While his twin was being a bodyguard, Lu He was gaining a reputation as Mask Man himself. The reason both he and his twin had originally started wearing mouth masks all the time, was due to getting braces when they first started junior secondary school. Neither of them wanted to smile or show their teeth when talking. It was the easiest solution and then just became habit, once the braces came off. Lu He didn't mind being called Mask Man, because that was better than Mafia Boy. It also set them apart. He had hoped that his father would've been able to make Qihe stop fighting, but that wasn't the case. Even with him being a bodyguard or working security, his twin remained distant and continued using his fists to solve arguments. Lu He preferred talking his way out of situations. Qihe use to tease him as being a pacifist, but they rarely talked these days. To get his mind off his twin, Lu He began acting more often. Being known on social media as Mask Man, is how he landed his current role. They were filming scenes out of sequence, because of the need to do a flash back memory moment. To show the time jump from past to present, he had to die his hair blonde. So first came all the memory scenes. He was being driven by his manager from Seven Cranes Entertainment, to the filming location.
"When we arrive, go to wardrobe and then make-up. From there you can walk the scene and rehearse the script."
"Got it. Thanks for rescheduling this for after school, instead of before."
"If the actress wasn't so flexible, it wouldn't have changed."
"Good to know, I'll have to thank her."
Not long after that conversation completed, they arrived. The security at the temporary gate, checked their ID and then waved them onward. The car parked and Lu He's manager brought him to the wardrobe tent. They parted and he said hello to the staff. Even though he was earlier than necessary, they still rushed to get him into the clothes for the first scene. Then off to the makeup area he was sent. Normally he would listen to music while waiting for the girls to finish prepping his face.
"Can you remove the mask, we don't want to get it dirty while applying your foundation."
He did as asked and went back to scrolling through his social media. That's when he found out about Qihe working as a bodyguard for Zhao Xiu and protecting her from a stalker. It saddened him, that his twin hadn't said anything about it himself. He still didn't understand what he'd done to make his brother stop confiding in him.
"You've got really good skin, do you use moisturizers and full faced cleansing masks at home?"
Lu He smiled, "I use cleansing and a stimulation product, but I'm always interested in learning about new ones. I'm a little sensitive to some of them though and haven't found one that actually protects my skin, especially for outdoor scenes."
She blushed, after making eye contact with him. "I have a few samples from new products we just got. Try some on a little area and if you don't have a reaction after twelve hours, then it's safe to use. I'll also give you a gentle exfoliating product, that has active vitamin A to stimulate regeneration."
"I appreciate it. You have soft skin, it's nice." He caressed her hand as he accepted the product samples.
Unable to hide the effect it had on her, she stuttered, "t-t-th-thanks!" It practically came out as a squeak.
After finishing her part of his makeup, she retreated and left the rest to the head makeup artist. That meant his eyelids had to remain closed until told otherwise. Before that started, Lu He put the mask back on. It was a nicer material than the one he wore at school. The mascara, eyeshadow and eye liner didn't take long to get applied.
"Okay you're all done. Try not to touch your face or rub your eyes until after the scene is filmed."
"No problem, thanks for your hard work." He left the chair and went to go over his script with the actress.
"Lu He, there you are. Have you had a chance to memorize your lines?"
"Yes, let's run through the whole thing. By the way, thanks for changing this filming to after my school finished for the day."
"It actually worked better for me too, so don't worry about it."
The scene would show Mi Dai coming out of apartment 708. Lu He said his line, as she mimed opening the door. "Hello, I'm looking at the house."
She said, "come on in, my roommate is a star."
Lu He smiled and said, "a past star is not a star."
"That's true. Anyway he's moving and the room will be available next week."
The scene continued where he was shown around and then it cut to another one that was a memory.
The actress he was working with, screwed up her line. "Ugh, I don't know why I can't remember to say 'how silly' first."
"Let's do it again from the part where you walk past me trying to steam iron my shirt." He mimed using the steamer prop.
"How silly." Mi stops by him and mimes turning on the steamer.
They continued running lines. The final scene to be filmed while he had his natural dark hair, would take place on a street. She walked up to him and arrested his movement. "How did you loose your phone on the bus? You said there was no cash to pay and had to use your phone." Sighing with exasperation she grabbed his hand and lead him off.
The Director shouted, "cut! That's a wrap."
