Chapter 101: Film and Television Base

But Ling Song quickly focused on the script. This was the first male lead role in his life, and he only wanted to go all out. Even if Han Ming put some kind of pressure on him later on, or even forced him back to a state of having nothing, at least at this very moment, his heart was fulfilled.

The storm had just passed. Jian Sha signed a copyright transfer contract with Jiang Huaiyuan’s company, and Yanxin Publishing Company also passed the final review, putting Ghost Tales from the West Window on the publishing schedule.

For Jian Sha, it was a double blessing, and her writing motivation grew even stronger.

Lu Guifan’s patent fee arrived in his account. Looking at that number, he made a special trip to Jiang Ruotang’s house and told him about it without holding anything back.

As soon as Jiang Ruotang heard this, his eyes lit up. “Eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars? You’re too amazing! I worship you so much!”

Being stared at by Jiang Ruotang’s round, bright eyes made Lu Guifan feel restless. In the past, he didn’t understand what hormones or impulses were. Now he understood; when Jiang Ruotang got close to him, his dopamine released boundlessly, and his brain entered a state of happiness. Before Jiang Ruotang could react, he had already been kissed by Lu Guifan.

Jiang Ruotang was so startled by this surprise attack that his little heart almost jumped out of his chest. Most importantly, a knock came from the door—it was Sister Juan coming to deliver fruit.

On the contrary, Lu Guifan opposite him was as steady as if nothing had happened. He even took the plate from Sister Juan and said “thank you” to her without making any waves.

For the first time, Jiang Ruotang profoundly realized that Lu Guifan was a true master of acting. This unshakeable steadiness like a mountain… even those scheming old men on the board of directors couldn’t achieve it.

“I thought about it. I’ll leave two million for my parents, and with the rest, I want to buy a small apartment between Capital University of Science and Technology and the Academy of Fine Arts, and put both our names on it. For one, it can serve as a studio for you, and… if I don’t enter the laboratory, we can stay together. Of course, if you’re not willing… it’s also fine…”

Jiang Ruotang nodded vigorously. “I’m willing! I’m willing! Of course I’m willing!”

A smile curled up on Lu Guifan’s lips, and only belatedly did Jiang Ruotang feel as though he might have been too hasty and impatient.

“But… who buys a house and puts their boyfriend’s name on it? Even if you have to put a name, you should put your parents’ names.”

Lu Guifan turned his face slightly. Even through his lenses, Jiang Ruotang could feel the teasing in his gaze.

“Putting your name on the house is because I hope you can take responsibility for me.”

“Huh? Take responsibility?” Jiang Ruotang thought to himself, Isn’t this moving a bit too fast?

Although he had also thought about moving elsewhere to get married after graduation, hearing it from Lu Guifan’s mouth now made Jiang Ruotang feel a bit shy.

“Mhm. From now on, in the studio I prepare for you, you can only paint me. There can be no other main subjects, regardless of whether they are men, women, old, or young.”

Jiang Ruotang paused for a moment, finally understanding that Lu Guifan was still bothered by the incident of Ling Song falling asleep in his studio.

“Are you jealous that I painted another man?” Jiang Ruotang leaned closer, carefully observing Lu Guifan’s expression.

He originally thought Lu Guifan was rational and calm, and should understand that Jiang Ruotang couldn’t possibly paint only him, and would also have different models. If he was petty about such things, it didn’t seem to fit Lu Guifan’s character.

Unexpectedly, Lu Guifan straightforwardly admitted it: “Yes, I am bothered by it.”

“Huh? W-Why?”

“Isn’t the answer obvious? Because that man who fell asleep on your studio sofa is handsome, has a good figure, and a unique temperament that fits your aesthetic. I know I cannot restrict what you paint, but in the place that belongs to you and me, I want to be your only main subject. Can’t I?”

Lu Guifan’s expression was solemn and serious. His eyes, illuminated by the desk lamp, appeared unfathomably deep even though they were amber-colored.

Jiang Ruotang slowly revealed a smile, his fingers tugging at the hem of Lu Guifan’s shirt. “Then… you have to let me be able to see and touch.”

