Chapter 62: Love Blossoms Through the Play

“Are you ready? Alright, three, two, one, action!” Chef Huang, after resting for more than ten minutes, decided to resume filming.

Both Zhou Ran and Zhang Xiaofeng were prepared, standing at their respective camera positions.

After being encouraged by Zhang Xiaofeng’s words, Zhou Ran felt as if his whole being had been unblocked, as though his meridians had cleared. Subconsciously, he kept reminding himself: You are not yourself now. He hypnotized himself frantically, striving to reach the mental state where he was both himself and not himself.

Meanwhile, Chef Huang was fully focused, watching Zhou Ran and Zhang Xiaofeng’s performance on the monitor.

Initially, Chef Huang lacked confidence in Zhou Ran’s state after his adjustment, thinking Zhou Ran would need several more takes. But then, Chef Huang noticed that Zhou Ran’s eyes suddenly changed as filming began, becoming tender and affectionate.

From the very start, Zhou Ran’s performance was smooth, and he continued following the script until they reached the kiss scene—a moment that had always troubled him.

As Zhou Ran prepared for the kiss scene, Chef Huang clutched the script tightly, afraid Zhou Ran would mess things up again. If they failed, Chef Huang would have to switch to another scene, wasting precious time.

Chef Huang watched the monitor intently, anxious to see whether Zhou Ran would manage the kiss. Zhou Ran succeeded, and his expression during the kiss was perfectly natural—the exact feeling Chef Huang wanted.

Seeing Zhou Ran succeed, Chef Huang finally breathed a sigh of relief. At last, they had nailed it.

When Zhou Ran kissed Zhang Xiaofeng, she nearly froze, because in that moment, Zhou Ran’s tenderness made her feel as if she truly were his girlfriend.

Zhang Xiaofeng almost got swept up in that emotion herself, staring wide-eyed at Zhou Ran. She hadn’t expected him to succeed so smoothly, catching her completely off guard, nearly making her forget the script's direction. Fortunately, her solid acting skills helped her regain composure at the critical moment, and she continued acting according to the script.

“OK, we’re done, great job! Don’t kiss again!” Chef Huang called out through the megaphone, announcing the end of the scene.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaofeng hurriedly pushed Zhou Ran away and ran off to the side, her cheeks flushed bright red. This was her first kiss, just like Zhou Ran—it was a moment of innocence for both of them.

Her family had always been strict, forbidding early romantic relationships, and she herself never had any intention of dating. Her school days were filled with classes and tutoring, leaving no time for romance. After she began acting, she had even less spare time.

Before filming, she had teased Zhou Ran to ease her own nerves as well as his, and during the scene, she was tense, though not as nervous as Zhou Ran.

Indeed, when Zhou Ran kissed her, her heart raced wildly, as if a little deer was thumping inside her chest, and she was overcome with shyness.

As Zhou Ran kissed Zhang Xiaofeng, he felt a subtle, indescribable feeling rise within him, but he didn’t dwell on it, chalking it up to the natural reaction of a first kiss. When Zhang Xiaofeng pushed him away, he simply returned to the lounge to review the script.

Seeing Zhang Xiaofeng’s reaction, Chef Huang understood what she was feeling.

Such things were common in the film industry. Many people developed feelings because of their roles; spending long periods together naturally fostered emotional bonds, especially when playing lovers. The lines between reality and fiction blurred, and many actors fell for each other during filming.

But Chef Huang knew that what they felt was often just an illusion—a temporary rush of hormones mistaken for love. Usually, the solution was simple: separate the actors for a while, let them cool down, and restore their emotional equilibrium.

In Zhou Ran and Zhang Xiaofeng’s case, Chef Huang wasn’t sure what to do, feeling as if his good intentions had backfired.

He had noticed during the recording of “Hello, Life!” that Zhang Xiaofeng had some feelings for Zhou Ran.

When inviting Zhou Ran to film “Drummer,” Chef Huang had considered this, thinking their emotions would be easy to manage, and perhaps he could even play matchmaker.

He never expected things would turn out like this. Zhang Xiaofeng’s reaction was unexpectedly intense, and faced with this emotional dilemma, Chef Huang felt it best to let her handle it herself.

Observing Zhang Xiaofeng’s current state, Chef Huang realized it would be difficult to continue filming her scenes today.

He approached Zhang Xiaofeng and advised her to rest for the day and think carefully about how to deal with her feelings for Zhou Ran.

Since Zhang Xiaofeng couldn’t film for now, Chef Huang adapted quickly, deciding to shoot Zhou Ran’s scenes with other actors to avoid wasting valuable time.

While Zhou Ran was filming with others, Zhang Xiaofeng sat alone in the lounge, lost in deep thought about what had happened during the scene with Zhou Ran. The feeling that had arisen in her heart left her stunned.

She reflected on that fluttering sensation, the little deer in her chest, and gradually found an answer within herself: it seemed she really was starting to like Zhou Ran, even if just a little.