Lu He clapped with the other cast. "Looks like we've got it all. The next scenes are after I have blond hair."
"Do you know if we're filming those this evening?" Mi wondered, looking through the script.
"I'll check with my manager. One second while I text him." Lu He pulled out his cell phone and sent the inquiry. "He said that we will film the part where my character comes home and uses your shoulder to rest my head."
"Is it weird playing an actor, since you are one?" Mi asked and then flipped the pages to the scene they were discussing.
"A little. Some of the things this character says seem ridiculous. But occasionally I wonder if I should try what he does in real life and see if the results are the same as the writer imagined."
She laughed. "Oh it's the scene where I have to fall into a sitting position on the couch. Where can I practice that? You can't put your head on my shoulder or you'll mess us your makeup."
"Right. I think there's a couch in the tent where we wait for our turn for filming. Let's go see if I'm right." He lead her to the tent.
"You were correct. Okay do your part, just don't put your head on me," she reminded again.
Lu He pretended to open the door and walk into the apartment. He comes towards her, closing the distance between them. She retreats until the back of her legs hit the couch and she falls down. The first time the actress was surprised and grabbed for him. The second time, she remembered not to do that and she fell onto the couch, but not into the sitting position.
"Damn it. Sorry Lu He, let's do it again from the part you back me up."
Again they repeated the moment and she plopped onto the couch. He followed up with his line, "I'm tired from filming, let me recharge my batteries."
They managed to repeat it again perfectly two more times, before getting called to the set. Filming went smoothly for what they'd practiced and then they watched with the director.
It was Lu He who noticed a problem. "The part where Mask Man has the memory of passing the girl in the hall and brushing against her, the mic boom arm can be seen in the window reflection."
The director rewound the moment and Lu He pointed out the problem. The director swore and then yelled at the crew for being careless. "Someone come touch up their makeup! Let's move the equipment and redo the scene in the hall!"
Lu He and the actress had to carefully change into the wardrobe of that scene and refresh their makeup. Then they were rushed back onto the set. There were no lines in the part they re-filmed and it was completed quickly and to the director's satisfaction. Still by the end of the evening, both Lu He and his co-star were tired.
The manager informed Lu He about tomorrow's filming and script. "The next part will be with blond hair. It's where the doctor discusses the heart transplant with you."
"So all the hospital scenes are with blond hair?"
"Yes. I've booked you in with the preferred hairdresser. He'll make you blond and the following day you'll be filming. Read over the scene with the doctor explaining why you have memories that are not your own."
"Oh I see it, he tells Mask Man that she got into an accident on purpose to provide a transplant heart, donated by her. Then he gets blamed for her accident... Honestly where do they come up with some of these ideas?"
The manager laughed, "it may seem far fetched, but makes for a great drama when watched on TV."
"True, these kind of story lines are popular right now. At least it ends on a normal note, with me meeting a new girl at school, who tells Mask Man the girl's death wasn't his fault."
"We're almost back to your house, don't forget to wash off the makeup before going to bed."
"I know, thanks. Good night and see you tomorrow."
Two days later, Lu He's manager was at Mi Dai's entertainment company, so they were picking her up, before going to the filming location. He saw her, but she was talking to a handsome guy. The guy then took hold of her hand and walked closer to the reporters, that were patiently waiting.
"Did you really fall in love while filming the drama?" One reporter asked.
Neither of them answered immediately, but both looked down. Eventually the guy dropped Mi Dai's hand and answered, without making eye contact. "No we're not in love, she doesn't have it... at least not what I want anyway."
She was upset by his words, Lu He could tell, even though nothing showed on her face. Lu He suddenly grabbed her hand and turned back to look at the guy with disgust. Lu He lead the girl through the media crowd and away, while they continued to grill the actor. Once they were down another hall and out of view or hearing of the crowd, Lu He stopped and released her.
Mi began to cry. "Why did he do that? He said he'd make us official and tell everyone."
"Because he's a jerk. His image and career are more important than his relationship with you."
"So he used me... what don't I have? Why is love so one sided?"
"You do have it. Trust me, you'll be a bigger star than both of us guys, one day. Anyway you deserve someone better. A guy that has the self esteem to encourage you to become brighter and aim for the sky!"
She sniffed and used a tissue from her purse. "Thank you for saying that Lu He."
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her.