Chapter 25: A Duet Dance Instruction
When the vehicle stopped in front of the small house, the breathing sounds in the cramped space were even and steady.
Mo Chuhe was also affected; she yawned before leaning back in her chair and lightly patting the seat, making a sound: "We've arrived."
"good……"
Mu Jiu opened his eyes groggily, yawned, straightened up from his seat, and slowly unbuckled his seatbelt, still feeling drowsy.
As soon as the car door opened and her feet touched the ground, the evening breeze rushed in, its coolness hitting Mu Jiu's forehead and slowly bringing her back to her senses.
The walk back to the cabin was quiet, with only the faint chirping of insects in the background. In this tranquil atmosphere, my eyelids gradually grew heavier.
The other guests who returned to the cabin were also quite tired after a day of filming.
When I returned to the cabin, the living room was empty, with only a few warm yellow nightlights on in the hallway.
After her thoughts raced, Mu Jiu finally realized that Mo Chuhe, as the first guest to arrive at the cabin, hadn't unpacked anything yet: "Director Mo, today is your first day, what about your luggage..."
Mo Chuhe: "It's in an empty bedroom. We can just tidy it up a bit."
Mu Jiu blinked, and her mind cleared up a little.
After all, "Our Past" is a dating reality show, and the only guests who came were her and Ling Zhao, who could be considered to be among the lowest-profile celebrities.
Director Mo is on a different level from them.
The production team arranged for someone to be parachuted into the ancient town, so it was impossible for him to be busy all day, packing his luggage and choosing a house until the early hours of the morning.
Mu Jiu nodded and thanked him solemnly: "That's good... thank you again for taking care of me today."
After glancing towards the bedroom, she pointed behind her and said, "I've arrived too. Director Mo, hurry up and get ready, and get some rest."
Only after seeing Mu Jiu disappear quietly behind the door did Mo Chuhe turn and leave.
However, as he passed the glass door of the balcony, he stopped in his tracks.
His figure was clearly reflected in the glass. With her professional keenness, Mo Chuhe realized that if she filmed the balcony at night, the view would become blurry.
If you're looking for a blind spot in this show, this is probably it.
After opening the door, a thin layer of silver gauze could be seen scattered on the ground. Fang Yucheng was leaning against the railing, holding a glass of red wine in his hand, looking as if he had blended into the night.
Given his image and demeanor, this scene has a cinematic quality.
Hearing the noise, Fang Yucheng looked up, unsurprised, and raised his glass to Mo Chuhe, gesturing: "Want a drink?"
Upon hearing this, Mo Chuhe raised an eyebrow: "I didn't expect you to have such refined tastes."
"Just drinking alone in silence," Fang Yucheng said, taking a clean glass, pouring a little over it, and politely gesturing for him to drink.
As the clinking of glasses echoed, the night deepened.
A cool evening breeze swept by, ruffling the hems of their clothes. After three drinks, the atmosphere seemed to relax a little, and a slight flush appeared on their faces.
Fang Yucheng ran his fingertips along the stem of the glass, and casually asked, "I heard that Director Mo is currently preparing a new script?"
Mo Chuhe swirled her wine glass, her gaze fixed on the tranquil night in the distance, and teased, "What, Teacher Fang, are you also interested in short dramas?"
"You're joking."
Realizing it was a joke from Director Mo, Fang Yucheng quickly apologized with a wry smile: "In front of you, who dares to call themselves a teacher? Everyone knows that although your short drama is short, it has the quality and ambition of a movie. I am just an actor who longs for a good script."
A few seemingly plausible compliments and probing remarks swirled in the night breeze.
After downing another glass of wine, he leaned forward slightly, his tone even more sincere and direct: "Director Mo, let me be frank, if I could be in any role in your film, even just one, it would be an honor for me to learn and break through, even if it's just an audition opportunity..."
A top-tier celebrity with built-in popularity displayed such humility and modesty in front of him, coupled with his own commendable professional abilities. If it were me in the past, I might have already agreed.
