Love Contract chapter 8

Kiss Scene

Guoyi university and Shengyun’s buildings were in different districts, but luckily the traffic was light at midnight. Jiang Liusui arrived at Shengyun’s building just as the clock struck twelve.

Half of the sixth floor belonged to He Yujing’s studio. The place was well-known, and many outsiders liked to come and take photos, making it a popular attraction at Shengyun. However, it was said that He Yujing valued his privacy and wouldn’t let just anyone inside.

At this hour, the building was nearly empty, with only the motion-sensor lights flickering on as he passed. Jiang Liusui stepped out of the elevator and walked forward. Most of the sixth floor was lit up, like stars shining in the dark universe.

In the studio’s front lounge, He Yujing was sitting on the sofa, waiting. When he saw the approaching figure, he put down his phone and stood up, hands in his pockets.

Through the frosted glass door, the figure outside was blurry. As the person reached the doorway, they hesitated instead of entering immediately. Noticing this small hesitation, the man behind the door couldn’t help but smile.

“Come in,” He Yujing said. “It’s only been a few days, and you’re already acting distant with me.”

Hearing his voice, the person pushed open the door. The first thing that came into He Yujing’s view was slender fingers with painted nails. The woman entering wore a plain white fitted dress and had delicate makeup, suggesting she had just rushed over after finishing a program. The food delivery bag in her hand seemed out of place with her elegant attire.

Seeing who it was, He Yujing’s expression cooled.

“Why are you here?”

Su Wan paused, realizing that he wasn’t expecting her. After a brief moment of awkwardness, she gently explained, “You didn’t reply to my messages, so I figured you must be busy. Since my car was passing by Shengyun, I thought I’d drop off some food for you.”

She made it sound casual, but they both knew how exhausting it was to record a show late at night. If she hadn’t specifically gone to get the food right after finishing, she wouldn’t have arrived so quickly.

He Yujing was silent for a moment before giving her some face, “I didn’t see your messages, sorry.”

Su Wan let out a sigh of relief and added smoothly, “I figured you were busy.”

After their last encounter at the club, it seemed she had shown her interest too obviously. Since then, He Yujing hadn’t replied to her messages, subtly distancing himself from her.

He Yujing seemed to have excellent social skills and could get along with everyone, but he was very selective. He had many friends, both same-sex and opposite-sex, but he never crossed the line and didn’t like others entering his space without permission. Even though she knew he wasn’t suitable for a one-sided love, she found herself lowering her status of a popular star in front of him, becoming like an ordinary girl with a secret crush, easily affected by his every move.

He Yujing took the food bag from her and placed it on the table. “Thank you.”

Just as Su Wan was about to smile, he continued, “But you really didn’t need to go out of your way to bring food so late.”

Her smile froze on her face. Although he was polite, he had once again drawn a line between them.

Feeling a twinge of bitterness, she pretended to ask casually, “Are you waiting for someone?”

“Yes.”

He Yujing didn’t elaborate. Just then, Su Wan heard his phone vibrate and saw him look down at it.

Jiang Liusui: [Yu Ge, I left the food bag at the corner.] [Where are you?] [In the elevator, already heading down.]

He Yujing looked at his response, amused: [You came all this way at night just to drop off food and not even say hi?]

Perhaps because the elevator signal was weak, Jiang Liusui’s reply came a little later:

[No.] [I came to bring you warmth.]

After sending the reply, Jiang Liusui turned off his phone. Despite his outwardly calm demeanor, he was quite shocked.

As he approached the studio’s entrance, he had spotted a graceful figure at the end of the corridor and hesitated, recognizing Su Wan only after a moment. Numerous rumors about He Yujing and Su Wan flashed through his mind. Noticing that she seemed to be carrying something, Jiang Liusui decided it was best not to interrupt them.

He and He Yujing weren’t particularly close; the other just wanted a late-night snack, so there was no real need to meet up.

He Yujing saw the message and, after feeling a bit speechless, couldn’t help but laugh.

“Seriously…”

He had Jiang Liusui bring something over, and it turned out that it was really just about delivering something.

When Jiang Liusui suddenly sent a message that night, He Yujing thought, like with many others, that there might be a hint of friendliness or something more. It wasn’t narcissism on his part—it was just that people in their circle often tried to curry favor with him, so anyone would see this as a good chance to get closer to him.

