The next day at noon, Zhu Lili appeared punctually at the door of Zhou Shu’s apartment.
Once inside, she headed straight for the refrigerator with practiced ease, rummaging around until she found a milk brick. Only after she finished eating it did the two of them head out.
On the way to the photography studio, Zhou Shu made no effort to hide his look of disdain. Zhu Lili let out a cold snort, finally unable to resist sniping back at him.
"Look at how petty you are. And you call yourself a Movie King? It was just one milk brick."
"That was Yan-yan’s favorite," Zhou Shu shot her a glance. "And it was the last one."
"So noisy. I’ll buy you two boxes after work, alright?"
Zhou Shu let out a soft chuckle, a look of triumph crossing his face.
When they arrived at the studio, Ella and the rest of the staff had already set up the set. Zhou Shu went straight to the dressing room to begin his hair and makeup, while Zhu Lili went to check the various looks the designers had prepared for the day.
When she saw the style the designers had requested, she secretly broke into a cold sweat for Zhou Shu.
While Zhou Shu’s acting skills were undeniably top-tier, "delicate, feminine beauty" was something her straight-Alpha Movie King might find difficult to interpret.
But Zhou Duo was different. He was an Omega by nature; when he "disguised" himself as Zhou Shu with a cold gaze, he could effortlessly convey that specific feeling.
Just like the character "Chu Xun," who was known by everyone across the country—that legendary performance had actually been brought to life by Zhou Duo.
When Zhou Shu emerged from the dressing room after finishing his styling, everyone present felt their eyes light up.
Zhou Shu’s versatility was incredible. All the gender-neutral outfits and styles looked perfectly natural on him, even though he was a top-tier Alpha.
Everyone had assumed the shoot would go smoothly, but Zhu Lili’s private worries proved prophetic.
Zhou Shu couldn't find the specific emotion the product was meant to express. He tried several times but simply couldn't get into character.
Consequently, a shoot that should have been finished in half a day saw half its time wasted on just the first look.
Zhou Shu felt deeply apologetic. Fortunately, Ella and the staff were understanding. They suggested he take a break in the lounge; if it really didn't work out, they could reschedule for another day.
Sitting on the sofa in the lounge, Zhou Shu felt a bit frustrated. He put on his headphones and played his recorded version of *Rouge Drunk*, trying to find the right mood.
*Bells and drums chime, zithers and harps harmonize, love blooms amidst the flowers.*
*Streams murmur softly, lights flicker low, seeking a fated encounter.*
*Gong and Shang rise, Zhi and Yu pause, plucking the konghou to weave a song.*
*In whispered dreams, I wish to walk with you through the past and the future...*
When he reached the first chorus, Zhou Shu felt a pang in his chest.
To be precise, every time he heard or sang this part, his heart would tighten. This was his favorite section of the lyrics in the entire song. The emotions it encapsulated were complex, expressing both the bitterness and helplessness of the character while also depicting the clarity of a heart turning from sorrow to joy.
Especially the last line.
*Until I heard your sleep-talk, and you said you were also willing to spend the future and the past with me...*
It was the process of a person moving from the bitterness of an unknown, one-sided vigil to a mutual, shared journey.
*So, he feels the same as I do. So, it wasn't just my unrequited wish...*
"Brother Zhou Shu."
A voice suddenly echoing from within his body interrupted Zhou Shu’s thoughts. His blood seemed to pause for a beat, and his mind instantly snapped into sharp clarity.
"Duo Duo?" He was excited, his voice trembling slightly. "Duo Duo... is that you?"
"It’s me, hehe. I’ve been sleeping too deeply lately. Maybe I was too tired these past two weeks. Don't worry."
"Mhm, that’s good then. That’s good." Zhou Shu finally breathed a sigh of relief, constantly reassuring himself.
"Brother Zhou Shu, do you need me? I heard you singing. It’s the Chu Xun I played!"
The corners of Zhou Shu’s mouth curled up, his expression softening. "Yes, it’s the Chu Xun you played. Duo Duo is the best; Duo Duo is the real Movie King."
Zhou Duo laughed and offered to help Zhou Shu finish the shoot. Zhou Shu was naturally willing, and in the next second, he handed over control of the body to Zhou Duo.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and Zhu Lili’s voice came from outside.
"Tree Bro, are you okay?"
"I’m fine. Come in."
Zhu Lili froze for a moment, then pushed the door open. When she saw the "Zhou Shu" inside the room wink at her, she nearly jumped with excitement.
She immediately shut the door and rushed over to hug Zhou Duo in the next second.
"Oh, my Duo Duo! You’re finally back. Sister missed you to death."
She finished by squeezing Zhou Duo’s cheeks a couple of times, causing him to cough twice.
Zhu Lili quickly patted his back. Once he recovered, he looked at Zhu Lili and said awkwardly, "Sister Julia, Brother Zhou Shu told you to stay further away."
The two of them burst into laughter, enjoying themselves in the lounge for quite a while.
When "Zhou Shu" stepped back onto the set, the crowd couldn't help but freeze for a few seconds.
Though the aura was still powerful, it felt as though some unique quality had been added to it.
As expected, the "Zhou Shu" who resumed the shoot entered the zone immediately. His gaze remained cold, yet it was infused with a touch of charm unique to Omegas.
Thus, they finished the rest of the shoot in one go, actually completing it within the estimated time.
In the end, the photographer couldn't help but ask Zhou Shu how he had found the feeling.
The man remained silent for a moment before saying calmly, "I just listened to *Rouge Drunk* a few times."
