Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Should Have Been TogetherChapter 78: Supposed to Be Together

    The second male lead the director brought in to save the production wasn’t anyone else—it was Zhang Yue, the first guest on "Together With Us."

    At the time, he had even borrowed Lin Qin’s character notes to study, watching Lin Qin’s movies while learning, which proved to be quite beneficial for him.

    Originally, he should have mailed the notebook back to Lin Qin’s studio, but he had been holed up in the crew of a big television drama and couldn’t find the time.

    Thinking he could film "Together With Us" alongside Lin Qin this time, Zhang Yue brought the notebook with him, hoping to return it to Lin Qin in person and express his gratitude.

    Zhang Yue arrived at the filming location a week later, and without much rest, he dived straight into shooting—there wasn’t much time, so he had to keep up with the schedule.

    The first scene was opposite Lin Qin. Zhang Yue gave himself plenty of mental preparation. It wasn’t his first time acting opposite seasoned veterans, but for some reason, working with Lin Qin made him particularly nervous.

    Perhaps because he had seen the meticulous notes Lin Qin had written, he realized how deeply Lin Qin revered and loved acting. This awareness pushed him to demand the same standard from himself, ensuring he wouldn’t undermine Lin Qin’s performance.

    "Action!"

    With the call from the crew member, Zhang Yue’s first scene began.

    He noticed that Lin Qin’s demeanor changed instantly. If not for that unmistakable face, Zhang Yue almost thought the person standing before him wasn’t Lin Qin.

    Recognizing he was acting, Zhang Yue quickly regained focus, immersing himself into the performance.

    Acting with Lin Qin felt surreal to Zhang Yue, as though an inexplicable force gently tugged at him, awakening an instinct to perform at his best. Gradually, his own portrayal became smoother, as though he had truly transformed into the character.

    After the scene wrapped, Zhang Yue lingered for a moment, trying to shake off the profound feeling. He joined the director behind the monitor to review his performance.

    Zhang Yue knew full well his own abilities. But watching the playback, he was stunned, his jaw dropping in surprise.

    This... This wasn’t his usual level; he had completely surpassed himself!

    The director caught Zhang Yue’s thoughts and chuckled, commenting, "Good actors don’t just immerse themselves—they bring others into the performance as well. You were pulled in by Lin Qin, which unlocked your potential."

    Reflecting on his state during the performance, Zhang Yue nodded earnestly, fully agreeing.

    The director added, "You’ve got a month with two Best Actor awardees—study hard, and you’ll learn a lot." Then, after a pause, he sighed, "They’re born for this craft. Their comprehension and execution are things others can never fully replicate."

    Zhang Yue concurred, saying, "It’s not just talent but incredible dedication." Not to mention Lin Qin’s thick notebook of character notes—one only needs to search online to uncover the lengths Meng Chao goes for his performances, page after page, with no repetition.

    As the saying goes, success is 99% talent and 1% perspiration, but even without 99% talent, one cannot achieve the 1% effort.

    The director glanced at Zhang Yue, surprised to see admiration and respect on his face with no trace of envy or jealousy, silently nodding in approval.

    Young people today rarely value effort, even less so when others are talented and diligent. Zhang Yue’s perspective was refreshing.

    The director patted Zhang Yue’s shoulder, saying, "Those Best Actor winners and other seasoned seniors in the crew are generous with their guidance. Take the opportunity to learn from them, as much as you can absorb will depend on you."

    Of course, the director implied that if Zhang Yue needed help, he could also approach him.

    An internationally renowned director’s expertise in acting could rival any Best Actor or seasoned veteran.

    Zhang Yue quickly caught on to the implied offer, expressing his gratitude enthusiastically.

    "Next scene coming up—go prepare," the director said, waving him off for the next shoot.

    After over three hours of continuous shooting, the director finally called for a break.

    Taking his notebook from his assistant, Zhang Yue inquired about Lin Qin’s whereabouts and learned he was in his dressing room. He decided to drop by to return the notebook.

    At the door of the dressing room, Zhang Yue knocked on the door, waiting for a response. After a moment, a voice invited him in.

    Pushing the door open, Zhang Yue saw only two people in the spacious dressing room: Lin Qin and Meng Chao.

    The atmosphere inside felt strange, particularly Lin Qin—his face was flushed, his lips appeared slightly swollen, and his reddened eyes carried a hint of allure. Zhang Yue unconsciously swallowed hard, but the next moment he felt a sharp, cold gaze on him. He looked toward Meng Chao’s slightly squinting eyes, instantly jolted out of his inappropriate thoughts.

    Clearing his throat a few times to ease his awkwardness, Zhang Yue held up the notebook and handed it to Lin Qin. "Senior Lin, I’ve finished studying your character notes. Apologies for not returning them sooner—they were incredibly helpful. Thank you, Senior Lin."

    Lin Qin accepted it with both hands, smiling warmly. "I’m glad they helped."

    Zhang Yue originally intended to talk to Lin Qin and Meng Chao about acting, but the growing impatience in the gaze behind him made him realize he was interrupting. He promptly excused himself.

    As he reached for the door, preparing to leave, he glanced back to see Meng Chao leaning in to kiss Lin Qin. sea??h thё n??el Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zhang Yue’s eyes widened in shock, suddenly realizing that Lin Qin’s earlier state—red-faced and swollen-lipped—must have been post-kiss.

    Shutting the door hastily, Zhang Yue left in a daze. So Senior Lin and Senior Meng were an item—that explained the harmony and chemistry during "Together With Us," and the palpable tension between them.

    After all, Zhang Yue was a devoted viewer of "Together With Us," never missing a single episode.

    Perhaps the undeniable CP (couple) vibes from the show made the sight of Meng Chao and Lin Qin kissing feel natural, as if they were always meant to be together.

    This reaction mirrored the sentiment fans would experience later when Lin Qin and Meng Chao went public with their relationship.

    "Ha, I knew it! There was always something between them!"

    The fans collectively switched from surprise to promoting wedding bells, flooding Lin Qin and Meng Chao’s social media with playful demands for matrimony.

    But all of this is a story for another time—at the moment, Meng Chao and Lin Qin’s relationship was still under wraps, leaving fans to re-watch "Together With Us" for hints of their bond.

    Overthinking fans scraped together moments of sweetness hidden onscreen, their patience tested as they waited for official confirmation.

    Oh, poor Meng Chao fans, Lin Qin fans, CP fans—like eating stir-fried greens with no seasoning!