He had permitted Jiang Liusui to approach, but the guy ended up leaving on his own.

He Yujing swiped his finger across the screen and replied: “[Then see you tomorrow.]”

Jiang Liusui: “[See you tomorrow.]”

Seeing that his attention was entirely on his phone, Su Wan knew that staying any longer would only be annoying, so she said, “I’ll leave you to it; you can get back to whatever you’re doing.”

He Yujing responded with a brief acknowledgment. Su Wan noticed this and felt a pang of sadness in her heart, unable to stop herself from wishing that he would treat her a little better.

But soon, she dismissed that unrealistic thought.

In her impression, He Yujing never tried to placate anyone; at least during the month they had worked together on their collaborative project, he had always been strictly business, never once giving her any special attention.

—

The following night, on the set of Faded Color.

Jiang Liusui stepped out of the makeup room and happened to bump into He Yujing, who had also finished his makeup. The man was dressed in a dark overcoat and trousers, and the formal attire emphasized his tall and lean frame, making his broad shoulders and long legs stand out even more, giving him an air of dignified aloofness.

He Yujing wore a uniquely designed ring on his finger and a matching half-diamond bracelet on his wrist. The accessories Jiang Liusui had seen on him were never the same; it seemed to be both a work requirement and a personal habit.

As soon as they met, He Yujing was the first to speak. “You ran off pretty quickly yesterday.”

He was a bit taller than Jiang Liusui, so he lowered his eyes slightly as he looked at him. Even without doing anything, he exuded a natural sense of pressure.

“I…” Jiang Liusui hesitated for a moment before quietly saying, “I was afraid I’d disturb you.”

Before He Yujing could respond, Jiang Liusui added, “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”

“There’s nothing between me and her,” He Yujing glanced at him, his tone somewhere between intimacy and warning. “Don’t overthink it.”

“Oh,” Jiang Liusui agreed cooperatively, but He Yujing wasn’t quite satisfied. “You don’t believe me? I’m not lying to you. What kind of person flirts with someone and then doesn’t have the guts to admit it?”

Jiang Liusui was silent for a suspiciously long moment before responding very sincerely, “It doesn’t matter what I thought before; what matters is that I completely believe you now.”

He Yujing: “…”

Just as He Yujing was about to say something else, a voice interrupted. “You’re both here? Have you memorized your lines?”

Huang Zhicheng, a few years older than Wu Qi, walked over to them with a cheerful expression. He was a plump man with a rosy complexion who looked like he was always in a good mood. It was Jiang Liusui’s first time working with a major director, and he was a bit nervous as he greeted him, “I’ve got them down. Hello, Director Huang.”

Huang Zhicheng, on the other hand, seemed easygoing. “Xiao Jiang, right? Nice to meet you.”

“Thank you for coming to shoot this. It’s a big help,” He Yujing said.

“Well, your company did offer a high price,” Huang Zhicheng replied candidly, speaking with the warmth reserved for acquaintances. “At first, I thought the price was a mistake. It’s just for an MV, and your company was really generous.”

He Yujing smirked casually. “I’m a pillar of Shengyun after all. How could they not treat me well?”

Huang Zhicheng laughed heartily, patting him on the shoulder. “But if you don’t perform well later, don’t blame me for being strict.”

“This kid too,” Huang Zhicheng turned to Jiang Liusui, “He’s not a professional, but you are. Naturally, I’ll have different standards for the two of you.”

“Got it,” Jiang Liusui replied earnestly. “I’ll do my best.”

Suddenly, Jiang Liusui felt a weight on his shoulder as a long, strong arm draped over him. He Yujing, almost as if in a protective gesture, held him close and faced Huang Zhicheng. “Don’t worry. I picked him myself.”

Jiang Liusui’s expression flickered, a hint of surprise in his eyes as he instinctively looked up at He Yujing. In his view, he saw the man’s sharply defined jawline and the slightly upturned corner of his mouth.

“Well, that’s a surprise,” Huang Zhicheng remarked with a touch of amusement, half-jokingly. “You’ve even learned to take care of others.”

The MV shoot was roughly divided into three phases: first meeting, passionate love, and parting. To help them get into the right mindset more quickly, Huang Zhicheng decided to film the parting scene first.

