Comrade: Almost a Cat-astrophic Love Story

Whenever a magazine cover featured two people, especially if it was two men, they desired a special distinction between the two people.

For example, if one of them looked arrogant and reserved; the other would be warm and mild.

Xiao Nian objected when Pei Zhen sneered at him earlier on. “… Did you really think Fu Sichen would take on the weaker role?”

Pei Zhen kept quiet.

Oh. They were talking about the cover shoot.

He was just taking a flight of fantasy, focusing his thoughts on other things.

“Of course he’d take the weaker role.” Daddy Pei was full of himself and had obviously given it thought. “I’m too aggressive.”

Having experienced Fu Sichen’s cruelty and being forced into a new universe, Pei Zhen had learned a thing or two about gay love. At least, he knew that there was a more manly, or aggressive party.

He was so dashing, so there was no way he’d be the submissive party.

Xiao Nian mercilessly retorted, “Daddy, you’re indeed aggressive. But, compared to Fu Sichen…”

“Compared to you?” The subject matter had returned from the toilet break. He looked at Xiao Nian coldly. “Mr. Xiao, are you conspiring against your own artiste?”

“N-no, not at all,” stammered Mr. Xiao.

He wanted to scream to vent his frustration. Only, under Fu Sichen’s glare, Xiao Nian only managed to break out in cold sweat and not speak unnecessarily. He then quickly escaped to the toilet.

Having sent away the lamp post, Fu Sichen felt a lot better. “Pei Zhen…”

Pei Zhen turned and walked away, leaving Fu Sichen with a view of the back of his head.

“Tsk.” Fu Sichen wasn’t angry, but rather looked at Pei Zhen’s back view with tenderness. “Empty words. Obviously, you like me.”

Whether The Back View heard it was anybody’s guess, but it suddenly tripped—The Back View did not fall, only, the tips of its ears turned bright red.

The shoot started immediately once the makeup for Best Actor and Best Actor-to-be was completed.

Everything progressed quite smoothly.

Only, the positioning and presentation kept having problems.

“Pei Zhen…” As long-time collaborators, Pei Zhen and the photographer knew each other well. The photographer glanced through the lens and appeared perplexed. “You will need to appear less imposing.”

For unknown reasons, Pei Zhen had an aura of strong aggression, much like a gangster on a mission to extort money. His strong presence easily equaled that of Fu Sichen’s.

“What’s wrong with it.” Pei Zhen snorted and gave a sideways glance at Fu Sichen, his tone unrelenting. “I’m no weaker than anyone else.”

That placed the photographer in a difficult position. “But…” The equally matched auras skewed the chemistry and balance of the picture and defied photography principles.

“Small matter.” Fu Sichen suddenly smiled, and volunteered to take a step back. “I’ll keep myself in check.”

Wouldn’t that mean letting Pei Zhen take the limelight?

The photographer thought for a bit and didn’t object. Wang Youquan, who was standing on the side, couldn’t bear to watch it, especially when Xiao Nian had gone as far as to apologize to him.

“Sorry, sorry, our Pei Pei is indeed keen to take dominance.”

Wang Youquan waved his hand. “No, No, I should be the one apologizing on behalf of Best Actor Fu. He’s alright in most ways, but he has a bit of hidden agenda.”

He was putting up an outward show of being big-hearted to feel good about himself. But the trap had been laid and was waiting for Pei Zhen to fall into it.

“What?” Xiao Nian didn’t quite understand.

Wang Youquan felt a little guilty. “Cough, cough, nothing. Don’t worry, on our end Pei Zhen has been forgiven.”

Xiao Nian couldn’t figure out what it was exactly, but he felt Wang Youquan had just said something of significant consequence.

Not making any headway, he hesitated as he turned his eyes towards the photography studio.

Sharing the same frame, Fu Sichen didn’t go shoulder-to-shoulder with Pei Zhen. Instead, he took a step back and placed his hand on Pei Zhen’s waist. It looked like… an embrace.

“Very slim waist.”