Chapter 55

Fortunately, Shen Yuanting treats his own CP like farming, observing the growth of the CP every day. Deciphering the slang in the circle was a piece of cake for him. Soon, he found the secret signal and discovered a new field for CP fans.

Shen Yuanting showed Yan Zhao his phone: “This is the approximate number of tags.”

The three-digit number seemed a bit pitiful compared to the popular CPs that easily reached thousands. Yan Zhao casually remarked, “This can’t even be considered a rookie, just a fertilized egg.”

Shen Yuanting: “……”

Seeing the man’s depressed look, Yan Zhao cleared his throat, feeling like he might have been a bit harsh. After all, this was also their CP. So he said, “Just nurture it, we’re not in a hurry.”

Shen Yuanting began to Google [how to make a CP popular.]

Yan Zhao rummaged through his backpack and took out a script. The script had been revised, and the lines had changed, so he needed to memorize them again.

Yan Zhao handed the script over: “Help me practice the lines.”

Shen Yuanting took it, it was a newly printed one, because the screenwriter hadn’t finished the revisions yet, there were only a few pages, but they were already full of notes and annotations. The handwriting was graceful, casual and very Yan Zhao’s style.

Shen Yuanting pointed to a cat head at the bottom of the page: “Is this Wang Zai?”

Yan Zhao smiled and said, “Isn’t it cute?”

It couldn’t even be considered a “drawing,” just a few sparse strokes, an irregular large circle enclosing a few dots and strokes, barely resembling a cat.

Shen Yuanting chuckled lightly, “Comparable to Picasso.”

Yan Zhao smirked, his eyes and brows curved, “You’re talking nonsense.”

His fingertips fell on the words, and Yan Zhao pointed to Shen Yuanting, “You read Chu Yao’s.”

Shen Yuanting hummed in response, his eyes fixed on Yan Zhao’s hand. Against the white paper and ink, his fingers were slender, nails healthy in color, neatly rounded and polished, with faint blue veins visible on the back of his hand.

Why was he so fair-skinned?

Shen Yuanting quickly scanned through the script. This was probably about Chu Yao, the male lead in “Emperor’s Domain,” who, after ascending the throne, became wary of the Prime Minister Ye Guiqiu, suspecting him of forming a faction, so he summoned him to the court for interrogation.

Shen Yuanting spoke, in solemn and majestic tone, “I also recall the days in the Northern Frontier, when I was rescued by General He and returned to the camp, we engaged in battle, and you were on horseback, shooting with unerring accuracy, killing the enemy’s commander with a single arrow. If not for that battle, I would not have known that you not only have literary talent, but also excel in archery.”

This was a veiled criticism of him holding back his skills in front of his master. Yan Zhao’s lips carried a smile, but his eyes revealed a hint of sorrow, “I was just lucky.”

Shen Yuanting chuckled, “Back then, I thought your luck was terrible! Instead of following Xiao Jiu, you chose to follow me, the unfavored crown prince…” He changed the subject and asked, “Guiqiu, I ask you, are you willingly following me, or are you just forced by circumstances?”

Yan Zhao raised his eyes and looked directly at him, “I naturally wholeheartedly support Your Majesty. From the first time I saw Your Majesty in the study room, I felt that this nation would definitely belong to Your Majesty.”

In the script, Ye Guiqiu is deeply loyal to Chu Yao, but his charm and diplomacy couldn’t win the king’s trust. But whether believed or not, regretted or not, it was not important to Shen Yuanting. He wasn’t an actor and had no interest in exploring the grievances between the two characters.

He just felt that the way Yan Zhao looked at him… there was complete entrustment and trust in his eyes, but also a sense of melancholy, and somewhat alluring.

Thinking of the upcoming lines, Shen Yuanting smiled.

He teasingly probed Yan Zhao, his gaze shifting from those black eyes to the moist lips, “I was known for my stupidity back then. Even the Grand Tutor said I was useless. Why don’t you tell me, how am I better than Xiao Jiu?”

