After Filming A Lesbian Movie With The Straight Girl I Like - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Final Push with CP Marketing

Countdown: Day 10.

This was the final day of filming in the rooftop cabin. The scene was of Jian Yu and Wen Xi curled up on the couch watching a movie together—but neither of them was really paying attention. They were preoccupied, having finally found the man they’d been hunting. They both knew what it meant: once the target was dealt with, they would lose a lot.

But they had never once doubted that they could accomplish it.

Actually, this scene could’ve been shot earlier, but Director Chang Ning was worried they wouldn’t be in the right emotional state. So she saved it for last, to concentrate their emotions and bring out a more powerful performance.

The movie playing on the TV was a short film that Director Chang had made herself. It was an artsy piece about a woman who didn’t understand why people live, so she returns to the countryside to search for a reason to keep going.

The visuals were full of lush green fields—very refreshing—but there was a red flickering horizontal line across the center of the screen, always lingering near the woman’s neck. It was an old TV after all.

The two of them changed into loose pajamas and sat on the couch, listening to Chang Ning explain the scene.

Xu Ling was already familiar with the script. She lowered her gaze, staring absentmindedly at the overlapping hem of the pale green pajamas they were both wearing, draped across the red fabric of the couch.

Sitting like this with Qin Cong’an in pajamas, watching TV—it felt like the kind of cozy, domestic life she had always dreamed of.

Suddenly, Qin Cong’an placed her hand on Xu Ling’s thigh, reaching across to grab the remote from the coffee table. She got it, and continued listening to Director Chang—but she didn’t move her hand from Xu Ling’s leg.

Xu Ling’s heart rate instantly shot up. When she looked up, she saw a behind-the-scenes camera aimed right at them.

Qin Cong’an was really going all in with the CP marketing. Xu Ling’s heartbeat slowly calmed. She had always been known for being cool and distant—this sort of thing wasn’t like her at all.

Was this movie that important to her? Was she trying to boost the box office that badly?

“I’m good,” Qin Cong’an said, then patted her leg. “You okay?”

“No,” Xu Ling shifted uncomfortably and stood up, asking Director Chang, “Actually, I do have a question. Should we be eating during this scene?”

“What do you think? If they’re too distracted to watch the movie, would they eat?” Chang Ning asked seriously.

“I think Jian Yu would,” Xu Ling said. “Or maybe she picked up snacks out of habit but didn’t eat much. Leaving a lot uneaten could reflect their anxiety too, right?”

Chang Ning thought she made a good point and called the props team to set up some food.

Xu Ling followed them to help out.

Before long, Qin Cong’an came over too, holding the behind-the-scenes camera and pointing it at Xu Ling.

Xu Ling glanced at her, startled. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” Just filming her. Filming the way she focused on her work, the way she seemed to be avoiding something.

Chang Ning noticed the subtle tension between them and said before the shoot, “Let’s try to wrap the rooftop scenes today. Don’t drag it out.”

They both agreed and sat down together on the couch.

Lights, mic, framing, camera movement—all in position. Filming started.

The green and red light from the TV flashed across their faces.

Jian Yu peeled a pistachio and offered it to Wen Xi, who turned her head away. No thanks.

Jian Yu popped it into her own mouth—but missed and it fell onto her clothes. She picked it up and ate it anyway.

“Cut!” Chang Ning called out.

Xu Ling was already peeling another pistachio. She held it up to Qin Cong’an’s lips.

Qin Cong’an looked between the pistachio and Xu Ling’s face a few times, then opened her mouth and ate it.

The behind-the-scenes camera caught everything.

Filming went smoothly. They were already very familiar with the dynamic between Jian Yu and Wen Xi, and even with added emotional weight, it wasn’t difficult.

While Chang Ning stayed inside to shoot some close-up shots, the two of them stepped outside to the rooftop to prepare for the next scene.

The sky was dark, the moon full. But not a single star could be seen.

“The moon looks so lonely,” Xu Ling said.

“I don’t think the moon feels emotions,” Qin Cong’an replied, still tasting pistachios in her mouth.

“…Are you trying to kill the mood or comfort me?”

“Depends how you take it.”

After glancing at the busy crew around them, Qin Cong’an lowered her voice and asked, “Why did you suddenly walk away earlier?”

“You scared me. Didn’t we agree not to act like that in public?” Xu Ling whispered back.

“It was a behind-the-scenes shot. Easy to explain.”

“Yeah, I realized that afterward. That’s why I fed you the pistachio.”

“Oh,” Qin Cong’an sounded a little disappointed. “It was tasty.”

Xu Ling spoke at normal volume again: “That roommate I told you about—she makes great pistachio spread. Super smooth. When she’s out of town, I eat it on toast.”

Qin Cong’an’s voice stayed soft: “Oh. You must have a lot of memories, living together for two years.”

“How do you know it was two years?” Xu Ling asked, surprised.

“…You told me,” Qin Cong’an looked up at the lonely moon. “Didn’t you say she was two years ahead of you in school?”

