Chapter 1.2 (1/2)
Deep in the Act
Translator: Kotoni
Editor: Isalee
First Published on Chaleuria
Chapter 1.2
The equipment remained on standby as the two men made their way to the bedroom. They sat down side by side on the large bed. Before them stood a folding screen, printed with a pair of gilded white cranes - one stood on the edge of a cliff, about to take flight, while the other was in mid-flight, its neck arched gracefully in a backward glance.
”I don't think I've ever talked to you before,” Zhang Zhun said quietly.
Chen Hsin shot him a sideways glance before answering with a smile, ”We never had the chance.” Fis.h.i.+ng out a pack of cigarettes, Chen Hsin asked, ”Wanna smoke?”
Zhang Zhun turned to him with a nod. Chen Hsin lit up two sticks and pa.s.sed one to Zhang Zhun before continuing, ”I have some experience with this kind of thing.” Zhang Zhun took a drag on his cigarette and choked a little on its potent fumes. ”I was… sixteen or seventeen at the time, I think, playing a minor supporting role in another one of Liu Jianwei's films. One kiss scene and one s.e.x scene.”
He paused. Zhang Zhun felt as if he should say something in response, but Chen Hsin was suddenly leaning in, propping his hands by Zhang Zhun's sides. Staring intently at Zhang Zhun with a playful glint in his eyes - the perfect picture of a well-practiced model in a magazine spread - he suggested teasingly, ”What's the point of all this small talk? The way I see it, we should just get straight to business. Try a kiss and see how it feels.”
For a brief moment, Zhang Zhun felt his mind go blank. His hand froze next to his lips as he watched wisps of smoke rise from the end of his cigarette and flit across the surface of Chen Hsin's pretty eyes.
”Let's give it a go?” Slightly irritated by the smoke, Chen Hsin trained his eyes on the thin lips before him: an old man's lips - he thought absently. Despite being two years his senior, Zhang Zhun was evidently incapable of ”getting into the mood” as effortlessly as he did. As if he were fleeing from the thrall of Chen Hsin's gaze, Zhang Zhun turned away with a blink of his eyes, mumbling under his breath, ”It doesn't have to be a kiss… a hug should do.”
”Director!” Chen Hsin called out to the man waiting on the other side of the folding screen, ”Is it okay to stop at hugging?”
The director was furious as he yelled out his reply, ”There are at least three s.e.x scenes! Two in the nude! With full filming crew on set! You tell me if a hug is enough!”
Zhang Zhun's face burned. He shot an accusatory glare at Chen Hsin, wordlessly berating him for provoking the director. Chen Hsin, however, was in high spirits; with a cigarette held loosely between his teeth and shoulders shaking with laughter, he broke into a charming lopsided grin.
Suddenly, Zhang Zhun was. .h.i.t by the realization that the younger man might have been acting all along. He is terrifying good at what he does - Zhang Zhun thought, recalling the ease with which Chen Hsin wound him up and cut him loose, manipulating and amplifying his feelings at will in such a short time - if it's with him, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to try a kiss… As Zhang Zhun began to relax, Chen Hsin put out his cigarette and shouted loudly, ”We're ready to go, Director!”
Zhang Zhun tensed up again in incredulous alarm. He grabbed Chen Hsin and mouthed in silent urgency, ”You played me! You're ready, but I'm not!”
Chen Hsin smirked roguishly in response and slung an arm around Zhang Zhun's shoulder. He dragged the older man with him to the other side of the screen where the director and a.s.sistant director Zhou were smoking as they waited. The camera stood on standby, its lens freshly uncapped by the production manager. For reasons Zhang Zhun did not understand, he no longer felt as nervous as he did just moments ago. When Chen Hsin tried to pull him into an embrace from behind, Zhang Zhun's body reacted naturally and struggled reflexively against his hold. Being taller than Zhang Zhun by half a head, Chen Hsin took advantage of their height difference to nestle his face against Zhang Zhun's hair. ”Stop twisting yourself into a knot. The camera's rolling,” he whispered.
But there was no blinking red light to be seen on the camera. Zhang Zhun turned his head, intending to call Chen Hsin out on his lie, only to feel the fall of soft curls against his cheek as moist lips descended carelessly onto his eyelid. They lingered for a moment before pressing down firmly against the skin under them and sliding forcefully down the side of Zhang Zhun's nose to latch onto the corner of his mouth.
”Action!” the director finally called out.
Dazed, Zhang Zhun stared unblinkingly as Chen Hsin lapped and sucked at his lips like a little animal. A tingling numbness spread from his throat to his chest. When he finally managed to gather his wits for a comeback, he was. .h.i.t by the sensation of a large, warm hand creeping under the hem of his jacket.