Chapter 21 (1/2)

Screen Partner Chapter 21

The four-person bed scene was finished, and that also represented the end of the first GV.

The staff members quickly set to work and cleaned up in anticipation of going out for a celebratory meal. They made a huge racket requesting the director to provide a meal for everyone. Fortunately, the director was prepared for this, and indicated with a wave that it was fine. The crew all piled into their vehicles and drove out, and they all arrived shortly at a street in town well known for its many restaurants. For this reason, although it was already 11 at night, the street was still noisy, and fairly busy.

The crew found a clean looking stir-fry shop to sit down in. They quickly began to throw away money by the handful, ordering many expensive dishes and sake. The director shot everyone a fierce look, but in the end silently accepted his defeat.

Soon enough, the director did not seem to mind, and to everyone’s surprise, he was the first to open two bottles of sake. He poured a generous round for the entire crew, and then called over Ruka—whom he both loved and hated—to drink with him.

Ruka had gone through significant difficulties to ensure that he could sit next to Xu Zheyi, so of course, he was not willing to easily let someone else take his place. Unfortunately, the director did not care about that kind of thing, and sent two strong assistants who basically dragged him over.

No sooner had Ruka left, and Ah Li was hot on his heels to take the open place. He sat down, holding his drink in his hand.

“Thank you for the medicine,” he made a toast to Xu Zheyi and whispered his thanks.

Xu Zheyi glanced over at the sake, and then asked him, “Do you really feel like it was useful?”

Ah Li thought for a moment, and then spoke, “I didn’t feel anything at first, but then the effect hit me all at once, and I was completely…” He did not know what to think or say, and his face was suddenly flushed.

Xu Zheyi was not interested in studying his psychological state, so he nodded hastily.

At this time the waiter brought out their food. The crew seated around the table held their chopsticks like they were weapons, ready to wage war for the meal that lay before them. Xu Zheyi was also quick to join the battle. Although there was still a communication barrier stemming from the fact that the film crew was mostly Japanese, after a few cups of sake, everyone was getting along far better, and without concern.

Everyone there kept going strong until the restaurant closed, and then they were clamoring to go somewhere else to continue the celebration.

At this time Xu Zheyi deeply realized the pain of his older body. The intense sex was just too burdensome for him. When they had just finished he could not really feel it, but after a satiating meal, a bone-deep tiredness washed over him. He was overcome with an exhausted and lazy feeling, and although he did not necessarily want to sleep, he still wanted to find a quiet place to sit down and rest for a while.

He ended up taking a seat on a bench on the sidewalk.

The majority of the staff members had swarmed a nearby convenience store, and they were like locusts sweeping the shelves clean of all kinds of alcohol and snacks. They made excited plans to take it all back to the hotel to eat and drink. A few people had gathered outside the shop door to smoke, and chatted amongst themselves while they waited.

Ruka was one of the few who had remained outside, and stood by himself.

At that moment he was not too far away. He did not say a word, but motioned for Xu Zheyi to come over with a crook of his index finger.

Xu Zheyi was not completely confident that motion was meant for him, and wanted to confirm whether the other party was calling him. Ruka did not speak, and just accelerated the motions with his index finger. Xu Zheyi complied, and started moving toward Ruka.

The other party was obviously satisfied with his obedient behaviour. A silly little smile lit up his face; his sharp, tiger teeth just visible. When Xu Zheyi saw his smile, it actually made his heartbeat accelerate a bit, and he could not help trying to take a second glance. When he looked closer, he found Ruka staring straight ahead, eyes lax, and obviously completely drunk.

“Hey, are you all right?” He recalled that Ruka had been called over by the director, and ruthlessly made to drink. He could not help being a little worried.

Ruka paid his concern no heed, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him forward. The two men crossed the alley, turned left and then right, and came to a row of bikes1. Just as Xu Zheyi felt his head fill with question marks, he saw Ruka try the one of the locks, and his question mark immediately turned into a cold sweat.

“Hey…”

“Come on up, it was hard to find an unlocked bike,” drawled the drunken guy, and he quickly quickly stepped up and patted the back cushion, and then smiled at him.

…What the hell are you doing?

For Xu Zheyi, who had no resistance towards Ruka’s smile, he immediately hated iron for not becoming steel2.

****

The two men rode the stolen bike, and began their somewhat crooked journey off towards the unknown. The back seat was not comfortable at all, especially when they rode over a bumpy section of road. Xu Zheyi was in so much pain, he thought perhaps it was caused by a hemorrhoid flaring up.

Just as he planned to jump off the bike, Ruka finally stopped and announced, “Here it is.”

Xu Zheyi climbed down from the back seat, and followed Ruka for a few steps. That was when he heard the sound of the waves. It was the sea at night.

The two men casually took off their shoes and put them near the side of the road, and and then walked onto the beach. The sand still bore some of the warmth from the day’s sun, but the sea breeze was chilly.

Once they were exposed to the cold wind, the two men who had been feeling so hot because of all the liquor immediately sobered up.

“How do you know my full name?” After sitting shoulder to shoulder with Ruka on the beach for a while, Xu Zheyi eventually raised this question out of curiosity.

Ruka, of course, would not admit him that he had googled him, and answered, “It was written in the script.”

…Utter nonsense. Xu Zheyi was confident that answer was bullshit, but he did not want to push it by asking again. He lay down and stared at the stars in the night sky, and Ruka joined him.

Perhaps it was due to the influence of alcohol, but he was able to relax completeley. It was rare that he did not feel awkward, even though Ruka was right at his side. The two of them prattled on with some meaningless conversation, when suddenly Xu Zheyi asked, “Hey, why did you want to shoot AV, ah?”

“I lost a bet,” Ruka answered indifferently.

Xu Zheyi suddenly had a strange premonition, so continued that line of questioning, “Then you took a role in the GV because…”