His voice was deep and magnetic, his shallow eyes like ice, with a burning fire within, not like he was interrogating the minister, but more like… feeling jealous?

—Tell me, between me and your first love, who do you prefer?!

Yan Zhao suddenly remembered the nonsense that he had heard from somewhere. The king is the guide for his ministers, and the husband is the guide for his wife. Rounding it all off, the minister is the emperor’s wife…

The screenwriter definitely didn’t have this kind of idea when writing.

Yan Zhao put aside his wild thoughts and said calmly, “At that time, a green snake entered the palace. All the other princes retreated and ordering the guards to kill it, but only Your Majesty picked up a tree branch to send it away… Brave and benevolent, I cannot think of anyone other than Your Majesty who is worthy of being the current emperor.”

Shen Yuanting put down the script and covered Yan Zhao’s hand with his large palm, gently caressing the protruding bones on his wrist: “Just like this? Prime minister, your trust seems to come a bit too easily.”

Yan Zhao thought to himself, where did this gay emperor come from, pulling out his hand and said, “Back then, I was just a mischievous child without much thought. Once I made up my mind, I wouldn’t change it. I’m afraid I won’t be able to correct this flaw in me for a lifetime.”

“Oh…?” Shen Yuanting grabbed him again, a smile playing on his lips, “In the battle in the Northern Frontier, if I were to die, would you accompany me in death?”

Different beds in life, the same grave in death. Even if we can’t be together in life, you’ll have to be tied to me in death, entangled for eternity.

Yan Zhao’s gaze was unwavering, his tone neither humble nor arrogant: “If Your Majesty passes, I will fulfill Your Majesty’s wishes to prove my loyalty.”

However, the emperor did not believe him. Shen Yuanting sneered coldly, tightening the five fingers that grasped his wrist like a snake coiling around its prey: “Prime Minister, do you know that you have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor?”

Yan Zhao lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes hiding the fleeting panic, and then he showed unwavering determination: “I do not know.”

Shen Yuanting thought, the more suspicious a person is, the more they need to be coaxed and will not give in. It is not his fault that Ye Guiqiu died in the end.

After finishing the lines, Yan Zhao grabbed a dekopon orange from the fruit basket and peeled off its fluffy skin: “I won’t do lines with you anymore.”

Shen Yuanting leaned back relaxedly on the sofa: “Wasn’t I doing well? I even went off-script at the end.”

Yan Zhao took a piece of dekopon orange and put it into his mouth, then pointed to Shen Yuanting’s left chest: “Ask yourself honestly, were you thinking of something strange while reciting the lines?”

The camaraderie between the lord and his minister was recited as if catching someone in the act.

Shen Yuanting: “I’m not a professional, so I can’t treat you like Ye Guiqiu.”

Yan Zhao handed him the dekopon orange: “But you went too far off.”

“But you weren’t led astray.” Shen Yuanting ate the orange meat, and the sweet-sour juice bursting on his tongue, “Or did you develop feelings, but I didn’t notice it?”

“……” Yan Zhao glared at him, and after a while, accused, “You made the first move, what could I do?”

Shen Yuanting chuckled: “So you admit it?”

Yan Zhao quickly finished the remaining orange, then tilted his head to look at the ceiling: “Hmm.”

When it comes to lines, it’s not just his stage alone. Being influenced by Shen Yuanting is not something to be embarrassed about.

After all, the two of them are mutually attracted by hormones.

……

After filming a few scenes, Yan Zhao returned to his seat to rest. Director Liu checked the footage, took out his phone and sighed repeatedly.

Director Liu was frustrated: “That useless thing!”

Zhou Yun comforted him: “Life has its ups and downs, it should be ashamed and then brave after being scolded by you.”

Director Liu: “It just wants to piss me off!”

Director Liu was usually cheerful, so this angry tone was rare to hear.

Yan Zhao was sipping lemonade and asked, “What’s wrong with Director Liu? Did his kids fight and need to call their parents?”

He Shengqi was playing with the ring on his hand, and when he heard his idol ask, he immediately sat up straight: “No, where can he find a wife? He’s just lost money in stock trading!”

