Capturing My Demon King Costar

MY COSTAR THINKS MY EYES ARE PRETTY

Yao Shen makes his way up to Xin Hulei, aware of all the eyes watching them attentively.

Xin Hulei is leaning against the craft table, drinking from a water bottle, and watching Yao Shen approach over the bottle's rim, a flicker of amusement playing at his lips.

Yao Shen leans his hip against the opposite end of the table, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.

He's preternaturally aware of Bi Jialu clinging to her tablet on the far end of the room. He can almost hear her sharp intake of breath.

Poor Bi Jialu, Yao Shen is going to ask Boss Huang to give her a raise.

Xin Hulei waits for Yao Shen to say something, when he doesn't, he breaks the ice first:

"How was your morning?" he asks, between sips of water.

Yao Shen smiles a little to himself, pleased that he was the first to break. "It was nice, except that Tan Liansi was mean to Ye Fang just because she is superstitious."

Xin Hulei hums. "Liansi doesn't need incentives to be mean."

She sure doesn't, but it's funny to Yao Shen that that's what Xin Hulei decides to focus on.

Before he can say something else, Director Chen claps once, drawing everyone's attention.

"Alright, please everyone remember that this scene is very important for the development of the drama. We're going to shoot it two ways: First, Xie Huan's romantic idealization of what should happen when he declares his intentions..."

Yao Shen reads over the script as Director Chen goes over the gameplan.

Perhaps, 'declares his intentions' is too generous a description. It's more like he comes in with all bluster and no subtlety but loses steam halfway through, ending up saying something that sounds almost threatening -- all things considered.

While it's true that Yan Shuyi is being more oblivious than is plausible, it's not like Xie Huan makes things clear either.

Yao Shen wonders if things happened like that in reality too.

It's almost unthinkable to imagine cool, confident Xin Hulei stumbling all over his words like Xie Huan.

He always seems to know what to say around Yao Shen.

A bitter, small-minded part of his brain chirps up to remind him: it's because he loved Yan Shuyi, but doesn't love you.

Yao Shen has been feeling very good about himself lately, his usual insecurities haven't been nearly as debilitating. Maybe that's why he can dismiss the little mean voice so quickly.

So what if Xin Hulei loved Yan Shuyi? Yao Shen isn't looking for love, he's looking for a good time, and he's getting that.

He's so focused on his own train of thought that he doesn't notice that Xin Hulei has moved close to him across the edge of the table.

"You're frowning," Xin Hulei says, reaching over to smooth out the wrinkle between Yao Shen's eyebrows. "Don't strain your pretty eyes."

Yao Shen smacks him on the arm with his script for using such a cheesy line. Although, along with the disappearance of his frown, the little nagging voice falls silent for good.

Director Chen clears his throat loudly, drawing their attention. "As I was saying," he says, casting Xin Hulei and Yao Shen a brief judgmental look. "The second shoot will depict the events as they happen in reality, outside of Xie Huan's fantasy. We'll start with the first scenario, everyone please go to your marks."