Mo Chuhe slowly turned her head, a smile playing on her lips, still appearing approachable: "You're very good, but casting isn't something I can decide alone; the opinions of the producer and other investors also need to be considered."
This statement is already a polite way of refusing.
This was completely unexpected for Fang Yucheng.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, with only the faint chirping of insects coming from the grass outside.
Fang Yucheng pursed his lips and tentatively asked, "It sounds like... Director Mo already has someone in mind?"
Mo Chuhe didn't answer directly. Instead, she tilted her head back and drank the rest of the wine in her glass in one gulp before putting down the glass and gently patting Fang Yucheng's shoulder: "It's getting late. You should get some rest too."
"You are very talented. I will keep an eye out for suitable roles for you."
After saying that, without waiting for Fang Yucheng to respond, Mo Chuhe turned and left the balcony, gradually disappearing into the corridor.
Fang Yucheng's smile faded the moment Mo Chuhe turned away. He stood there alone, his fingers slowly clenching, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
The long night passed in everyone's chaotic thoughts.
Due to scheduling conflicts for some guests, and the fact that a 24-hour live broadcast would put pressure on them, the production team announced in advance that the live broadcast would be suspended the following day.
The live stream of "Our Past" was not turned on for the first time. Viewers who had been spoiled by the companionship-style live streams of the past few days began to "throw tantrums" on social media. For a time, the super topic was filled with lamentations.
By the time Mu Jiu got up early, most people had already left. Only the staff went into the common area of the cabin to check and maintain the live streaming equipment.
In the novel's plot, there were also a few days when filming of "Our Past" was suspended, mostly when the male and female leads had work conflicts or met privately.
But there's one more thing she has to do today.
It was just past noon.
Mu Jiu stood under the most inconspicuous bus stop not far from the hut, pulling his hat brim down low.
Her car has appeared on the show too many times, so to avoid being recognized by the sharp-eyed viewers of "Our Past", she is not planning to drive today.
However, to avoid appearing in the public eye, she also avoids using public transportation.
After eliminating these two main travel options, there aren't many options left.
【mujiu: I've arrived】
While waiting for a reply, Mu Jiu subtly glanced around.
After a while, her phone vibrated.
【0N: Looking Back】
When she heard the "putt-putt-putt" sound behind her, she had a vague sense of foreboding.
When she turned around completely and saw the familiar, muscular green figure in front of her, her heart died completely.
Mu Jiu: "You said you would drive me around?"
Sad Frog raised its paw and patted the back seat of the electric scooter cheerfully: "Get on."
Mu Jiu: "..."
She should perhaps be grateful that the other party didn't really disregard her "social well-being" and leave her to falter alone behind, but instead thoughtfully prepared an outfit for her.
Mu Jiu stared quietly at the Strawberry Bear costume in the back seat, remained silent for a long time, and resignedly put on the headgear.
So, on a weekend morning, a sad frog carrying a strawberry bear sped through the streets and alleys. Wherever it went, it attracted a hundred percent stares.
Especially after they passed a kindergarten on their way, and burst out from the piercing screams of the children, Mu Jiu felt a little dazed and lightheaded.
After all, the last time she felt this "cool" was when she played a big tree in her kindergarten graduation performance.
Regardless of the process.
The electric scooter eventually turned into a quiet alley and stopped in front of a professional dance studio.
After parking the car, Ling Zhao quickly changed out of the eye-catching mascot costume from somewhere.
When he appeared in front of Mu Jiu, he was already dressed in a neat black training uniform.
A few strands of his signature silver-gray hair were damp with sweat and lay casually on his forehead, which softened his usual aloofness and added a touch of wild tension.
When Mu Jiu pushed open the heavy soundproof door of the dance studio, there was music with a very strong rhythm playing inside.
A girl dressed in a loose dance costume, with her hair tied in a high ponytail, who looked both beautiful and cool, turned her head at the sound and her gaze first landed precisely on Mu Jiu.
A slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips: "I thought you were joking when you said you were going to bring a man over."
As she spoke, her eyes held an undisguised scrutiny: "Boyfriend?"
