I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Jiang Yunyou stared wide-eyed at Director Liu: "A ghost movie?! Director Liu, the classic film you're talking about is a ghost movie?!"

"What, scared?"

Director Liu raised an eyebrow. "This is a highly rated classic on Douban, with very high artistic value."

Jiang Yunyou: "..."

"What does artistic value have to do with scaring people!"

Shu Zi sat on the beach chair, subconsciously shrinking back, putting the remaining half of the kebab back on the plate, and taking a sip of her drink.

[Hahaha, I'm going to make Shuzi's forced calm expression into a meme!]

Director Liu, you really know how to "build rapport"!

The staff had already dimmed the lights, plunging the beach into darkness, with only the projection screen flickering on and off.

The rustling sound of the sea breeze through the palm leaves, combined with the somber and melancholic background music at the beginning of the film, immediately creates an atmosphere of grandeur.

Shu Zi put down her drink cup, clasped her hands on her knees, and sat upright, but the chair had somehow moved back a little.

The film opens with a quiet night scene, with moonlight illuminating an empty corridor. The camera slowly zooms in, and the only background sounds are footsteps and the wind.

Shu Zi's expression remained unchanged, but she moved the chair back a little further.

Then, the scene shifts, and a deathly pale face appears unexpectedly in the center of the screen, accompanied by a sharp sound effect.

"Ah—!" Su Yanhuan screamed and grabbed Jiang Yunyou next to her.

Jiang Yunyou's face contorted in pain: "It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!"

Shu Zi's expression remained unchanged, but she moved the chair back a little further.

[Shu Zi: Should I yell or not? I won't! I'll endure it!]

[Hahahaha, Huanhuan, why don't you turn around and take a look? Youbao's face is going to hurt terribly (covers face and laughs)]

Fang Yutong was also startled and gasped slightly, her body shrinking a little, her face turning noticeably pale.

Yu Shize immediately noticed this detail, turned his head, and said in a calm and gentle tone:

"Are you alright? Don't be afraid, it's all fake. If you're really scared, you can grab my arm."

Fang Yutong glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then smiled politely: "It's okay, I'm fine."

Yu Shize nodded, his gaze lingering on her face for two seconds before turning back to look at the screen.

His eyes seemed to say, "I know you're embarrassed to admit you're scared, but I'm ready to protect you at any time."

No, Yu Shize, you... never mind, let me pick at my toes first.

Wait a minute, I want to pick at it too...

Fang Yutong's facial expressions are really well-controlled; she looks amazing in these bungee jumping photos.

Yu Shize: I'm the most manly man in the room (feeling good about himself)

In the film, a chilling melody slowly begins to play, and the camera gradually zooms in on a half-closed door.

Shu Zi unconsciously softened her breathing.

She didn't realize where she had retreated to; it was only when the next scare scene came that her arm touched Gu Yan's arm.

But her attention was completely focused on the movie, and she didn't realize it at all.

She did not move away.

Gu Yan didn't move either.

The film continues, and the plot enters its climax.

The protagonist is being chased by something unknown in a dark old house, with footsteps, panting, and the creaking of doors all mixed together.

The atmosphere was extremely tense.

Shu Zi's breathing became shallower and shallower, and her body had unknowingly tilted to a greater angle, with her shoulder almost touching Gu Yan's upper arm.

Suddenly, the camera abruptly changes!

The protagonist suddenly turned around, and a terrifying, rotten face filled the entire screen!

"Ah!!!" Su Yanhuan screamed again.

Shu Zi still didn't scream, but she trembled with fear.

Almost instinctively, she shrank to the side and buried herself in Gu Yan's arms, her face pressed against his chest, her fingers clutching the fabric at his waist, her eyes tightly closed, not daring to look at anything.

Her breathing was still a little rapid, and her eyelashes trembled slightly.

A few seconds later, she couldn't help but peek half her face out from his arms and turn back to stare at the screen, but her body remained pressed against him and she didn't move away.

Gu Yan looked down at the fluffy head in his arms and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

As Shu Zi was looking around, she felt a gaze fall on her, so she turned her head.

In the dim light, her gaze met Gu Yan's eyes.

The man leaned back lazily in his chair, his posture relaxed and unperturbed, his smiling gaze fixed on her, seemingly having been on her for quite some time.

Their eyes met, and Shu Zi's eyelashes trembled slightly.

She then realized that the two of them were too close.

She stepped back slightly.

Gu Yan lowered his head, moved closer, and spoke in a low voice with a hint of a smile:

"Fear?"

Shu Zi's cheeks flushed slightly. Her gaze slid from his eyes to his lips, then quickly shifted back to the screen, her voice muffled:

"I'm not afraid."

As soon as he finished speaking, his palm was suddenly covered by a warm, steady touch.

Gu Yan's palm gently enveloped hers, his fingertips slipping between her fingers and slowly tightening their grip.

Their fingers are intertwined.

His movements were natural and tender, his tone carrying a hint of indulgent chuckle:

"Yes, I'm scared."

[Shu Zi: I'm not afraid. Then, she moved five centimeters closer to Gu Yan, then another five centimeters, and then another five centimeters.]

[Stubbornness is Shuzi's factory setting]

"Yes, I'm scared." —Mr. Gu, do you even believe that yourself?

[Ahhhhh, ten fingers interlocked!]

Fang Yutong was also startled by the camera and closed her eyes, shrinking back slightly.

Yu Shize immediately turned to the side and said in a more determined tone:

"Don't worry, these are all visual traps designed by the director; they're not real at all."

"Look, that special effect is obviously composited in post-production; the lighting and shadow transitions are unnatural."

Fang Yutong opened her eyes and glanced at him: "Shi Ze, you've researched this before?"

Yu Shize smiled slightly, with a hint of humble pride:

"I know a little bit about it. After all, I'm an actor, so I have some understanding of these production techniques."

"So don't be afraid, I'm here, I'll help you distinguish what's real and what's fake."

Fang Yutong, who can also be considered a part-time actress: "..."

She nodded, didn't say anything more, and turned back to continue watching the movie, but her body unconsciously moved a few centimeters away from Yu Shize.

[Yu Shize has started analyzing the special effects, hahaha]

Fang Yutong's move to the side cracked me up.

[That's it! I'm sure "the other" Yu Shize is back (bitter smile)]

Shu Zi was stunned for a moment, looked down at their intertwined hands, and then looked up at him.

His thumb gently stroked the back of her hand, a very light and slow motion, as if to soothe her.

Shu Zi neither pulled back nor dodged; she turned her head back and looked at the screen again.

The light and shadow on the curtain flickered, casting their reflections on the two people.

After a few seconds, her fingertips twitched slightly, and then she slowly grasped his hand.

The movement was very light, like a silent response.

Gu Yan paused almost imperceptibly.

He looked down at their clasped hands, then looked up at her profile.

The light and shadow from the screen danced across her face, but she remained staring at the screen as if nothing had happened.

The smile on his lips deepened. He didn't say anything, but tightened his grip on her hand, holding it more firmly in his palm, before looking back at the screen.

Director Liu saw this scene from a short distance away, a satisfied smile appeared on his face, and he quietly gave the cameraman a hand gesture.

The cameraman understood and slowly zoomed in with the camera.