Lu Guifan helplessly closed his eyes and sighed. He subconsciously wanted to bring his knees together, but Jiang Ruotang deliberately propped them open, lowering his eyes and hooking up the corners of his lips. “Let me see!”

Lu Guifan’s palm pressed against Jiang Ruotang’s forehead. “Is this something that can be resolved just by looking?”

“Then you… go learn a bit.”

Knowing full well that Jiang Ruotang only had the ability to act bad verbally, Lu Guifan was still hooked by him to the point where his heart rate became imbalanced.

“Alright, I will learn properly. When I’ve learned it, don’t you hide.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ruotang suddenly became nervous. He raised his hand to cover Lu Guifan’s eyes. “It’s fine to learn, but you’re not allowed to watch messy movies, and you’re not allowed to look at other people’s bodies. You… you can just read literature.”

Lu Guifan let out a soft chuckle. “I didn’t even know there could be literature on this aspect?”

“You’re so smart, you can definitely find some!”

Lu Guifan’s smile became more pronounced. He kissed the palm of Jiang Ruotang’s hand.

Jiang Ruotang felt very happy, because ever since they got together, Lu Guifan smiled so much more.

However, since Lu Guifan said he cared about Ling Song, then there were some things Jiang Ruotang had to tell him in advance.

“Umm… I plan to open a talent agency in partnership with Hongtian Borui, Chicheng Pictures, and Mu Xianqing. Qin Zhanchao has already taken the lead in the traffic dividend sector. And I… want to train and support some young actors with solid acting skills, taking the quality route. The first artist we want to sign is that Ling Song.” Although Jiang Ruotang was observing Lu Guifan’s expression, he spoke of this matter openly and honestly.

Lu Guifan nodded faintly. “I don’t understand the business of talent agencies, but if you sign him, you’ll be his boss.”

“Yes.”

“Then sign him. An employee is more reliable than a model. After all, in your values, public and private matters are clearly separated. Once he becomes your employee, even if he loves you to death and cries to the heavens and earth, you won’t be moved.”

Lu Guifan’s voice was gentle and natural. But what truly surprised Jiang Ruotang was that he had never expressed his views on this aspect, yet Lu Guifan could see through his thoughts and bottom line?

“In that case… could you accompany me to go talk to him?” Jiang Ruotang scratched his cheek, looking at Lu Guifan, a little embarrassed.

Lu Guifan rarely showed an expression of incomprehension. “Why? I’m not good at persuading people to sign contracts.”

Jiang Ruotang simply told Lu Guifan about how Ling Song had been suppressed and retaliated against by Han Ming from Cefeng Pictures.

“So if you go with me, I will tell him you are my boyfriend, so he can rest assured… that my heart already belongs to someone else, and I won’t be like Han Ming… bullying him.”

Jiang Ruotang used “bullying” to replace the term “unspoken rules” [casting couch]. Of course, what Ling Song experienced was no longer as simple as unspoken rules; it was more like Han Ming’s entertainment circle bullying.

It was just that when he said the four words “my heart already belongs to someone else,” the corners of Lu Guifan’s mouth seemingly couldn’t be pressed down.

“Alright, I’ll accompany you.” Lu Guifan nodded.

Jiang Ruotang’s smile couldn’t be more obvious.

Drunken Immortal Terrace was still in the filming process, so if Jiang Ruotang wanted to see Ling Song, he had to take a trip to the film and television base in the distant suburbs of Sheng City.

Originally, Xiao Gao was going to drive them, but Jiang Ruotang knew what kind of virtue he possessed—having finally managed to swindle Lu Guifan into his hands, he definitely wouldn’t be able to resist getting touchy-feely. Even sitting in the back row, Xiao Gao would still be able to see what they were doing in the rearview mirror, and Jiang Ruotang would be constrained when trying to tease Lu Guifan.

Therefore, Jiang Ruotang decided to take the bus to the film and television base.

“Taking the bus? We have to go to the passenger terminal first, and then take a one-and-a-half-hour ride. Can you handle it?” Lu Guifan lowered his eyes, searching for tomorrow’s departure times on his phone.

