Silver Linings

Chapter Three - Piggyback Ride

[26 MAY 2020]

⁂ ZHANG ZHE HAN ⁂

"Welcome everyone. I am Ma Tao and I am the producer. On behalf of the Shan He Ling production team, I want to thank you all for being here and for signing on to work with all of us. We have a fantastic script and great actors and I know that you are all eager to get started. As you all know, we are short on time and on budget, but I am very excited about what is ahead of us. Thank you all for being a part of this journey along with me and the rest of the production team. Ganbei." (1)

The toast officially started the dinner. Zhang Zhe Han watched Ma Tao raise her cup and raised his own along with everyone else in the room, before he finished it in one go. Even though most of the guests were tired both from their travels and today's training, the air vibrated with anticipation and an eagerness to get started. It was infectious.

He waited until Ma Tao had sat down next to him, before filling both their cups and raising his own to return the toast, "Ma Jie, I toast to you"(2), and they clinked their cups and sipped.

He swiftly followed the toast up with serving her some of the beef. She smiled and nodded towards both him and Gong Jun, before the person on her right beckoned for her attention. Zhang Zhe Han turned back towards the dishes, searching for something from Sichuan.

In the short break that he'd had in between arriving back at the hotel and hurrying down to the dinner, he had harassed Yu Xiang until he'd finally cracked—like he always did. Zhang Zhe Han was pretty proud of his nagging ability, and he was never afraid to turn it up to the max when he needed something. Whilst he got ready after the shower, his friend and assistant had given him a five-minute-summary of Gong Jun.

With a major in Acting Gong Jun had graduated from the Performance Department at Donghua University—which would explain why Zhang Zhe Han didn't know who Gong Jun was even though he was only one year younger. He himself had graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Gong Jun's career had started in modelling, which he still did from time to time. He had then moved on to acting, which he had been doing for about four years and with a few costume dramas under his belt. No real wuxia dramas but he had done another danmei early in his career. He was born in Sichuan where his family still lived. Gong Jun himself lived in Beijing. Never had an official girlfriend.

Never had a girlfriend? A guy that looks like that? Maybe he kept them all out of the spotlight?

Zhang Zhe Han spotted the Sichuan La Zi Ji (3) and served some for his co-lead. He figured that a local dish might work as an ice breaker since they hadn't had a chance to chat all day. "Gong Laoshi, here—let's see if this chicken is as good as what you grew up with. You should eat plenty after all the training today. It will help you recover and you will sleep better on a full stomach." He tried to keep his voice light and easy. He wanted to sound inviting but felt like he was failing. "Plus, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Thank you, Zhang Laoshi. I am sure it will taste just like home." The voice was deep, and the man looked a bit reserved but dutifully ate the food before taking it upon himself to place a large helping of the same La Zi Ji in Zhang Zhe Han's bowl. Gong Jun tilted his head and looked expectantly at him with those big puppy eyes. "You should eat as well. I think your practice today was more rigorous than mine."

Zhang Zhe Han blinked towards those big round eyes and the honest smile and couldn't help but smile with him. Is he aware of how people react to his eyes? Is he using it to his advantage? Maybe his Wen Ke Xing is going to be lethal after all. His smile then broadened when he turned and looked at the very spicy dish in his bowl, that definitely had more chili than chicken. He was starving and his mouth was watering.