Hearing this, Zhu Lili pressed down the corners of her mouth.
*Fine, Movie King Zhou, you’ve successfully pulled off another cool act.*
As the afternoon shoot concluded and Zhou Shu and Zhu Lili were preparing to leave, Ella called out to them.
"Movie King, Julia, please wait a moment." Ella didn't beat around the bush and stated her purpose directly. "I know this is a bit sudden, but our designer—the founder of Elves Jewelry—finished his itinerary early. He took an early flight this morning and has already arrived in Haicheng. He very much hopes to meet you. If you have time, would it be convenient to have dinner together tonight?"
Zhu Lili thought for a moment and said, "This might be a bit too sudden."
"It is indeed sudden, but the boss still hoped I could ask about Movie King Zhou’s schedule, because he has to leave for another city tomorrow."
Just as Zhu Lili was about to politely decline, Zhou Duo received Zhou Shu’s permission and accepted.
He thought that since Jin Yan was at the hospital for pet training classes today anyway, he could use this chance to avoid him for a bit and ask the designer if he could custom-make a pair of rings for them.
Driven by this personal motive, the dinner wasn't too abrupt to attend.
Seeing that Zhou Shu had agreed, Ella happily called her boss to report. A short while later, she sent Zhou Shu the restaurant's location.
It was a restaurant inside a hotel building that was only open to guests, offering high levels of privacy.
Zhu Lili didn't feel comfortable letting Zhou Shu go to the appointment alone, so she stood up Gou Feifei at the last minute to accompany him.
Zhou Shu felt bad for Zhou Duo, so the two of them switched control of the body back while in the car. However, Zhou Duo didn't go to sleep this time; he stayed awake to talk to Zhou Shu.
Consequently, the scene inside the car became the Movie King sitting with his eyes closed, talking to himself and laughing from time to time.
Anyone unaware of the truth would likely have been frightened out of their wits. Even Zhu Lili, who understood the situation perfectly, felt goosebumps rising on her skin.
Following the location Ella sent, the two arrived at the floor and were led to the reserved private room by a waiter.
As soon as the door opened, a refined and elegant Alpha stepped forward to greet them.
"Hello, Movie King Zhou. I am the founder of Elves; you can just call me Xiang Shan. And this must be Miss Julia. You are even more elegant in person than on screen."
"Thank you."
After several introductions, they all took their seats. By this time, Zhu Lili had finished sizing the man up.
This "Xiang Shan" had a unique temperament, not like someone living in the mundane world, but more like an artist who had lived in seclusion for years. Even his name was quite unusual. Perhaps having lived abroad since childhood, he had simply chosen a Chinese name for himself.
It had to be said that Xiang Shan was exactly the type of man Zhu Lili would notice at a glance, but now she truly didn't have a single stray thought, nor was she at all curious about his marital status.
Xiang Shan, however, was very open and candid. It was only then that they learned "Elves" was a brand he had founded to commemorate his deceased lover, and his name was also a way to channel his longing.
*Xiang Shan*—Thinking of Fir. His lover’s pheromone scent had been fir.
They had fallen in love on Christmas. He said it was a gift sent to him by Santa Claus.
Zhou Shu was moved by the story, and inside his body, Zhou Duo was already weeping uncontrollably.
They talked a lot. Xiang Shan took the initiative to admit that when he saw Zhou Shu playing "Chu Xun" and the way he looked at the "Emperor" in the drama, it reminded him of the days he spent living with his lover.
Thus, he had been determined to contact Zhou Shu, believing he was the perfect spokesperson for Elves' Christmas jewelry series.
However, whether it was "Chu Xun" or the spokesperson for Elves, the person wasn't the Zhou Shu sitting here, but the Zhou Duo inside his body.
During the meal, Zhou Shu proactively explained his reason for coming: he wanted to ask Xiang Shan to design a pair of couple's rings for him and Jin Yan.
Xiang Shan was delighted to hear this and agreed immediately. He even said he would consider it a wedding gift for them, promised to keep the news of the Movie King's marriage a secret, and expressed a desire to remain friends in the future.
Zhou Shu didn't act coy. He thanked Xiang Shan, and the two exchanged contact information.
Perhaps because it was rare to meet a kindred spirit, the meal passed in the blink of an eye. Xiang Shan had to leave for another city the next day, so they said their goodbyes outside the private room, and Xiang Shan went directly to his room upstairs to rest.
While waiting for Zhu Lili to touch up her makeup, Zhou Shu sat on a sofa near the elevator bank for a moment.
He pulled out his phone, saw the "Class is over" message from Jin Yan, and dialed the number directly.
"Brother, finished with dinner?"
"Mhm, just finished. Where are you now?"
"Guess." Jin Yan chuckled. Zhou Shu could hear the sound of traffic on the road over the phone.
"Guess if I’ll guess?" After saying that, neither of them could keep a straight face, and they both laughed.
After hanging up, a smile crinkled the corners of Zhou Shu’s eyes. He knew Jin Yan must already be waiting nearby for him.
Today was a day worth celebrating for Zhou Shu.
He had successfully completed the shoot, learned that Zhou Duo was doing fine, made a friend in Xiang Shan, and was about to have a pair of wedding rings.
Just as he was thinking about sharing all the good news with Jin Yan in a moment, the elevator doors opened. A disheveled Omega rushed out and collided right into Zhou Shu’s arms.
Zhou Shu was startled and instinctively shielded the person behind him.
Then, the Omega tightly grabbed Zhou Shu’s suit jacket and said piteously, "Please, save me."
...
