After Transmigrated as the Movie Star's Omega - Chapter 5

“Yes, yes, yes!”

The photographer, who had been hunting for the perfect angle, suddenly yelled out in pure excitement. “That’s it! That’s the feeling! Excellent, Teacher Shen, hold it right there!”

He kept shouting, but his hands never stopped moving. He aimed at the pair and fired off a rapid-fire succession of shots; the sound of the shutter clicked continuously for nearly half a minute before finally tapering off.

“Fantastic!” The photographer finished his burst and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The frames he had just captured left him thoroughly satisfied. The aura these two projected when sharing a frame would make any photographer tremble with thrill. They were too compatible!

To be able to photograph them was truly a high-happiness job. This trip was worth it—more than worth it!

The photographer wasn’t the only one feeling this way; the rest of the staff felt it too.

“Ahhh, Teacher Shen’s expression just now was so dominant! I felt my knees go weak just from one look!”

“He’s not looking at you; he only has eyes for Ran-ran!”

“I know, I’m just saying! —Uwaa, Ran-ran’s expression was great too. That sort of shy, bashful, charming look… he’s literally a living example of ‘The Overbearing Movie Star’s Little Darling Wife’!”

“I usually find that trope cringey, but I can totally swallow it with these two! Heavens, how can a couple be this well-matched? Sobbing… I’m crying over this beautiful love!”

“Aside from ‘Baibi Wu-Xia is real,’ I have no words. Too sweet!”

Some of these comments drifted into the ears of the subjects themselves, sending a chill of disgust through both. Overbearing Movie Star’s Little Darling Wife? Beautiful love? What kind of wild nonsense is this?!

Xia Ran turned to the photographer and asked with a professional smile, “Are we done with this pose?”

“Yep, all done!” the photographer replied energetically, clearly still riding the high of his excitement.

Having received confirmation, Shen Baibi released Xia Ran. Both immediately took a casual step sideways, putting some distance between them.

However, as soon as they separated, the photographer’s voice rang out again: “Alright, let’s not waste time. Let’s keep up the momentum and move to the next set!”

Xia Ran’s lip twitched. That’s too fast. Can’t we get a break?

While the previous pose didn’t take much physical energy, the mental drain was severe. They at least needed a moment to recalibrate.

But that was just an internal complaint; outwardly, both smiled cooperatively and agreed.

The photographer continued explaining the next setup: “For the next set, the composition is like this: Ran-ran, you sit on that stool. Teacher Shen, you stand behind him. Then, Ran-ran, you grab Teacher Shen’s tie and pull him toward you. Teacher Shen, you lean down. Your distance should be very close, practically face-to-face. Like this!”

The photographer held his hands together, leaving only a tiny sliver of a gap to demonstrate.

Looking at that nearly invisible gap, the duo’s expressions became subtle. That close? We’re practically going to kiss.

“The key to this set is to express sexual tension!” the photographer said excitedly. “Explode with tension! Like you’re ready to roll into bed at any second. Don’t be polite—release those pheromones!”

“Ah—!”

Small squeals of delight erupted from the staff.

“Rolling into bed? I want to see that!”

“Me too! An AO battle must be so intense and stylish. Please do it for real!”

“Yeah! Why don’t we set up an actual bed? I remember we have one in the props department!”

The eyes of the prop staff gleamed with a terrifying light. Sensing the approaching danger, both Xia Ran and Shen Baibi couldn’t help but shiver.

This world is too scary. I want to go home!

After a great deal of tossing and turning—having been treated like dolls and forced into various ambiguous poses with Shen Baibi—Xia Ran was on the verge of exploding.

Having to do a duo cover with Shen Baibi had already made him unhappy. Think about it: Xia Ran was the “Top of the Tops.” When had he ever had to share a cover with someone else? It was such a downgrade! Yet here he was, taking photos with his rival. And more importantly—

He could tolerate the photos, but why did he have to have Shen Baibi kiss his fingers, touch his cheek, use him as a lap pillow, and give him a princess carry?!

This was too much! If they had the guts, they should swap the roles!

