Top Dupe CH 080 Who'll Put Down Whom, It’s Still Uncertain Part 2
It remained quiet and still, maintaining its rhythmic rise and fall. A primal desire invaded Luo Yu’s brain along with his gaze, as if it had seized all his capacity for thought.
“If you really enjoy fixing my collar, there are dozens of shirts in the dressing room. I can put each one on for you,” Gu Xiaowei said, looking down at Luo Yu’s fingers.
“I’m just curious—what do those assistants pull at every time they fix collars? Isn’t it just supposed to sit nicely on the neck?” Luo Yu looked up and met Gu Xiaowei’s gaze, which had shifted from cold indifference to a hint of amusement.
He was teasing him.
“Alright, I’ve experienced what it feels like to fix a collar. You may take your leave now.” Luo Yu playfully patted the back of his hand on Gu Xiaowei’s chest.
He had intended to take advantage of this guy but ended up feeling guilty instead.
The next scene featured Gu Xiaowei opposite Nie Yangchen. He passed the thermos back to Luo Yu, who shook it, twisted the lid off, and found it empty.
“You didn’t leave a single drop for me?”
“Who asked you to lie?” Gu Xiaowei shot him a glance.
“What lie did I tell?”
“Did Nie Yangchen really say he would leave me eating dust behind him?”
Gu Xiaowei’s tone was cold, but his eyes were slightly raised, carrying a hint of amusement.
Luo Yu suddenly remembered that Gu Xiaowei could read lips. He had previously guessed from his chat with Xie Chang that Jiang Yunxie had laid out a trap for him.
“He didn’t say it, but I’m sure that’s what he’s thinking.” Luo Yu replied without changing his expression.
“Oh, then let’s see who ends up being put down first.”
Gu Xiaowei turned and walked away.
Luo Yu mentally lit a candle for Nie Yangchen, sighing, "Who told you to provoke us first?"
The next scene featured Captain Zhao leaving the villa shortly after, and Mr. Zhuang, a major collector, sent his secretary Qin Lin to visit Lu Pingfeng again to discuss collections.
The staff adjusted the lighting in the villa, and after confirming the scene, another “click” was heard as all the actors plunged back into character.
Qin Lin walked into the living room of the villa with his professional smile. The curtains had been drawn, leaving only the cold light from the overhead chandelier in the room, as if a box that had once been opened was suddenly closed again.
However, if it were Pandora's box, closing it might not be a bad thing.
At this moment, Lu Pingfeng sat coldly on the sofa, his arms spread across the backrest, slightly leaning back as if lost in thought while looking at the chandelier. The elegant stretch of his arms and the long lines of his legs made anyone watching this scene marvel—Lu Pingfeng’s very existence was art.
“If you came to talk about that redback spider painting, you can leave now,” Lu Pingfeng said.
His voice was chilling; in this spacious villa, it sounded like crushed ice clinking in a glass.
Qin Lin smiled nonchalantly, glancing down at the pastry tower on the glass coffee table. The pastries were neatly arranged, clearly untouched.
It seemed that the guest Lu Pingfeng had been waiting for had not arrived.
“I’m not here to discuss that redback spider painting. Mr. Zhuang heard that you recently copied the ‘Goddess of Light’ specimen, and he wants to collect your work.”
“It’s not a work; it’s just a copy of the specimen,” Lu Pingfeng replied.
“But Mr. Zhuang is very interested in it. It’s different from the specimen because your technique and the intent to gift it to someone give this painting vitality. It is the only piece among your many works that depicts a biological corpse theme yet does not signify death. Moreover… you still cannot send this copy to the intended recipient, just like this neglected pastry tower.”
Qin Lin gently persuaded Lu Pingfeng.
Finally straightening his back, Lu Pingfeng looked at him.
Unlike Qin Lin's politeness, Lu Pingfeng’s gaze held an air of oppression, as if the bright space was gradually sinking into darkness, with him at the center of it all.
“Since Mr. Zhuang knows it exists for someone else, yet still wants it—to pay a high price for something he can never possess in spirit, that doesn’t align with Mr. Zhuang’s consumption philosophy. Unless… Qin Lin, you didn’t tell him this specimen copy is meant for someone else.”
Lu Pingfeng leaned on his knee with one elbow, and his slightly mocking smile carried an irresistible aggressiveness, as if he aimed to tear apart all the veils of hypocrisy to reveal the truth.
Qin Lin's smile subtly faded, "Mr. Lu, it's just that rarity is valuable. This is your first specimen copy, which is extraordinary for all collectors."
Lu Pingfeng slowly shook his head, "It's you who enjoys watching beautiful things stripped of their spiritual freedom, their shells pierced by cold nails, unable to struggle. This is the perfection frozen by death. And my copy proves that this perfection can be replicated."
Qin Lin's fingertips slightly curled.
"Mr. Lu, I'm just a secretary to a collector; I can never influence my boss's decisions."
Lu Pingfeng remained seated, his unchanged posture giving Qin Lin a sense of oppressive pressure, as if he were being forced to retreat from this space.
This man was like an elegant mirror, unmoved by anything, reflecting the shadows deep within him, ever-present like death.
All of Qin Lin's explanations and justifications were futile before Lu Pingfeng.
"If my friend continues to refuse to accept it, it will have only one ending—destruction. Only he can possess it; Mr. Zhuang cannot, and neither can you."
After speaking, Lu Pingfeng slowly leaned forward, took the teacup from the table, and walked into the painting studio.
Qin Lin's suppressed nerves finally awakened, and he let out a deep breath.
At that moment, Uncle He came to the coffee table and took away the pastry tower.