"Ex-boyfriend," Mu Jiu corrected expressionlessly.
Upon hearing her answer, the girl paused, turned to look at Mu Jiu and then at Ling Zhao, and after a few seconds, she exclaimed frankly, "You two have such a good relationship, you only came to me to learn a duet dance after you broke up."
Ling Zhao:......
There's a kind of unexpected dry humor that leaves you wondering if she's being sarcastic or speaking the truth.
Mu Jiu: "This is my childhood friend, Zhang Songlan. She doesn't care much about the entertainment industry and has never seen any of my dramas. But she's very professional, keeps her mouth shut, and we're very close."
Ling Zhao: "...Then you two have a really good relationship."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhang Songlan clapped his hands and put on a serious face: "Then let's officially begin. Today we'll only learn a simple Latin basic. Everyone, stand in line first."
"Raise your right hand and place it under the left shoulder blade of the other person... Yes, just like that. Gently grasp the right hand of the person next to you with your left hand, with your arm naturally bent."
"Lower your center of gravity and feel the other person's guidance and following..."
Zhang Songlan's gaze swept between the two: "Don't be nervous, focus your attention on your partner."
Feeling the warmth of the palm on his back seep through the thin fabric, Mu Jiu's expression remained unchanged, but his back still tensed up unnaturally.
While intimate scenes are inevitable when working with co-stars, it doesn't mean actors are naturally comfortable with such physical contact. To achieve a perfect performance on camera, mental preparation and practice are often necessary…
Mu Jiu couldn't help but look up absentmindedly, only to see that the person opposite her looked even more nervous than she did, as if he was about to be executed, radiating an aura of wanting to escape.
Large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.
Mu Jiu: ...
Seeing how tense the other side was, she calmed down instead. Just then, Zhang Songlan's voice came over: "Now I'll play the music again, and you can do it again."
"Men lead, women follow, one two three four, two two three four..."
As the music played and the beats from outside the venue began, the two stumbled through a dance.
But when the music stopped, Zhang Songlan's face turned sour.
Footsteps approached firmly, and someone forcefully grabbed Ling Zhao's wrist, pressing it against Mu Jiu's lower back.
"Stop, make sure your hand is firmly on the ground, do it again."
Zhang Songlan glanced at the two of them with a mixture of doubt and exasperation: "Haven't you ever hugged and cuddled before? Why are you acting all shy like virgins? Be more professional and get your positions right first!"
Upon hearing this, both Mu Jiu and Ling Zhao instinctively tensed up.
As the music continued to play, the two got into perfect harmony.
As Zhang Songlan watched the dance gradually improve, her complexion gradually returned to normal.
But seeing the upright and righteous aura of the two dancing, although I felt that something was a little off, I put that slight doubt behind me as their movements became more and more standard.
The afternoon flew by in the midst of intense practice, and as the sun set, the lesson came to an end.
Seeing that both "students" looked exhausted, some standing and some sitting on the smooth wooden floor of the dance studio, completely drained of energy, Zhang Songlan raised an eyebrow and clapped her hands: "Any dietary restrictions? There's a good barbecue place nearby."
Seeing the two of them turn around with hungry eyes, she subtly raised the corners of her mouth: "It's on me."
After the food delivery arrived, the three of them sat on the floor, surrounded by several takeout bags. The disposable containers were opened, and a strong, spicy aroma instantly filled the air.
Zhang Songlan put on gloves, skillfully peeled shrimp, and casually started the conversation: "So, the duet dance is a new task arranged by the production team? To test the 'depth of your relationship'?"
Mu Jiu was peeling shrimp, his mouth stuffed with barbecue, and mumbled, "Ah, yes, yes, yes, yes."
Ling Zhao quietly minimized his presence.
Zhang Songlan raised her eyes slightly, not pressing for details about the specific task, and instead commented on the training just now: "Putting everything else aside, your learning ability is not bad. Especially after the third rotation, at least it didn't look like you were doing joint rehabilitation for each other."
