The most beautiful space

60 Night shooting

Unconsciously, Su Tong rolled up the noodles with minced meat sauce she was holding with her chopsticks. Xiao Yang's handsome and charming smile flashed through her mind, but it didn't leave much of a ripple in her heart. She answered in a normal tone, "Actually, I don't know him very well. From what I know, he is a very charming man, and also a person who is gentle on the surface but strong on the inside."

"He's very charming?" Xie Chengjing seemed to repeat Su Tong's words casually, but his eyes seemed to be brewing a storm. He didn't like Su Tong praising other men like that, even though she was telling the truth.

Regardless of Xie Chengjing's attitude, Su Tong continued, "Yes, from any perspective, he is indeed a very charming man. His family is powerful and wealthy, he is good-looking, and he stands out in a crowd. However," Su Tong met Xie Chengjing's gaze without flinching, "I don't like him. This has nothing to do with his status or position. I just don't like him, but I wouldn't say I hate him either."

Xie Chengjing stared at Su Tong for a while, judging from her complexion, demeanor, eyes, and subtle movements that what Su Tong said was entirely true. He then lowered his head to continue eating, no longer looking at her. After a while, he continued indifferently, "I'm glad you don't like him." He paused for a moment before adding, "And don't like Lin Zhen either, don't get too close to him."

Lin Zhen was a very charming man, a fact universally acknowledged by women across Asia. Xie Chengjing could clearly see that, compared to Xiao Yang, who was somewhat arrogant due to his background, Lin Zhen was far more likely to win Su Tong's favor. He was not only handsome and possessed an exceptional air, exuding an undeniable elegance in every gesture, but more importantly, he was perfectly poised and considerate. He appeared promptly when Su Tong needed help and companionship, always attentive and thoughtful without giving the impression of being constantly harassed. Whenever Xie Chengjing visited the set, he would automatically distance himself from Su Tong, offering Xie Chengjing a seemingly detached smile, making it impossible for Xie Chengjing to say for sure if he harbored romantic feelings for Su Tong; it seemed as if he truly only wanted to be friends with her.

His words genuinely startled Su Tong. A piece of roast duck she'd picked up fell back into her bowl. She couldn't understand why Xie Chengjing had suddenly become so direct. She turned and stared intently at him, as if trying to figure out why he'd suddenly changed his tune. Xie Chengjing, head bowed, was being stared at so intently for the first time. Her eyes were calm yet seemed to hold a captivating glint. While Xie Chengjing remained expressionless under her gaze, a faint blush slowly crept onto his earlobes. It was as if Su Tong had discovered a new continent; for the first time, she truly felt the reality of Xie Chengjing's words, "He cares about her."

However, the moment when the second young master showed a hint of shyness was just a fleeting moment. Su Tong had barely noticed the blush rising on his earlobes when he turned his face away and repeated, in a cold and serious tone as if assigning a task, "Remember not to get too close to Lin Zhen."

Although that little bit of blush was no longer visible, compared to Xie Chengjing's serious face, Su Tong found it a bit funny to recall how the Second Young Master had looked just now. She finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing, only managing to force a smile as Xie Chengjing's expression gradually darkened.

She genuinely felt a strong liking for Lin Zhen. It wasn't like they had just met; it felt like a long-awaited reunion. Being with him was incredibly comfortable and natural, making them noticeably closer than the other actors on set. However, she didn't want to, and couldn't, go against Xie Chengjing's wishes too much. After weighing her options, she said, "Okay, I'll listen to you. But Lin Zhen is really a nice person. I feel very relaxed around him. He's also a highly skilled actor and a senior who has scenes with me. We're just friends, so I won't get too close to him, but I also won't distance myself from him. Is that alright?"

"Hmm." Xie Chengjing felt that Su Tong should also have her own friends, so he nodded in agreement. However, Su Tong could tell that he still seemed a little unhappy, and as a result, she felt a little secretly pleased, as if she had finally won back some ground in front of Xie Chengjing.

"So, what about Xiao Yang's matter this time? Both Erduo and Kongkong were injured. What are your plans to do?"

"An eye for an eye." Xie Chengjing didn't seem to take this matter seriously at all. "Don't worry, I'll handle my own affairs."

Because of Xie Chengjing's "instructions," Su Tong and Lin Zhen have become somewhat estranged. Although she still consults Lin Zhen when she feels unsure how to act out certain parts of the script, and they chat and eat together when discussing the script and performance, Su Tong always remembers not to get too close to him, and she can no longer find that feeling of perfect understanding.

Lin Zhen was an extremely perceptive and insightful person. Although Su Tong treated him as usual on the surface, he had already noticed that Su Tong was not the same as before. However, he didn't say anything and just smiled faintly, but there was a faint sadness in his eyes that seemed like it could be blown away by a breeze, yet it always lingered. This made Su Tong feel a little guilty and regretful.

That day, the entire crew was filming night scenes, including the final appearance of Li Roujia, played by Su Tong. After news of her family's deaths reached Country A, Li Roujia remained calm. The male lead, Fang Xinli, had already begun to understand that although Li Roujia appeared aloof, she had been secretly helping their activities. Feeling worried about her sudden loss and fearing she might do something foolish, he went to her residence in Luo City that very night. The two, whose previous meetings had all ended in misunderstandings, sat together on the balcony of her villa's second floor, gazing at the stars and drinking tea brewed by Li Roujia. They chatted briefly and calmly. Fang Xinli, already in a relationship, felt it inappropriate to spend too much time alone with Li Roujia late at night, and took his leave. This farewell became their final.

On the surface, this scene doesn't seem to have any major conflict, and the two characters don't have any intense emotions, but it really tests the actors' inner emotions, especially Li Roujia's despair and madness beneath her calm exterior, and Lin Zhen's complex feelings of worry and sympathy. These must be fully expressed for the film to retain its charm.

Fang Xinli, played by Lin Zhen, suddenly bids farewell at everyone's nighttime gathering and heads straight to Li Roujia's residence, hurriedly knocking on the villa door while covered in sweat.

First, a close-up of Lin Zhen's complicated and anxious expression was shown. Then the main camera was pointed at the villa's gate. All the servants who used to live in Li Roujia's residence had been dismissed by her. Now, it should be Li Roujia herself who comes to open the door.

The villa door opened inward, revealing Su Tong, dressed in a snow-white undergarment, her black hair flowing over her shoulders. Beautiful as a legendary enchantress, she stood quietly at the doorway, watching the panting Lin Zhen. Her brows still held an unyielding arrogance, but her eyes were as calm as the deep sea in the night, without a ripple, without a glimmer of light. The moment Li Roujia saw Fang Xinli, a flicker of something crossed her eyes, before returning to silence. Her tone, as always, was arrogant yet tinged with a strange sarcasm, which trembled in the night wind with her slightly hoarse voice, "Why are you here?"

Author's Note: This chapter is short, and it will definitely be available on Saturday's 4000166 reading website.