"Cut—"
The scene ended, and Nie Yangchen gently shook his shoulder, finally returning to himself from the character of Qin Lin.
Just now, Gu Xiaowei's presence was too oppressive; both his gaze and lines made Nie Yangchen feel as if his own value had been completely overturned, expelled from this world, losing his sense of self.
Nie Yangchen took a deep breath and looked in Gu Xiaowei's direction. How did this guy manage to emit such a presence at such a young age?
What had he experienced? How was he able to so thoroughly restore the highly complex character of Lu Pingfeng?
Nie Yangchen looked towards Gu Xiaowei, who calmly walked over to the director, reviewing the performance just now.
Sheng Yunlan stroked his chin while watching the final shot of Lu Pingfeng, saying, "The presence is too strong, leaving little space for the other actors to perform."
This meant that Gu Xiaowei had completely overwhelmed Nie Yangchen, making his Qin Lin seem too weak, removing the sense of confrontation between the two characters.
"Then let's start over from the last line," Gu Xiaowei said without any defense.
Sheng Yunlan narrowed his eyes and shook his head, "No, this is good. For Lu Pingfeng, Qin Lin isn't his opponent. Since he isn't an opponent, let's elevate the stakes and let the audience compare Lu Pingfeng's attitude towards Wen Yuchi and Qin Lin."
Hearing this, Nie Yangchen sighed helplessly, "So I've become the contrast for Wen Yuchi?"
"A contrast can learn well from comparison," Gu Xiaowei said flatly.
Nie Yangchen touched the corner of his mouth, which had been hit, feeling that Gu Xiaowei's suppression of him just now was intentional.
Ah ha... could it be that rivals become particularly hostile when they meet?
Nie Yangchen looked over at Luo Yu and silently asked him, "What did you say to him?"
Luo Yu shrugged nonchalantly, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Nie Yangchen thought to himself, damn... could it be that Gu Xiaowei, with all his illustrious reputation, would actually fall for Luo Yu’s trickery and beauty trap?
No, no, if anyone should be blamed, it should be himself; why did he provoke Luo Yu that night?
After every scene, Gu Xiaowei had only two directions to go: one was to check the filming effects with the director, and the other was to return to Luo Yu's side.
At this moment, Luo Yu was chatting and laughing with Yan Jun, holding a paper cup filled with coffee.
Gu Xiaowei walked over and heard that these two were actually talking about him.
"The first time I saw Teacher Gu, he wasn't this famous yet, but he was wearing a black suit all over, looking stern, not at all like someone attending a celebration, but more like..." Yan Jun caught sight of Gu Xiaowei and pursed his lips, falling silent.
Luo Yu, however, was completely unaware that Gu Xiaowei was standing behind him, and finished the next sentence, "Like he was going to a funeral, right? Sometimes I think he would look that way even at his wedding; would his father-in-law dare to give him the bride's hand?"
"Or you could just give your hand to me."
Luo Yu turned around and caught sight of him, instantly breaking into a smile, changing the subject faster than flipping a book page. "Teacher Gu, you’ve worked hard, right? Here, this is the coffee I just snagged for you. It’s supposed to be coconut latte flavored; hurry and soothe your throat. The next scene is with you and me!"
Yan Jun paused for a moment; Luo Yu's expression really resembled that of an assistant trying to flatter a big star, his smile and demeanor strikingly vivid.
Gu Xiaowei did not take the paper cup but said, "Aren't you going to drink it?"
"This was snatched for you."
"Is it too sweet for you, so you don't like it? And since Yan Jun's assistant brought it, you felt awkward refusing it."
Luo Yu wondered how Gu Xiaowei could have noticed his movements over here when he was with the director just a moment ago.
"It's okay; I can drink it all in one go." Luo Yu raised his hand, making a gesture of "don't say anymore."
But Gu Xiaowei took the paper cup, "I'll drink it. I asked Xiao Qin to brew you some Pu’er tea; it’ll be sent over shortly."
Luo Yu smiled, "Thanks!"
The last scene of the day was when Luo Yu, playing the forensic doctor Wen Yuchi, came to thank Lu Pingfeng for the butterfly specimen he had gifted.
At first, the staff intended to follow the director's orders and leave the villa, but once Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu started their scene, everyone coincidentally returned.
The staff maintaining order on set nervously approached Director Sheng, whispering, "Director, everyone really wants to watch this scene... I've tried to persuade them for a while, but no one wants to leave. How about you...?"
How about you step in to say something?
Sheng Yunlan's expression did not change, "Just make sure they don’t enter the frame. They probably couldn’t help it after watching 'Counterattack' yesterday and seeing Gu Xiaowei and Luo Yu act together."
"Indeed. The impact of 'Counterattack' is too strong."
Sheng Yunlan took the loudspeaker and said to everyone, "Those who want to watch should be aware; if they get caught on camera, we’ll have to redo it! No one wants to waste time repeating scenes tonight, right?"
"What’s going on tonight?" The cinematographer, who was familiar with Sheng Yunlan, joked.
"Doesn't everyone want to finish before eight o'clock to go back and watch TV?"
As soon as Sheng Yunlan finished speaking, the onlooking actors and staff retreated a good distance away. The cinematographer made an "OK" gesture, and Sheng Yunlan put down the loudspeaker in satisfaction.
Luo Yu took a deep breath, intending to adjust his collar, but suddenly realized he was wearing an ordinary round-neck casual shirt, and the movement of raising his hands to his collar felt a bit awkward.
However, Gu Xiaowei came over leisurely, stopping in front of him, saying, "If you want, I can help you adjust your collar."