Yan Zhao: “…” Does Director Liu know what you just said?

Director Liu angrily slapped his thigh: “I’m stuck, and I don’t know when I will be able to get my money back. Tell me, is this Yuye Group deliberately trying to spite me? They were doing so well before, and now they’ve plummeted like a dog chewed it up!”

Zhou Yun: “They didn’t mean to. I saw a report earlier that said their annual profit had dropped quite a bit.”

Yan Zhao searched for related information on his phone, and sure enough, all the news was negative.

Terms like “falling from grace,” “mismanagement,” and “strategic mistakes” were not fully understood by Yan Zhao, but he could still see that Han Yuxuan was very worried. Even his recent photos showed his receding hairline.

No, doesn’t he have eight-nation bloodline? Maybe the genes from Country B are shining through?

Leave the business issues to Shen Yuanting; Yan Zhao put down the lemonade and picked up the script to read.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw He Shengqi quietly and stealthily looking at him, like a groundhog poking its head out of its burrow.

The actions of this fanboy are truly puzzling, sometimes relying solely on recklessness, and other times revealing a girlish side.

Yan Zhao turned to him and asked, “What’s wrong?”

He Shengqi hesitated and said, “Idol, can you give me an autograph?”

It seems like he’s in full fangirl mode now.

He Shengqi lifted up the jacket on the chair and pointed to the smooth fabric on the back: “Right here.”

Yan Zhao asked, “Are you sure you want the autograph on the clothes?”

He Shengqi rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a marker pen, “Yes! The more eye-catching, the better!”

Yan Zhao gripped the pen, about to sign, but He Shengqi said again: “Wait a minute!” and then put on his coat: “This looks better when signed!”

Yan Zhao smiled helplessly and quickly signed his autograph.

He Shengqi exclaimed happily, “I have my own merchandise now!”

Zhou Yun gave him a disapproving look, “We’re already filming together, and you’re still thinking about merchandise. Where’s your ambition?”

He Shengqi replied, “I do have ambition. I want to become a big fan. Male God, can I take a photo and post it on Weibo?”

Yan Zhao said, “If you like, go ahead and post it.”

So He Shengqi took off his heavy costume and put on the coat: “Brother Zhou, take a photo of my back!”

“Am I your nanny?” Zhou Yun teased, but still took He Shengqi’s phone and snapped a picture.

He Shengqi posted the photo on Weibo: [Unique autograph [Cool].]

Soon, fans commented, some criticizing him for posting a selfie without showing his face, while others, particularly CP fans, were moved. However, this time, their words were more subtle and peculiar.

[I cry for your beautiful friendship.]

[You are such good brothers! Wish your friendship lasts forever!]

[Friends walk together for life, cheers to your friendship!]

He Shengqi scanned the comments, puzzled: “Why are they deliberately emphasizing brotherly love? Is this a recent trend?”

Yan Zhao: “…” Maybe they were afraid of being choked by food.

The break time was over, and they immersed themselves in filming again. By the time they got off work, everyone was as tired as a dead dog, the weather had turned cool, and they were all sweating.

Yan Zhao used a quick-drying towel to wipe the sweat, and then heard He Shengqi let out a loud cry: “Ah, this is it!”

Zhou Yun: “Wow, you lost.”

He Shengqi retorted: “No way!”

Yan Zhao: “What’s going on?”

He Shengqi handed the phone to Yan Zhao to look at: “Male god, your fans are too enthusiastic!”

Yan Zhao glanced at it and saw a photo of a room, the walls of which were covered with his posters, the bookshelf was full of CDs and PBs, and there were also his endorsement products, including many expensive jewelry. A cat was lying on the wooden floor, with a ruby necklace around its neck, and calmly licking its paws, looking very luxurious.

The blogger’s ID was “Wang Zai’s Dad”, and the time stamp showed that this Weibo post was published five minutes after He Shengqi boasted about his autograph.

Yan Zhao: “……”

President Shen’s jealousy max point is too low!

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Dekopon orange