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WRS Arc 2 – Chapter 9
Meanwhile, Director Zheng, who was filming “How was the Brocade Letter Sent”, expressed that he was feeling somewhat stifled.
In the large alley, upon the flagstone street, streams of sewage water flowed like rivulets down the road. The dregs of traditional Chinese medicine spilled on the side of the path gave off a bitter and astringent smell unique to traditional Chinese medicine. This was the entirety of the dark memories that He Jinshu associated with his youth. The only exception was, that person.
“Gu Ji, have you gotten up? It’s time to go to school.” He Jinshu, dressed in a dark blue school uniform, his face elegant and handsome, stood at the entrance of the alley and called for Gu Ji to go to school.
He Jinshu’s mother’s health was not good, relying on traditional Chinese medicine for recuperation. His father was out all year round, and was not very good with his words.
Gu Ji’s mother had been watching He Jinshu grow up since he was young, and she loved him dearly. She already regarded him as half a son: “Jinshu, have you come once again to find that stinky brat to go to school together? Come, Aunt Fang has cooked two soft-boiled eggs . Take them to eat together with that stinky brat on the road.”
(“糖心鸡蛋”, which should really be written as “溏心鸡蛋”, literally ‘semifluid-heart chicken egg’ i.e. eggs boiled with a soft yolk, something like a Japanese onsen egg.)
Before He Jinshu could refuse, Fang Qin had already stuffed the eggs into his hands: “That stinky brat always likes to skip breakfast, so help Aunt Fang watch him, okay?”
After hearing this sentence, He Jinshu stopped trying to refuse and said, “Then, thanks, Aunt Fang.” However, when his line of sight floated to the eggs in his hands, there was a moment of absent-mindedness and shame: Aunt Fang had always been so good to him, but he……
While He Jinshu was still pondering, Gu Ji had already come out of the house.
Wearing a somewhat loose and big school jacket, with sword-like eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and a rather straight nose… It was still unknown how many girls he will attract in the future. He carried his schoolbag on one shoulder, and raised his eyebrows at He Jinshu, smiling as he said, “Come on, let’s go to school.”
Gu Ji pedalled the bike in front of him, the early summer wind blowing and lifting his white shirt, making a whistling sound.
Sitting in the back seat, He Jinshu very carefully moved closer. After smelling the very clean scent of Chinese honey locust , he couldn’t help but secretly pucker his mouth into a smile, his eyes bent by his smiling into a crescent shape.
(“皂角”, another word for “皂荚”, Gleditsia sinensis, a flowering plant used in China as soap or detergent, and also in traditional Chinese medicine for other purposes.)
He Jinshu was still secretly having fun when there was a sudden jolt, and unprepared, his whole person fell onto Gu Ji. In order not to be thrown off, He Jinshu subconsciously grabbed the corner of Gu Ji’s shirt.
Gu Ji pulled He Jinshu’s hand, making him hug his waist: “The road here is a little steep, so hold on tight to your older brother, we’re about to go downhill!”
He Jinshu is slightly shocked. After hesitating for a while, he gradually tightened the arm that he was using to hug Gu Ji’s waist. In the end, his hands were clasped, firmly holding onto Gu Ji.
The early summer sunlight shone on the two teenagers, and both their faces had pure and simple smiles. Every frame of the picture looked so beautiful and perfect, it made one reluctant to shout for a halt.
But Director Zheng still called for them to stop.
“Su You, if I remembered correctly, there shouldn’t be this part about Gu Ji letting He Jinshu hug his waist, right?” Director Zheng had an expression of being unable to bear looking at him directly. “I’ve mentioned before that Gu Ji’s feelings for He Jinshu are only that of innocent brotherly love. Yet, why is it that the scene you played out… is so… gay ?”
(“基”, a Chinese slang, Mandarin pronunciation is ‘ji’, but it’s derived from the Cantonese pronunciation i.e. ‘gei’. The meaning is borrowed from the similar-sounding English word.)
Director Zheng was also rather senior in age. However, browsing through the Weibo regarding Su You and Ji Luoge had also let him learn quite a few new words, such as that aforementioned “gay” word.
Su You said with a poker-face, “From a professional point of view, it’s because Gu Ji purely regards He Jinshu as a close brother, which is why he can do these actions without any scruples. In my opinion, some intimacy between close brothers is normal, hence, adding such a part may make it seem more natural.”
“Then, from an unprofessional point of view?” Director Zheng was suddenly somewhat curious.
Su You blinked, “From an unprofessional point of view, I haven’t ridden a bicycle together with Luoge yet. So, I wanted to conveniently experience the feeling of being held by him from behind.”
Therefore, Zheng Dao once again thoroughly understood the meaning of the sentence on Weibo: “being force fed a mouthful of dog food”.
