Blazing fire is hard to extinguish chapter 55
Is It Okay?
On the fifth day in Chiang Mai, Li Tingyan appeared at Lin Chi’s filming set for a visit.
Lin Chi was unaware of this. When he saw Li Tingyan appear on the set and sit next to Gu Yiyuan, his eyes nearly popped out.
Gu Yiyuan briefly introduced Li Tingyan as a new investor, a wealthy patron who came to visit and see if his investment was yielding returns while passing through Thailand.
It was perfectly reasonable.
But it seemed that Gu Yiyuan, while saying this, was glancing at Lin Chi with a subtle look.
With Li Tingyan here, the filming scene that day seemed unusually tense.
Especially for the male and female leads, both of whom were newcomers daringly cast by Gu Yiyuan. Though they had worked on some small productions before, this was their first major role.
Gu Yiyuan’s presence was already intimidating enough, and now there was an investor as well.
The two were visibly on edge.
“It’s okay,” Lin Chi comforted them absentmindedly, “The investor has a good temper, and he’s an outsider, so he won’t really understand how well you perform.”
He spoke calmly, though it sounded rather insincere, it somehow reassured the leads.
But the female lead looked at him oddly and asked, “How do you know he has a good temper?”
Lin Chi sipped his iced Americano and sneered inwardly.
How did he know?
Of course, it was because this person was here for him.
Lin Chi couldn’t help but feel resigned.
Li Tingyan’s unexpected visit as an investor was one thing, but choosing today was particularly aggravating.
His role in this film was almost like a seductive demon.
The female lead fell in love with him at first sight at sixteen.
The male lead, a distant relative, looked up to him as an older brother, yet had some inexplicable admiration for him.
And a wealthy couple, who both desired him, had numerous connections with him.
When Lin Chi first received the script, his face twisted.
Now he understood why Gu Yiyuan repeatedly emphasized that this character must be beautiful, almost magical.
It had to be beautiful.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t be convincing.
And today’s shoot was a scene with the wealthy couple.
This was not a steamy film, and these ambiguous relationships were hinted at through subtle scenes, so he didn’t have to compromise his principles.
But it was still a painful and enchanting scene.
In front of Li Tingyan… Lin Chi touched his face, feeling for the first time that his skin wasn’t thick enough.
Li Tingyan didn’t know what scene would be filmed today.
It was his first time watching Lin Chi act, and he was quite interested.
He saw Lin Chi’s completed look.
A snow-white long robe clung to his skin, which was very pale. His hair was smooth, his lips a subtle red, and a large, beautifully cut jade pendant hung on his chest.
The jade’s green was as rich as Chiang Mai’s summer.
The snow-white robe made Lin Chi look both aloof and ethereal, like a high and mighty celestial being.
Li Tingyan was intrigued.
But soon he understood why Lin Chi was dressed this way.
The more beautiful, flawless, and precious something is when it’s broken, the more it elicits the audience’s sympathy.
Lin Chi was filming a scene after a bath. His black, semi-long hair, intentionally left longer, fell like black satin over his shoulders.
The camera slowly swept over him, from his ankles, lower legs, waist, to his shoulders.
Finally, it focused on his face, which was strikingly beautiful and impactful.
To match the role, Lin Chi, already slim, had lost a few more pounds, wrapped in the white robe, looking as slender as a green bamboo. Even his wrist in close-up was delicate.
Since everything was implied, the wealthy couple did not appear on screen.
A long, scarlet silk curtain fell, obscuring half of Lin Chi’s face.
He held a cigarette in his mouth, his face pale, his lashes half-closed.
A man’s hand, adorned with a diamond watch, reached over, and with a click, a flame flared up to light his cigarette.
The flame reflected in his eyes.
The camera zoomed in for a close-up.
Lin Chi sat on a chaise lounge, his clothes impeccably arranged, not a single button out of place, yet he looked like a white bird in captivity.
He blinked slowly at the camera, his eyes numb and hollow, showing no trace of moisture, his eye sockets dry.
But it made one feel that a tear was about to fall at any moment.
This scene was undoubtedly a tribute to “Malèna,” which Li Tingyan had seen.
From a filmmaking perspective, Gu Yiyuan had kept it very restrained and subtle, leaning more towards suspense and mystery, not using eroticism as a gimmick.
But Li Tingyan still cast an unfriendly glance at him.
Soon, however, Li Tingyan’s gaze was uncontrollably drawn to Lin Chi on screen.
In a few seconds, a hand painted with red nail polish reached from the other side.
The hand lifted Lin Chi’s chin.
The scarlet curtain fluttered.
Lin Chi glanced outside the curtain, and for a moment, he seemed to see something that made his eyes light up like stars.
But it lasted only a second.
Quickly, the expression faded again, more desolate than before.
Behind the scarlet sheer curtain, he resembled a withered and decayed oleander.
Bright as he was, all vitality had been drained from him.
But the more he seemed this way, the more breathtaking he appeared.
Li Tingyan unconsciously held his breath.
He could feel that everyone present was unable to take their eyes off Lin Chi.
In this film, Lin Chi’s role was merely a supporting character.
Yet in this moment, this scene, he was undeniably the main character.
Li Tingyan’s gaze shifted slightly, and in a moment of daze, he recalled a long time ago, before Lin Chi had graduated, when he went to see his drama performance.