Jiang Ruotang revealed a wicked smile. “I can handle it, don’t worry. The main thing is seeing if you can handle it.”

“Hm? Why wouldn’t I be able to handle it?”

“You guess.”

What Jiang Ruotang wanted was to secretly “bully” Lu Guifan, watch him endure it seriously, preferably with sweat beading on his forehead and his cheeks flushed red, telling him “don’t fool around.”

Jiang Ruotang, looking as if his little scheme had succeeded, poked at the fruit in the plate, failing to see the gentle smile on Lu Guifan’s lips.

Because they were going to the film and television base the next day, Jiang Ruotang didn’t let Lu Guifan go back.

After taking a shower at night, Lu Guifan walked into the room while drying his hair. He saw Jiang Ruotang sitting cross-legged on the floor, stuffing snacks, fruits, and drinks into a backpack. He had even found baseball caps of the same brand and placed them on the table. Lu Guifan couldn’t help but find it amusing.

“Ruotang, looking like this, you really resemble an elementary school student going on a spring outing.” Lu Guifan walked over, bent down, and propped his hands on his knees, looking down at him.

“Is that so?” Jiang Ruotang patted the backpack. “But the person carrying it will be you.”

Lu Guifan squatted down beside Jiang Ruotang and raised his hand to stuff sunscreen and the like inside as well.

“Why aren’t you speaking anymore?” Jiang Ruotang tilted his head and asked.

“It’s just… the visual sense of ‘I’ll carry your bag, I’m your boyfriend’ is actually something I like very much,” Lu Guifan answered.

The next second, Jiang Ruotang suddenly flipped him over, even sitting on his body, revealing a wicked smile.

“That’s right, I’m your boyfriend now. You just came out smelling all fragrant, shouldn’t you let me take a look?”

Lu Guifan helplessly tilted his chin up and sighed, raising his hands to clasp Jiang Ruotang’s waist. “Why do you like looking at other people’s abdominal muscles so much? Is this a habit cultivated from drawing muscle anatomy?”

“I don’t love looking at other people’s abdominal muscles, I only like looking at yours. How come an academic like you has such obvious abs? Do you secretly practice crunches at home every night?”

“Sometimes when I’m too bored, I do indeed practice a bit. But I can’t do exercises that make loud noises, or the people downstairs will complain, so crunches are a good choice.”

Jiang Ruotang showed an expression of envy, jealousy, and hatred. “Look! Look at this! While we were all tortured body and soul by the college entrance examination, you guy actually developed abs just out of boredom!”

“Later on, when I was recording videos every night to teach you how to do practice questions, I didn’t practice much anymore.”

“Ah… did I hold you back?”

“Alright, if you want to look, then look. Go to sleep after you’re done looking, we have to wake up early tomorrow to catch the bus.”

After saying that, Lu Guifan put on a “I’ve bottoms-up’d, you do as you please” look, waiting for Jiang Ruotang to lift the hem of his pajamas.

“I have to look at the abdominal muscles, and I also have to look at Little Boat Lu.”

“Hm? What Little Boat Lu?”

Just as Jiang Ruotang revealed a wicked smile, Lu Guifan jolted wide awake and grabbed his wrist.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh my, a little boat ultimately has to sail into the sea! Wherever my eyes reach is that sea!”

“In your dreams.”

Lu Guifan directly exerted force with his back and waist, flipping Jiang Ruotang over.

“You’re so young, what are you thinking about every single day…” As Lu Guifan spoke, he felt Jiang Ruotang slowly curl up.

“What’s wrong? Did you bump into something? I didn’t use that much force…”

Jiang Ruotang curled up even tighter, his head almost buried into his knees.

Only his exposed neck had turned completely red.

In that instant, Lu Guifan understood what had happened. On one hand, he found it amusing—how did Jiang Ruotang, the one doing the bullying, end up losing control of himself first? On the other hand, his throat bobbed, wanting to swallow the shrimp-like Jiang Ruotang down.

Lu Guifan lowered his head, tracing the tip of his nose along Jiang Ruotang’s earlobe, a wicked smile on his lips as he buried his face into the crook of Jiang Ruotang’s neck.