“I chose this scene first because it’s primarily led by Xiao Jiang, so it should be easier for you,” Huang Zhicheng said to He Yujing. “It’s raining outside. You’re leaving this place, and although you’re reluctant, you know that only by leaving can you create better work. The pain will push you to new heights.”

He Yujing nodded.

“The two kiss scenes here are crucial. After he kisses you, you kiss him back, but your response needs to be more intense than his.”

After giving his instructions, Huang Zhicheng turned to Jiang Liusui to discuss the scene. “Your character is essentially the vessel through which the painter chases inspiration. You know you have a powerful attraction to him and believe you’ll be happy together forever. But suddenly, without warning, he’s determined to leave. In your panic, you try every way to keep him, begging him, even seducing him—anything to make him stay.”

“This scene might be tough, but it should help break the ice between you two. Once you get through it, the rest of the shoot will go much more smoothly.” Huang Zhicheng asked, “Do you understand? If there are no questions, let’s begin.”

“—Scene thirty-nine, take one, action!”

With the clap of the scene board, He Yujing barged into the studio.

He dragged a suitcase in one hand and carried art supplies in the other, striding purposefully forward. The person who followed him had reddened eyes, unable to believe that he was really leaving in the middle of the night, in the pouring rain.

Jiang Liusui ran after him, loudly questioning him, but his words did nothing to stop He Yujing. Finally, as He Yujing reached the front door, Jiang Liusui lunged forward, forcibly blocking his way.

“Don’t go.” Jiang Liusui trembled all over, pleading desperately, “Don’t go, I beg you…”

Even though there wouldn’t be any dialogue in the MV, and no audio would be recorded during filming, several scenes required lip-syncing. To avoid making them too self-conscious and unable to get into character, the scriptwriter had written simple lines.

Jiang Liusui raised his hand to caress He Yujing’s cheek, his eyes full of love, with a hint of resentment from being abandoned hidden within his longing. He Yujing was momentarily stunned, almost drawn into the emotions in Jiang Liusui’s eyes.

This guy… is surprisingly captivating in his acting.

His pale, slender arm wrapped around He Yujing’s neck like a snake. He tilted his head up, gently brushing his lips against He Yujing’s, then planted a lingering kiss.

“Oh my gosh,” the makeup artist off-camera covered her mouth, unable to contain herself. “Jiang Liusui is so seductive.”

Jiang Liusui’s cheeks were flushed with a hint of ambiguity, his expression both yearning and enticing. He Yujing recalled that according to the script, Jiang Liusui was supposed to say “I’m sorry” and “Don’t leave me,” all in a pitiful plea.

But Jiang Liusui, his voice low, parted his lips and mouthed.

“This isn’t enough.”

His slender fingers slid across the back of He Yujing’s neck, giving it a light squeeze. Unlike the passionate adoration on his face, Jiang Liusui’s fingertips were ice-cold.

“When you kiss me, be rougher.”

He Yujing narrowed his eyes slightly.

As if in reciprocation, his long fingers threaded through Jiang Liusui’s hair, firmly holding the back of his head, forcing him to maintain his upturned position, unable to escape.

As their lips met, his teeth grazed over Jiang Liusui’s lips, and before Jiang Liusui could react, he was bitten hard.

“Mm…!” Jiang Liusui’s breathing became erratic.

Unlike the previous tentative peck, He Yujing’s kiss carried an intense sense of pressure, his actions bordering on rough, filled with aggression. His presence overwhelmed Jiang Liusui’s senses, making him feel weak all over.

Wasn’t He Yujing supposed to have never filmed a kissing scene before?

But in front of the camera, he showed no awkwardness at all, kissing so unreservedly… Jiang Liusui was dizzy from the kiss, genuinely admiring the other’s professionalism.

…

The young girls on set blushed and their hearts raced, not daring to breathe too loudly. In the midst of their entanglement, the art kit in He Yujing’s hand suddenly fell, with paints and brushes scattering everywhere. The noise snapped Jiang Liusui out of his daze, and a look of joy gradually spread across his face, as if he believed that his plea had been answered and that the one he loved would stay.

But when the intense kiss ended, he was pushed away.

Without looking back, He Yujing slammed the door and left, as if he had completely let go of his feelings for his lover in that final kiss. The camera panned to Jiang Liusui, who leaned against the wall with his head down, as if all his strength had been drained, tears streaming from his red-rimmed eyes.