Mu Jiu stuffed the peeled shrimp meat into his mouth and changed the subject in a serious tone: "It's all thanks to the teacher's good teaching... This crayfish tastes really good."
Ling Zhao paused almost imperceptibly, then pretended to be busy and continued peeling shrimp.
Zhang Songlan: ...
Dinner ended in a wonderful atmosphere.
The remains of the takeout food were cleaned up, and the dance studio was restored to its previous tidiness, with only the faint aroma of barbecue in the air remaining as proof of the down-to-earth energy boost that had just taken place.
Ling Zhao was the first to stand up and politely thanked Zhang Songlan: "Thank you for your help and guidance today. We have learned a lot."
Seeing that the other party waved his hand indifferently, he wisely turned to Mu Jiu and said, "I'll go outside and wait for you?"
Mu Jiu nodded: "I'll be right there."
Watching Ling Zhao's figure disappear behind the door, Zhang Songlan turned around, stretching her shoulders and neck as she looked at Mu Jiu, who was putting on her coat.
"Your ex-boyfriend..."
She suddenly spoke, her voice low: "You seem like a good match for me."
During dance practice, she deliberately only handed him a bottle of mineral water. He took it and, almost without hesitation, unscrewed the cap and handed it to Mu Jiu first.
Even when her towel fell on the ground, the other person instinctively bent down to pick it up and handed it back to her.
Of course, if Mu Jiu knew these details, he could deduce a completely opposite truth.
Ling Zhao's habits from working in the service industry mostly carried over into his life. It's not that he still has feelings for his "ex-girlfriend," but rather that he's trying to impress her best friend.
But now, Mu Jiu had no idea what his childhood friend was imagining. After hearing this, he only paused for a moment while zipping up his coat: "We broke up."
“You can get back together even if you break up.” Zhang Songlan said calmly. “He seems different from the other people I met when I went to see you before. He’s better than that Fang guy.”
Hearing her comment, Mu Jiu couldn't help but chuckle: "If others heard you say that, it would cause a bloodbath."
Zhang Songlan shrugged indifferently: "That's why I don't like your circle."
Mu Jiu remained noncommittal: "I'm leaving now."
"Next time you come to see me, it doesn't matter if you bring anyone or not, and it doesn't matter if you have a reason or not," Zhang Songlan's calm voice came. "Don't let my waiting become a regret."
Upon hearing this classic line from a public service advertisement, Mu Jiu chuckled and threw the towel in his hand into her arms: "You're taking advantage of me again."
The plot is no longer the same as it originally was.
Mu Jiu's eyes held a bright smile: "But... I understand, I'll come back to see you later."
The novel ends with a short passage announcing the end of the cannon fodder female supporting character, without mentioning the heartache and pain of the original owner's relatives and friends upon seeing her disfigured face.
But at least she can guarantee that she will do everything in her power to prevent such a future from happening.
After saying goodbye to Zhang Songlan, it was already completely dark.
There was usually no one else in the cabin's common area at this time, and since there was no live stream today, the two felt reassured and returned to the underground parking lot together.
After parking the car and walking towards the elevator, Ling Zhao finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time: "But why is the 'special training' content a duet dance?"
In most people's stereotypes, dance studios are certainly not a typical place for couples to go on dates.
"When you're busy tackling another problem, you forget about the one that was bothering you."
Mu Jiu spoke with a deep expression: "If I were to say that this plan is the most cost-effective special training program..."
Ling Zhao agreed expressionlessly: "This plan is excellent. I've always dreamed of becoming a dancer since I was a child."
Mu Jiu had anticipated his reaction and nodded seriously: "What a coincidence, me too."
The goal is to allow for natural physical contact exercises in a setting where there are few outsiders, and without spending too much money.
There aren't many options left.
In short, the duet dance has practiced the maximum level of interaction with the ex.
Although they only had one day to practice dancing, it was almost enough. After all, exes usually only hold hands, hug, and get physically closer to each other...
While lost in thought, Mu Jiu pressed the elevator button.
The elevator arrived on the first floor. The two stepped out one after the other and pushed open the door of the small house.