Xu Ling thought for a moment. Maybe she really had mentioned that. “Yeah, two years is a long time. Living together every day, of course there are a lot of memories.”

“Every day? Didn’t you just say she traveled a lot?”

“…Do you have to nitpick?” Xu Ling began counting on her fingers. “730 days. We lived together at least 600 of them. Good enough?”

“Oh.” Who wants to hear about that? Even if it was just a roommate… who wants to hear it?

The behind-the-scenes camera suddenly came closer.

Qin Cong’an raised her voice to normal again and said, “You’re really thoughtful. I think you’d make a great actress.”

“Really?” Xu Ling looked at her in surprise. “Thank you, senior!”

“Oh, now I’m a senior again?”

The cameraman filming behind-the-scenes had a gossipy look on his face, wondering—are they really just selling a CP, or is something going on? When has Xu Ling not called her senior?

Xu Ling looked like she’d just been choked by something. She didn’t say anything more, just pursed her lips, took the camera, and started filming the moon.

Chang Ning was satisfied with the moonlight tonight. It looked good on film. Shooting it for real always felt more authentic.

Under the moonlight, the two characters discussed how to confront the man—what weapons to prepare, what to do if he was stronger than expected, how to respond if he had allies.

“Cut! Okay! That’s a wrap for the rooftop and cabin scenes!” Chang Ning announced excitedly. “Big thanks to the set and prop teams!”

Liang He said, “Come on, let’s all take a group photo!”

They set up the camera. Everyone stood with their backs to the moon for a group shot.

Naturally, the two leads were together in the center of the front row. Everyone crouched a little so they wouldn’t block those behind.

As Xu Ling crouched down and tugged at Jian Yu’s pajama hem, she suddenly felt her hand being held.

She froze.

Was this… part of the promotion too?

They stayed close, hands clasped out of sight behind their knees. You couldn’t tell from the photo, but their shoulder angles would make anyone suspicious.

Was Qin Cong’an trying to be discreet, or not? Or did she just know exactly what CP fans loved—those little sugar crumbs you had to examine with a magnifying glass?

“Alright! Five, four…” the timer guy ran to join the group.

Xu Ling lifted her other hand and—despite being a professional model—flashed a cliché peace sign at the camera and smiled.

Qin Cong’an glanced at her, then mirrored her with a perfectly symmetrical peace sign.

The flash went off, capturing the moment. The moon in the background didn’t look quite so lonely anymore.

Back inside the cabin, they took more photos. Since the space was small and crowded, it took a while to get everyone in position.

Xu Ling glanced around—at the wall where they marked their heights, the old broken TV, the bedroom door they’d taken down and reinstalled…

She felt like crying. They were really saying goodbye to this place.

They’d eaten birthday cake here, slept here, brushed their teeth, cooked meals—so many memories.

After wrap, the cabin would be torn down. Everything would vanish, like it never happened.

Just like their unspeakable relationship.

Xu Ling looked at Qin Cong’an one last time—only to find she was already looking at her.

“So reluctant to leave?” Qin Cong’an asked.

“Yeah.” Xu Ling looked away. “Aren’t you?”

“I am. But I’m used to it.”

Of course. She’d filmed so many projects, been in so many sets like this, had so many short-lived lovers. She knew how to let go.

Xu Ling gave a small smile and grabbed Qin Cong’an’s hand, right in the bright light of the room.

Then she grabbed Liang He’s hand on her other side.

Liang He was momentarily stunned, then looked at her other hand and understood. He grabbed the props director’s hand next.

The photo was taken.

The photographer said, “I’ll export it and post it in the group chat. Don’t forget to save it!”

Back in her hotel room, Xu Ling showered and saw the photos sent by Sister Huai. She checked the rooftop group shot first.

She wondered what it looked like to someone who didn’t know the context—because to her, it was super obvious. They were totally holding hands! And now that she thought about it, people in the back row could probably see it, right?

Xu Ling nervously examined every face in the back row, trying to judge if anyone had noticed.

She sighed. Honestly, if they just held hands openly, no one would think much of it. It was the sneaky stuff that raised eyebrows.

Then she opened the indoor cabin photo—and realized, she was holding hands on both sides, but Qin Cong’an was only holding hers.

Just like at the concert. Except back then, Qin Cong’an had no one on her other side. Now someone was there—and she still didn’t reach out.

It created a weird contrast: Xu Ling surrounded by warmth, while Qin Cong’an’s presence felt cold and distant.

This looked even more suspicious than the rooftop photo.

What was she doing? Was it because there hadn’t been enough juicy moments in the behind-the-scenes clips, so she was pushing CP sales at the end?

Her phone buzzed with two vibrations. An orange emoji popped up with a message:

“Sister Quan has left.”

Xu Ling stepped out of her room but didn’t need to use her key card—Qin Cong’an was already waiting outside.

She glanced around the hallway, her footsteps suddenly becoming a bit sneaky.

Qin Cong’an, however, remained calm. One arm folded across her chest, she held out her other hand.

“I think it’s time you gave me your room key, don’t you?”