“—Cut!” Huang Zhicheng beamed with delight, “Great, great!”

He knew He Yujing’s acting skills well and had prepared for the possibility of having to shoot this scene multiple times. He hadn’t expected such a good result on the first take, and the kiss scene, which he had been most concerned about, had turned out to be surprisingly intense.

However…

Huang Zhicheng carefully reviewed the footage and said to He Yujing, “Everything else was fine, but you might not have noticed—when he rushed towards you, you hesitated briefly, and your expression wasn’t cold enough. We’ll need to reshoot that part in the hallway.”

Seeing He Yujing remain unresponsive, Huang Zhicheng thought he hadn’t heard, so he repeated himself, finally getting a response. Lin Chong, always perceptive, approached and asked, “Ge, do you need a tissue? We also have mouthwash and mints.”

Even though they didn’t actually kiss with tongues, they were so close just now that there might have been some saliva exchange.

Work is work, but in private, He Yujing was very uncomfortable with being too intimate with strangers. Lin Chong assumed that He Yujing’s absent-mindedness was due to being uncomfortable from the kiss.

Huang Zhicheng turned to Jiang Liusui, “We’ll need to reshoot the beginning. Are you okay?”

That scene was very emotionally intense for Jiang Liusui, almost like an outburst. Some actors need time to get in and out of character. Jiang Liusui’s tears hadn’t stopped yet, and he looked pitiful with his tear-streaked face.

“I’m fine, let’s go for another take.” Jiang Liusui’s voice was slightly choked, but his emotions were stable as he spoke.

As he spoke, he moved his shoulder that had bumped into the wall. Looking up, he saw He Yujing watching him with an unreadable expression, and asked somewhat awkwardly, “I hope you don’t mind the way I reminded you earlier?”

Even though the reminder was well-intentioned, he didn’t want to come across as if he was teaching He Yujing how to act. If it were someone less understanding, they might think he was putting on airs.

“Mind? I should be thanking you.” He Yujing’s gaze fell on his shoulder, and suddenly he asked, “Does it hurt?”

“?”

“That push just now—does it hurt?”

“It’s not because of that…” Jiang Liusui, seeing that he had misunderstood, explained, “When I cry, it takes a long time for me to stop. It’ll be fine in a while.”

As he spoke, he rubbed his eyes, and the makeup artist quickly stopped him. “Hey, hey, leave it! I’ll do it!”

Jiang Liusui muffled a response. The makeup artist used a cotton swab to carefully wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, then picked up a small brush to carefully touch up his makeup.

His lipstick was smudged from the kiss, his gaze glistening, but his face had lost the intense emotions from the scene.

Lin Chong, still awaiting an answer, persisted, “Ge, do you want a tissue?”

He Yujing unconsciously licked his lips, tasting the remnants of the lipstick. He withdrew his gaze, his voice drawn out lazily:

“No need, put them away.”

The makeup artist wiped for a long time, but Jiang Liusui’s tears kept falling. She teased, “Oh dear, your tears just won’t stop—looks like Mr. He hurt you deeply.”

It was a physiological reaction, and Jiang Liusui was helpless, “Maybe wait a bit longer, otherwise the makeup will just get smudged again.”

It was clear that his personality wasn’t as soft as his appearance suggested.

But his looks were deceiving—seeing him with red eyes even made Huang Zhicheng feel a bit sorry for him. Thinking that He Yujing seemed to get along well with the kid, Huang Zhicheng called out to him, “Come on, go comfort him, or we won’t be able to shoot.”

Jiang Liusui couldn’t help but be amused by the situation. “No need, really. I’m fine. I’ll be okay in a bit.”

He hadn’t expected He Yujing to get involved, but suddenly, a gaze turned toward him, landing on his slightly reddened eyes.

“My character is terrible. I even had to kiss you before pushing you away,” He Yujing reflected with mock seriousness. “Really awful.”

He criticized himself, making everyone around them laugh. Jiang Liusui hadn’t expected him to use such a cute way to cheer him up, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, pretty awful.”

He Yujing’s lips curled into a smirk. Even though his words were meant to be apologetic, they were incredibly teasing. “Yeah, my bad. No more crying.”