“Ruotang, why are you sailing the boat behind my back?”

Jiang Ruotang adopted a stance of I’ll just hold it in, what can you do to me.

It was truly because the moment Lu Guifan flipped him over, the sense of power was too intense, suppressing Jiang Ruotang completely.

A second more of thinking about it, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt… it was so thrilling. And then Jiang Ruotang’s little boat hoisted its sails and set off.

Lu Guifan kissed Jiang Ruotang’s chin, his voice sounding gentle and calm. “How about you let me see yours first?”

Jiang Ruotang continued to hold it in and didn’t speak.

Seeing this, Lu Guifan whispered into Jiang Ruotang’s ear, “Mhm, otherwise I’ll go online right now and search for what to do?”

Jiang Ruotang’s ears grew redder and redder. He thought to himself, You guy already know I’m about to set sail, can’t you just go out and close the door, and give my ocean back to me!

Lu Guifan just hugged the curled-up Jiang Ruotang in his arms like this, holding his phone and surfing the internet with his other hand. After a good while, he gently shook the little shrimp in his arms. “Found it, I know what to do now.”

Like hell you know!

Jiang Ruotang unwillingly lifted his eyes slightly, only to find Lu Guifan propped up near him with one hand, while the other waved in front of him. His slender fingers made a grabbing motion. He didn’t have any expression, looking just like he was standing in front of a blackboard about to solve a problem of the century.

With a buzz in his brain, Jiang Ruotang immediately understood what Lu Guifan meant. Just imagining the other’s aura pressing up against him caused Jiang Ruotang to explode instantly.

He didn’t know where the strength came from, but he shoved Lu Guifan away, staggering and almost falling flat on the floor. It was Lu Guifan’s quick eyes and hands that scooped him back up.

“I… I’m going to take a shower—”

After saying that, Jiang Ruotang struggled out of the other’s embrace, rushed into the bathroom, and closed the door.

Lu Guifan stood where he was, looked at his own hand, and then helplessly sighed.

“Such a coward, yet still loves to fan the flames so much.”

Sleeping that night, Jiang Ruotang was particularly well-behaved. He maintained one posture, with his back against Lu Guifan, remaining completely motionless, which made Lu Guifan unaccustomed to it.

He extended his long arm, scooped Jiang Ruotang directly over, and pulled him into his embrace.

Just as Jiang Ruotang was about to turn back around, Lu Guifan spoke up: “If you move around blindly again, I’ll test out the knowledge I just searched up on you.”

Jiang Ruotang immediately stiffened and stopped moving.

Lu Guifan closed his eyes in great satisfaction.

The next morning, Xiao Gao drove them to the long-distance passenger terminal. Along the way, Jiang Ruotang leaned on Lu Guifan’s shoulder and dozed off.

“Sigh, you guys are going to the film and television base, I could’ve just driven you there directly. How could the bus be faster than me?” Xiao Gao shook his head in perplexity.

Lu Guifan laughed. “Then there wouldn’t be the joy of an elementary school student’s spring outing.”

“Ah… hahaha… Ruotang is like a child sometimes!”

Upon arriving at the passenger terminal, Lu Guifan cupped the back of the half-asleep Jiang Ruotang’s head, controlling his direction of travel as they went to the window to collect their tickets. While waiting for the bus, Jiang Ruotang brazenly leaned against Lu Guifan’s chest and slept.

During the summer vacation, it wasn’t just uncles and aunties who went to play at the film and television base; there were also quite a few students who wanted to go take pictures of stars or actors.

Lu Guifan had a good figure and was wearing a fake two-piece shirt selected for him by Jiang Ruotang, which exuded a sense of quality. His two long legs added points to his temperament, and even the heavy and rigid black-framed glasses he usually wore looked fashionable at this moment.

A girl used the excuse of asking for the bus schedule to ask for Lu Guifan’s phone number. Lu Guifan indifferently and gently rubbed his chin against the top of Jiang Ruotang’s head.

“Sorry, my boyfriend is a bit petty.”