Just as he was about to blow a fuse, Meng Lu stepped in and suggested the two return to the lounge to rest for a bit before continuing. Naturally, the staff wouldn’t ignore her suggestion, and the two finally had some breathing room.

After being led to a cozy, comfortable lounge, Meng Lu thanked the staff and sent them away, then closed the door.

The moment the door shut, the two who had been pretending to be “lovey-dovey” immediately jumped apart as if they had touched something filthy. They stood on opposite sides of the room, faces full of “get lost, don’t touch me” disdain.

“Stay away from me! I get annoyed just looking at you!” Xia Ran ground his teeth. After what they had just gone through, everything about Shen Baibi annoyed him a thousand times over. He felt like pouncing on him and biting him a few times just to vent.

“Who are you? Do I know you?” Shen Baibi rolled his eyes elegantly, sat on the sofa, and leaned back comfortably.

“Hmph!” Xia Ran crossed his arms and sat on the far end of the sofa.

The two claimed their respective sides, a clear line drawn between them—well-water not bothering river-water.

Meng Lu rubbed her temples at the sight. These two were simply too incompatible.

“I don’t care how you act in private, but in front of people, you better watch yourselves. You absolutely cannot let the cat out of the bag, understood?!” Meng Lu warned them sternly.

“Yes,” the two replied half-heartedly.

Meng Lu rubbed her forehead again. “By the way, where’s Jiang Shen? Where did he run off to?”

Both shook their heads.

Sighing, Meng Lu instructed them: “I’ll go look for him. You stay here quietly. No messing around, you hear me?”

“Yes.”

Meng Lu left, still looking worried.

Once she was gone, the lounge became so quiet you could hear a pin drop—neither of them wanted to acknowledge the other. After a while, Shen Baibi sniffed the air. Why did he feel like that milky scent was getting stronger? Strong enough that he didn’t even have to try to smell it.

“What are you sniffing? Are you a dog?” Xia Ran turned his head, saw Shen Baibi sniffing around, and immediately mocked him.

Shen Baibi looked at him, his expression uncertain. “Did you sneak a drink of milk?”

The scent was coming from Xia Ran.

“Who snuck a drink of milk?!” Xia Ran jumped up. The nerve to question if he drank milk, and “sneaking” it at that? Who would do something so classless?!

“But you…” Shen Baibi hesitated. “You have a smell of milk on you.”

It was very fragrant, very sweet. Just like the one he had smelled in his dreams the night before.

Xia Ran froze, instinctively sniffing his own wrist. “I don’t smell anything…” Then he looked at Shen Baibi with dissatisfaction. “What milk smell? I could just as easily say you smell like green tea!”

Shen Baibi’s face darkened. “Don’t make that kind of joke.” (Note: ‘Green tea’ is slang for a manipulative/fake person).

“Who’s joking? You really do have a green tea smell on you!” As if afraid Shen Baibi wouldn’t believe him, Xia Ran marched over, lowered his head, and sniffed him.

A faint, fresh fragrance hit his nose—the refreshing scent of tea leaves with a hint of bitterness. It was exactly what he had smelled on Shen Baibi during the shoot earlier.

“See? I told you there was!” Xia Ran looked up at Shen Baibi, feeling vindicated, but he froze when he saw the other man’s expression. “What’s wrong with you?”

Shen Baibi’s face was full of suppressed struggle, but he was reaching his limit. He forced out the words: “The milk scent on you… it’s so thick…”

As the distance closed, the milky aroma became overwhelmingly intense. The cloyingly sweet scent destroyed his rationality almost instantly.

Xia Ran was stunned, but then the faint tea scent he smelled also grew richer, invading his five senses and numbing his limbs.

Both of their breaths became heavy.

“Ah—”

For some reason, Xia Ran’s waist suddenly went soft. Unable to steady himself, he fell forward. Instinctively, he grabbed Shen Baibi’s shoulders to brace himself, but his momentum didn’t stop, and he ended up sitting directly on Shen Baibi’s lap.

Something pressed against him.

“Shen…”

Xia Ran tried to call out to him, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Shen Baibi cupped his face. In the next second, burning lips and tongue descended upon him.