That play, “The Golden Lock.”
Lin Chi played the third young master of the Jiang family, Jiang Jize.
He performed as a flamboyant playboy, yet the moment the stage lights focused on him, even on a small school stage, everyone was captivated by him.
At that time, Li Tingyan, sitting in the audience, couldn’t help but think that Lin Chi was truly a brilliant gem, unfortunately covered in dust.
So dazzling, yet undiscovered, still just a struggling model.
Now, just a year has passed since then.
Under Gu Yiyuan’s lens, Lin Chi had captured everyone’s attention.
Lin Chi had stepped onto the stages of the four major fashion weeks, become Yu Nian’s Asian model, and graced the covers of major magazines.
In the half-year of his absence, the person he loved had grown even more radiant than he had ever imagined, like a blazing sun, capturing everyone’s gaze the moment he appeared.
When Gu Yiyuan called “cut,” Li Tingyan took the lead in applauding.
He gazed at Lin Chi, who was at the center of the set.
He admitted.
Seeing Lin Chi close with others still made him jealous; it was his nature to be greedy and unsatisfied. But beyond his rationality, he genuinely admired every success and effort of Lin Chi.
He was wholeheartedly devoted to Lin Chi.
Whether as a lover or a spectator, he was willing to be his prisoner.
And Lin Chi, seeming to just return from the play and still a bit dazed, looked back at him.
The two of them locked eyes in front of everyone, as if no one else existed.
In the end, it was Gu Yiyuan who gently cleared his throat.
As someone respected on set as the “great devil,” it was rare for him to smile and leisurely ask, “Mr. Li, are you satisfied with our crew?”
Lin Chi had already stood up, surrounded by assistants and makeup artists who were touching up his makeup and wrapping him up tightly.
Only then did Li Tingyan reluctantly divert his gaze to Gu Yiyuan.
“Very satisfied,” he said.
As an investor visiting the set, Li Tingyan naturally couldn’t be stingy.
He discussed with Gu Yiyuan to wrap up early today and invite the whole crew to a vacation resort to relax. Even the workaholic Gu Yiyuan seldom agreed so readily.
The crew members cheered.
“Since he’s the investor spending the money,” Gu Yiyuan put on his sunglasses and said nonchalantly to Lin Chi, “Since he’s willing to host and give everyone benefits, I’m naturally happy to be the good guy.”
Lin Chi, drinking the coconut water ordered by Li Tingyan’s assistant, found it hard to tell whether Gu Yiyuan was being sarcastic.
At the resort, everyone scattered, finding their own entertainment, or went shopping and drinking in groups if they still had energy.
On the top floor of the resort, an entire floor was occupied only by Lin Chi.
The blue carpet with light-colored patterns was soft and silent underfoot.
The chandelier above was bright, casting light on the walls.
Two shadows intertwined.
Lin Chi and Li Tingyan leaned against the door, kissing.
It was Li Tingyan who initiated.
The kiss was intense and unrestrained.
Lin Chi wrapped his arms around Li Tingyan’s neck, having changed from his set outfit to a simple white shirt and jeans, clean and full of vitality.
The previous desolate and mournful aura was gone, his eyes bright and radiant, his vitality restored.
Li Tingyan paused for a moment, rubbing his thumb over Lin Chi’s lips.
“I wanted to kiss you like this in front of everyone just now,” he whispered, as if joking, but his gaze was serious, “Seeing others touch you, even just a bit of skin, drives me crazy with jealousy.”
His lips lightly touched Lin Chi’s side face, his chin, like disinfecting, also like a beast covering its territory with its scent.
Even though Lin Chi had already showered, his body only carried the pleasant scent of orange blossom body wash.
“Sometimes…” Li Tingyan sighed softly, as if truly and unconsciously, “I really want to hide you away.”
He hated others touching Lin Chi, but to say he had no vague desire to lock Lin Chi in a golden cage that only he could access would be a lie.
Lin Chi smiled, provocatively and recklessly looking at Li Tingyan.
He could certainly read Li Tingyan’s eyes.
On set, he had seen the clear moment of Li Tingyan’s obsession.
But he wanted Li Tingyan to be completely captivated.
The two continued to kiss tenderly for a while, the long corridor echoing with their kisses, making hearts race and faces flush.
And behind Lin Chi was his room for the day.
Li Tingyan embraced him and softly asked, “Can I stay here tonight?”
Since he arrived in Thailand, in Chiang Mai.
He had become the prisoner sentenced to life by Lin Chi.
He could kiss and embrace Lin Chi.
But so far, he had not gained the right to fully possess him.
Li Tingyan always thought of himself as a patient and steady person. Before meeting Lin Chi, he had even lived like a monk, ridiculed countless times by Ye Fengshan and others for being so rigid.
But now, he clearly knew that his past self seemed to have been destroyed and reshaped by Lin Chi.
He had become a withered branch in winter.
During the days apart from Lin Chi, he was sealed beneath the cold frozen earth.
But once he approached Lin Chi, just a spark was enough for him to ignite into a blazing fire.
He couldn’t wait to embrace Lin Chi, to let Lin Chi be imbued with his scent in every inch.
“Is it okay?”
Li Tingyan leaned in a bit closer, softly asking, polite yet full of temptation.
Author’s note:
Yes, Old Li still hasn’t climbed into Chi Chi’s bed yet; it’s quite pitiful.