Mu Jiu had just bent down to change his shoes and was about to straighten up and walk into the house when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Ling Zhao, who was following behind her, also stopped, though he didn't understand why.
The main light in the living room wasn't on; only a few ambient wall lamps were lit. In the dim light, two figures were intertwined tightly in the corner of the kitchen.
The tall figure, nearly 1.9 meters tall, pressed the back of the person in his arms' head with one hand, intensifying his kisses.
They didn't do anything more outrageous, but the heat and possessiveness in the air were almost overwhelming.
Guo Zifu and Deng Minzhou.
Mu Jiu & Ling Zhao:...!
The ambiguous atmosphere in the living room hadn't completely dissipated, and the air still seemed to retain a lingering heat. Deng Minzhou ruffled Guo Zifu's hair, his voice low and husky: "I'll go back and take a shower first."
Guo Zifu leaned against the wall, her lips red and her eyes sparkling, and simply nodded.
Only after Deng Minzhou's footsteps disappeared at the end of the stairs did she slowly straighten up, her gaze precisely fixed on the shadows in the entryway, a knowing smile playing on her lips: "Come out, Mu Mu, I know you're here."
Even though Mu Jiu had seen all sorts of kissing scenes on set, this was the first time he had ever witnessed someone being so intimate in real life.
Although she didn't intentionally spy, she did observe the whole thing. This feeling of having secretly done something wrong made her somewhat guilty and reluctant to leave her hiding place.
But since she had already been named, she still slowly moved out, her face showing a hint of unnatural nonchalance.
"Haha, you're still awake too?"
Mu Jiu chuckled a few times and changed the subject, saying, "What a coincidence, you're here for a drink of water too."
Guo Zifu didn't seem to care. She walked to the kitchen counter, poured two glasses of ice water, handed one to Mu Jiu, and asked with a hint of amusement in her eyes, "You saw it?"
Mu Jiu took the water glass. The cool touch made the heat on her face subside slightly. She nodded with a dazed look in her eyes: "...Mm."
Guo Zifu leaned against the bar, watching her with a leisurely air.
Mu Jiu blinked: "So, you're planning to merge?"
Guo Zifu chuckled softly, shaking the water glass in her hand, the ice cubes making a crisp clinking sound.
She clicked her tongue in amazement and gently tapped her forehead: "Mumu, you're so innocent, I'm starting to doubt if you've ever been in a relationship."
Mu Jiu: !
"I just feel that if we break up, I won't do this kind of thing with my ex."
Mu Jiu forced a calm demeanor and retorted, "Don't you feel embarrassed?"
"We're both adults, both single, and wanting to get closer to each other is just following our instincts."
Guo Zifu glanced at her lazily: "But you really are different from the rumors. I originally thought you were more..."
After thinking for a moment, she chose a more neutral description: "a shrewd person."
Mu Jiu: ...
Guo Zifu chuckled, seemingly noticing something on her face, and leaned closer. A faint fragrance wafted from her, mingling with the earlier ambiguous atmosphere. "Would you like your older sister to show you the adult world?"
Still reeling from the repeated shocks, Mu Jiu replied dryly, "No need..."
Realizing her words were too stiff, she added, "But I'm still very grateful for your kind offer to help me."
Guo Zifu stretched out her slender finger and gently tapped Mu Jiu's forehead: "I really don't know what's going on in your head... but you'll keep it a secret, right?"
Meeting the other person's gaze, Mu Jiu decisively made a gesture of sewing her mouth shut.
Guo Zifu narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of languor in her expression, and with a charming air, tilted her head back to drink the last bit of ice water in her glass. She placed the glass on the table, making a crisp sound. "Let's go, and bring your ex-boyfriend along too."
"Is he supposed to stand guard there all night?"
Ling Zhao, exposed in the corner, felt a chill run down his spine, like a small animal with its fur standing on end.
After stepping onto the stairs, Guo Zifu looked thoughtfully at Ling Zhao, who was huddled up in a ball, and Mu Jiu, who was trying to appear calm on the other side: "In this respect, the two of you are really a good match."
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