However, although Director Zheng felt stifled, he still drew out his quality as a professional director, “Alright then, this scene passes. Prepare for the next scene.”
Please read this translation at foxaholic.blog, thanks!
The next scene was in Gu Ji’s room.
Gentle sunlight shone in through the apertures of the screen window, leaving playful spots of light that skipped across the floor, revealing the indescribable beauty of the afternoon.
“Jinshu, I haven’t done the homework that the Chinese teacher assigned today. Your Chinese is good, so help me do it! “ Gu Ji lied lazily on the bed in the shape of the word “大”, his voice unconsciously taking on a spoiled tone.
He Jinshu always had no way of handling this kind of Gu Ji. Presently, he asked in a good temper, “Where is it?”
Gu Ji turned over, burying his head in the pillow: “It’s in my school bag, take it yourself. For the ancient poetry appreciation, it’s enough to just casually copy a poem and write a few sentences about it.”
“Oh,” He Jinshu agreed with a sound. But when he took out the Chinese book, he also accidentally pulled out several pink envelopes. The beautiful handwriting on the envelopes, as well as the faint fragrance that can be smelled, caused He Jinshu’s hand to freeze in a moment.
His hand unconsciously clenched the cover page of the Chinese book in his hand, crumpling it until it was full of creases, then, as if he had realised something, he slowly smoothened the page. His voice was soft as he asked, “Gu Ji, are there people writing you love letters?”
“Yeah, in school, there are a great number of girls who want to chase brother.” Gu Ji suddenly sat up straight. Talking about the topic he was proud of, even his pair of phoenix eyes became radiant, “How is it? Do you admire brother very much? “
(“一抓一大把”, literally ‘one grab and get a handful’)
He Jinshu lowered his eyes: “Admire very much.”
After saying that, He Jinshu reached out his hand to push away the face that Gu Ji had moved close to his. The tone of his speech suddenly cooled, “You move aside, you’re blocking my light. I can’t write like this.”
Originally, acting till here, Gu Ji should have conveniently moved aside.
But Su You did not. Not only did he not move aside, he pressed even nearer. He lightly raised Shen Jiayan’s chin, smiling slyly: “Jealous?”
At this moment, Shen Jiayan was truly stunned. Of course, it was also reasonable for He Jinshu, who he was acting as, to be stunned here.
Su You moved closer to kiss the side of Shen Jiayan’s face like a dragonfly skimming the water. His tone of his speech was full of cynical jesting, “Rest assured, you are the only one in brother’s heart.”
He obviously knew it was a joke, yet He Jinshu’s face was still dyed with a slight flush.
He Jinshu was shamed into anger, and he pushed Gu Ji away, “Stop making trouble, your homework is done. I’m leaving first.” It seemed like indignance, but it was more like running away after being defeated by the troubles of his heart suffering a stab.
When the shot zoomed in, left upon the clean and white exercise book was a poem, the handwriting was seven to eight points similar to Gu Ji’s—“What a night is tonight, rowing through the river. What a day is today, getting to share a boat with the prince. Shy to receive favour, not to mention shame. My heart is troubled to no end, getting to know the prince. The mountains have trees, and the trees have branches. My heart loves you, but you do not know.”
And the following appreciation was written: Selected from “Verses of Chu”, it expresses a doomed to be desolate love. The boatman met the prince, but in the end, he could only gift him a song, and ferry him across the river. You are the meeting that I couldn’t choose and the sorrow that I can never forget. While for you, I am just a traveller passing by.
The mountains have trees, and the trees have branches; my heart loves you, but you do not know.
The shot gradually faded into darkness, just like the heartfelt troubles that were written on paper, yet could not be understood by anyone.
“This scene passes.” Director Zheng helplessly asked, “Su You, if I remembered correctly, there also shouldn’t be that kissing part, isn’t that right?”
“From a professional point of view…”
“No, I only want to listen to the unprofessional point of view, it’s because of what?” Director Zheng  wrapped his arms around his chest. Although the resulting coherency of that scene just now was better than that of the original script, he also didn’t intend on indulging Su You any further.
Su You shrugged his shoulders, then rubbed Shen Jiayan’s hair, “From an unprofessional point of view, that angle just now was too good, I couldn’t control myself.”
Director Zheng: “……” I have an actor who wants to add plays every day, and the plays he wants to add are all intimate plays, what should I do?
What else could he do? Film all of them as gags, and keep them for publicity later.
Director Zheng thought of the group of fans shouting “FuYu husbands sharing a frame again, so happy” on Weibo every day, and revealed a mysterious smile.
Just sharing a frame and you’re happy, right? Then rest assured, in the future, all of you will be “happy” for a long time.