiu jumped out of the car with a bright smile and walked toward the officer. “Hello.”
The officer gave him a sideways glance, then held out a hand toward Jia Zhi Qing. “Vehicle registration and driver’s license.”
Jia Zhi Qing dug them out while frantically signaling Lian Jue Xiu with his eyes.
Lian Jue Xiu gave a dry cough. “Have you ever seen Bright Flowers or Bright Battle?”
The officer nodded.
Lian Jue Xiu smiled with considerable satisfaction. “I directed both films.”
Jia Zhi Qing immediately put on an adoring expression.
Without even lifting an eyelid, the officer took the documents and said blandly, “I only recognize actors.”
“……”
I only recognize actors.
For the first time in his life, Lian Jue Xiu discovered that his heart was apparently made of glass. When it shattered, he could practically hear the crash-crash-crash.
Jia Zhi Qing’s eyes rolled. “Then do you watch variety shows? Like Nemesis of the Shameless?”
“I suppose.” The officer paused. “You were going over 100 kilometers per hour just now. The limit here is seventy.”
Jia Zhi Qing apologized with complete sincerity, then immediately pulled over Xiao Bai, who was rubbing his forehead behind them. “Then you definitely recognize him, right?”
The officer lifted his eyelids, and his gaze immediately stopped.
Jia Zhi Qing slapped his thigh inwardly. We’ve got a chance!
Even Lian Jue Xiu treated Xiao Bai differently. Apparently Xiao Bai really was quite famous.
The officer tore off the ticket with a rip, handed it to Jia Zhi Qing, and said meaningfully, “I like Zhou Min Li.”
“……”
Jia Zhi Qing obediently accepted the ticket and said nothing else.
The rest of the drive home was extremely peaceful.
When they reached the apartment building, Jia Zhi Qing breathed a sigh of relief. “Get out. I’ll go park.”
Lian Jue Xiu looked irritably at the shabby building. “Where is this?”
“My place,” Jia Zhi Qing answered naturally. Three seconds later, under Lian Jue Xiu’s disdainful gaze, he located the problem. “Uh.” I wonder if he’ll accept Xiao Bai’s six coins?
“You promised to drive me home.” Lian Jue Xiu smiled very pleasantly.
But Jia Zhi Qing somehow felt that if he dared say “no” right now—or utter anything involving the words “bus fare”—he would die a terrible death.
“Xiao Bai, you go upstairs first. I’ll drive Director Lian home.” Jia Zhi Qing secretly swore that next time he went to the set, he would ride a bicycle.
Xiao Bai obediently got out and watched the taillights slowly disappear from sight.
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