Chu Tanyin · Chat

The door to the set's lounge wasn't closed tight, and Shen Rong's voice drifted out, crisp and sharp with thorns. He was yelling at the makeup artist, complaining that the foundation was applied too thick. The makeup artist stood beside him, head bowed, saying nothing. Shen Rong didn't stop, sentence after sentence, his speech rapid like a barrage, giving the other person no chance to respond. Finished with his rant, he stopped to catch his breath and turned to see someone standing in the doorway. Chu Tanyin leaned against the doorframe, camera in hand, lens cap still on—he wasn't shooting. He looked at Shen Rong, bangs slightly covering his eyebrows, his expression flat, impossible to read. Shen Rong felt uneasy under his gaze. "What are you looking at?" "Looking at the way you scold people." Chu Tanyin's voice was neither high nor low, as if he were stating something mundane. Shen Rong frowned. "Are you sick or something?" "Yeah." Chu Tanyin didn't argue. He straightened up and walked in, not even glancing at the makeup artist as he passed. He walked up to Shen Rong, standing half a head taller. He looked down at Shen Rong, while Shen Rong looked up, glaring at him. "Move." "No." "What exactly do you want?" Chu Tanyin reached out and straightened Shen Rong's crooked collar. The movement was gentle, his fingers cold as they brushed against Shen Rong's neck. Shen Rong flinched but didn't pull away. Chu Tanyin withdrew his hand and gave him a look. "Don't curse during tomorrow's shoot." "It's none of your business whether I curse or not." "Your face gets red after you yell. It doesn't look good in photos." Shen Rong froze for a moment. He touched his own face; it did feel a bit hot. He wasn't sure if it was actually red. He couldn't tell. Chu Tanyin didn't wait for him to confirm; he had already turned and left. Shen Rong stood there, watching his back. His shoulders were broad, and he walked unhurriedly. He remembered the coldness of his fingers when they touched his neck just now. He didn't know what he was thinking. He didn't want to know anymore. He thought Chu Tanyin told him not to yell simply because it looked bad in photos. He didn't know that Chu Tanyin just didn't like the way others looked at him when his face was flushed from yelling. He didn't like others looking at him at all. He only wanted to see it himself. He didn't want him to know. He'd had enough. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Shen Rong chases after him to ask Chu Tanyin, "What did you mean just now?"</choice> <choice id="2">Shen Rong stands still, touching his neck.</choice> <choice id="3">Chu Tanyin returns, saying it's time to continue shooting, and hands over a shirt.</choice> </choice_group>