Chapter 37.1 (1/2)
Deep in the Act
Translator: Kotoni
Editor: Isalee
Quality Check: Isalee
First Published on Chaleuria
Chapter 37.1
Filming wrapped up at three in the morning. Zhang Zhun was back in his room, about to get into bed after was.h.i.+ng his face, when the doorbell rang. His movements stilled; he remained rooted to the spot, with a leg resting on the edge of his mattress. The ringing continued for a full minute or two. Then, no longer able to stand the noise, Zhang Zhun answered the door at last.
It was Chen Hsin; as soon as the door opened, he eased himself through the crack in the doorway and slipped into the room. Zhang Zhun did not stop the younger man. ”We need to be up again at half past five,” he said. Before his eyes, Chen Hsin kicked off his shoes, unabashedly stripped down to his underwear, and dove under the covers. Zhang Zhun shut the door, somewhat afraid of moving any closer to his bed. ”Aren't you going back? She…”
”We broke up.” Chen Hsin rolled onto his back and pillowed his head on his arms. ”I'm a happy single now.”
A change came over Zhang Zhun's expression, like a stone skipping across water with a trail of shallow eddies in its wake. In a blink of an eye, however, even the slightest trace of disturbance was gone. ”Even so… we can't,” he replied with unease. ”Filming resumes in a bit.”
Yet, despite his words, Zhang Zhun walked over. An oversized t-s.h.i.+rt lay on a nearby chair; he picked it up and pulled it on. Without any warning, Chen Hsin dragged him into bed with a sudden yank on his wrist and pinned him down, face to face, with his own body. ”C'mon, is this really necessary?” Chen Hsin tugged at the t-s.h.i.+rt, his gaze sweeping down the clothing to rest on the loose boxer shorts underneath: stripes with stars. ”You…” he began, eyeing the exposed skin at the base of Zhang Zhun's thigh. In the next breath, his hand delved into those shorts and grabbed. ”You like going commando, hm?”
Indeed, Zhang Zhun wore nothing under his shorts, and Chen Hsin helped himself to the naked b.u.t.tcheeks without ceremony. Zhang Zhun fought against the groping hand, twisting so hard in Chen Hsin's arms that it became impossible for the younger man to hold him down any longer. Chortling and panting with effort, Chen Hsin released him at last. ”I don't have a girl anymore. Can't I feel up your a.s.s just a little?”
Blus.h.i.+ng furiously in silence, Zhang Zhun turned to switch off the bedside lamp. Then, lying down with his back towards Chen Hsin, he ordered: ”Sleep.”
Obeying the command without fuss, Chen Hsin settled into bed and lay still. But such good behavior lasted less than a minute; in the next breath, Chen Hsin reached out to wrap his arms around Zhang Zhun from behind. Holding him tight, the young man nuzzled against Zhang Zhun's shoulder and clasped the older man's legs between his own.
Too sweet - the sweetness of it all could make one tremble. ”She said nothing?” Zhang Zhun asked.
”Nope,” Chen Hsin replied, his voice deep and mellow as if it had drifted over from afar. ”No one could ever stand a sc.u.mbag like me.”
”Did she cry?”
”She wouldn't. I swear, women are way tougher than men.”
Zhang Zhun fell silent. Chen Hsin reached into the t-s.h.i.+rt and sought out the flesh on the older man's belly. After several caresses, he pulled up the s.h.i.+rt by its hem and tugged it off. Attempting to put up some semblance of resistance, Zhang Zhun breathed lightly, ”No…”
”Alright, I get it!” Chen Hsin huffed in frustration. He kept his word this time; he tried nothing else besides folding the older man to his chest in a quiet embrace. Zhang Zhun was almost lulled to sleep when a question sounded in the dark behind him: ”Do you… find it odd that we've become like this?”
”Of course.” Zhang Zhun spoke as if he were discussing a novel or a film. ”It's too odd. Bizarre, even…”
”How did this happen?”
”When you feel like calling it quits,” Zhang Zhun said, turning to look at the younger man though he could not see clearly, ”let me know.”
Chen Hsin felt gutted all of a sudden, as if his chest had been torn wide open, as if someone had gouged out his flesh but no blood flowed from the gaping hole. ”Okay,” he replied, ”I'll be sure to let you know.”
Zhang Zhun nodded. In the deep of the night, all was dark except for the faintest wisp of light caught on the single drop of wetness in his eye. Propping himself on his arm, Chen Hsin leaned over and sipped the droplet away.
At twenty minutes past five, someone began knocking on the door. Squinting, Zhang Zhun gave Chen Hsin a nudge. ”Wake up, Xiao-Deng's here.” Then, still bleary with sleep, Zhang Zhun got out of bed to answer the door. The younger man rolled over before getting up as well and heading for the bathroom.
”Ge, I pressed the bell for so long that it went mute!” Xiao-Deng stood in the doorway, looking innocent and das.h.i.+ng as he leaned his shoulder against the frame. ”It's too early for the restaurant to be serving any breakfast. We'll head up to room 3815 instead and get some bread to eat on the way.”