Silver Linings

Chapter Twelve - Second First Dinner

Author's Notes:

Only three more chapters (including this one) in the first Arc - the "awkward stage". Any thoughts on what it is that brings them out of the awkward phase and into - well - "testing the waters" stage?

⊂(▀▿▀)つ❤

[6 JUNE 2020]

⁂ ZHANG ZHE HAN ⁂

"Dinner? In your trailer?" Gong Jun stared at him with an incredulous look on his face, and for some reason Zhang Zhe Han thought that there was a smirk in there somewhere.

They were standing under the rain cover that had been setup due to the showers that had been more on than off throughout the day. It was an almost unnoticeable drizzle at the moment and it was supposed to stop completely before nightfall. And he hoped that it would, or the night stunts might have to be pushed until a later date.

"Yes, we have a few hours later today whilst we wait for the night shoot. We are after all going on a date tonight. I think we should go over some lines and chat a bit about the characters and the setting." Zhang Zhe Han raised his eyebrows in an 'it's only a dinner between co-workers to discuss the script'-way and smiled. Though, in fact, he just wanted to chat to the man away from the crowds.

He had seen Gong Jun carry the character essay with him during the hair and makeup in the mornings and they hadn't had a chance to sit down and just chat the two of them. They were the main actors, the main protagonists and the main CP. Besides, tonight would be the filming of their romantic 'moon-watching date'. It was the perfect excuse. Or maybe reason would be a better word?

He tilted his head and smiled innocently, almost daring the man, "Gong Laoshi, if you don't want to...?"

Gong Jun's eyes went round and he looked like a deer in headlights for a short moment before he spluttered, "Oh, no, I—I want to. It's just... I—I should be the one to treat you to dinner. Yes! I will treat you to dinner instead." Gong Jun's whole body language relaxed and he smiled. "Consider it my thank you for the character essay. And it would give me an opportunity to chat to you about it as well."

"No need to make a big thing out of it. I was thinking that we have that night scene tonight, so we will both be eating in the trailers. You can just pop over and I'll cook something. Or I'll have Xiao Yu or Jingjing get us something."

"No, no." Gong Jun looked like he was searching for words and trying to be polite. "Really, Zhang Laoshi, I like cooking. Besides, you are my senior. I really should be the one cooking for you."

"Gong Laoshi~"

"Wenrui has stocked my fridge already. Please..." Those big puppy eyes focused in on his and that little tongue peeked out to wet his lips, "Let me cook."

He looked back into those big round eyes and instantly caved, "If you're sure...?"

"Yes. I'm sure."

"Okay, then it's settled. Once we have wrapped up, dinner at your place."

"Okay, Ah-Xu! Lao Wen! (1) We are ready for you on set." Director Ma's voice carried over from the adjacent rain cover, which meant that their break was up. The assistants that had been swarming around them for the duration of that entire conversation, whilst fixing their hair and clothes, stepped back to scrutinize their work.

Zhang Zhe Han handed his empty water bottle to Yu Xiang and they both turned to walk out from the under the cover and towards the Hanjie Hongbin building.