Huayu: Starting with Hextech

In early July, Hengdian enters the hottest and most humid season of the year.

After filming wrapped up for "Scarlet Heart," the crew members left one after another, and the film studio, which had been bustling for three months, suddenly became quiet.

Lin Xiao stayed for two more days—partly to assist with some additional voice-over recordings in post-production, and partly because he needed time to process his emotions.

Even with the air conditioning on its lowest setting in the hotel room, the oppressive heat still lingered.

Lin Xiao lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

After the wrap party that night, he and Liu Shishi had no further contact.

She flew back to Beijing with her team early the next morning without even saying goodbye.

He knew that was her way of saying goodbye.

Clean and efficient, leaving no room for compromise.

Like her last kiss, it was as light as a feather, yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.

My phone vibrated.

Lin Xiao picked it up and saw a message from Tang Yan: "The events in Hong Kong are over, I'm going back to Shanghai tomorrow. Are you in Hengdian or have you already gone back?"

He replied, "Still in Hengdian, going back tomorrow."

"Then I'll pick you up from the airport."

"it is good."

The simple conversation stirred up a complex mix of emotions in Lin Xiao's heart.

Tang Yan was still so considerate and trusting of him, completely unaware of what had happened in the past three months.

Or perhaps she sensed it, but chose not to ask.

This trust made him feel guilty.

Just then, my phone vibrated again.

This time it was Yang Mi: "Junior brother~ I heard that 'Scarlet Heart' has wrapped up filming? When are you coming to Beijing? I'll treat you to dinner to celebrate you completing another masterpiece~"

Her tone was light and cheerful, with her uniquely alluring trailing tone.

But Lin Xiao wasn't in the mood to deal with her right now.

He replied, "I'll be busy in a while."

Yang Mi replied almost instantly: "Oh, so cold? Could it be... that you've found a new love in Hengdian and forgotten your old flame?"

These words carried both a probe and a warning.

Lin Xiao frowned, about to reply, when his phone vibrated again.

The content made Lin Xiao sit up straight instantly:

"Honey, I think I've really fallen for him."

Sender: Liu Shishi.

Recipient: Yang Mi.

The time displayed was 3 PM yesterday—just as Liu Shishi flew back to Beijing.

Clearly, this was a text message sent to the wrong address.

Liu Shishi probably meant to send it to Yang Mi, but due to shaky hands or a messy contact list, she sent it to him instead.

Lin Xiao stared at the text message, his finger hovering over the screen.

Those ten short words, each one like a needle piercing his heart.

"I think I've really fallen for him."

It goes without saying who this "he" is.

This text message was sent to Yang Mi—one of Liu Shishi's best friends, and also... the woman with whom he had a secret relationship.

Lin Xiao suddenly felt short of breath.

He remembered the night of the wrap party, when he pretended to be drunk and said, "You three."

Now, Liu Shishi is confessing her feelings to Yang Mi.

How will Yang Mi respond?

Will she tell Liu Shishi that she likes him too?

Or will they pretend not to know and continue to maintain a superficial friendship?

Or... she might show this text message to Tang Yan?

Lin Xiao dared not think about it.

He stared at the text message for a long time, but in the end, he neither replied nor deleted it.

Let this mistakenly sent text message rest quietly in your inbox.

Just like those things that shouldn't have happened but did happen between him and Liu Shishi, let them remain in the past.

At the same time, in the capital city.

Liu Shishi sat on her balcony, holding her phone, staring at the screen, her face pale.

She sent that text message to Yang Mi while waiting at the airport yesterday.

She had just said goodbye to Lin Xiao, and her mind was in turmoil; she desperately needed someone to confide in.

Yang Mi is one of her best friends and the only friend in the industry who knows her feelings for Lin Xiao.

But after she sent the message, Yang Mi didn't reply for a whole day.

This is not normal.

Given Yang Mi's personality, upon receiving such bombshell gossip, she should have immediately called to get to the bottom of it.

Unless... she doesn't want to go back.

Or perhaps, she can't reply.

A sense of foreboding welled up in Liu Shishi's heart.

She opened her contacts and found Lin Xiao's number.

She stared at the name for a long time, but ultimately didn't dial it.

Instead, he opened a chat window with Yang Mi.

"Mimi, are you busy?"

The message was sent out, but it disappeared without a trace.

I waited for ten minutes, but still received no reply.

Liu Shishi bit her lip and sent another message: "I sent you a text message yesterday, did you see it?"

This time, Yang Mi returned.

But the content of her reply sent chills down her spine:

"What text message? I didn't receive it. My phone seems to be having some problems lately; I keep missing messages."

Didn't receive it?

Liu Shishi's heart clenched suddenly.

Where did that text message she sent yesterday go?

She frantically opened the text message history and found the message that had been sent yesterday.

Recipient's number: 139xxxxxxxx.

It's not Yang Mi's number.

Yang Mi's last four digits are 8866, while this number's last four digits are... 3311.

3311...

Liu Shishi's mind went blank.

This number... seems to belong to Lin Xiao.

With trembling hands, she opened the call log and found Lin Xiao's number—last four digits being 3311.

That's right.

She forwarded the text message she had sent to Yang Mi to Lin Xiao.

"I think I've really fallen for him."

Lin Xiao saw this sentence.

Liu Shishi slumped into the chair, her phone slipping from her hand and falling to the floor with a dull thud.

It’s over.

It's all over.

Her most secret thoughts and feelings, which she dared not let him know, were laid bare before him.

And what will he think?

Will you find her ridiculous? Will you find her clingy? Or will you... feel a little touched?

Liu Shishi didn't know.

All she knew was that she felt like a fool.

A fool who is delusional, one-sided, and stupid enough to mistakenly send his feelings to the person he's talking to.

She picked up the phone and stared at the number for a long time.

In the end, I didn't call to explain.

Explain what?

Say "Sorry, I sent it to the wrong person"?

Or is it that "that text message was real, and I do like you"?

Either way, it seems ridiculous.

She put down her phone and buried her face in her arms.

The breeze on the balcony was gentle, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness in my heart.

She recalled every detail of the past three months—

The ginger tea he offered on a snowy night, the hand he held tightly during the power outage, the eagerness he showed when he chased after the filming crew to the dressing room after the kissing scene, the drunken, pained look on his face at the wrap party…

Every scene is as clear as if it happened yesterday.

But every scene also reminded her of a cruel truth:

Lin Xiao's heart doesn't only belong to her.

There's also Tang Yan, and Yang Mi.

There might even be others involved.

Liu Shishi was just one of the passersby in his life.

A passerby with whom I had only met through filming, someone I shouldn't have fallen for.

Tears flowed silently down her face.

This time, she didn't wipe it.

Just let yourself have a good cry.

After you've finished crying, it's time to wake up.

It's time to return to reality, to the reality without Lin Xiao, without Fourth Prince, without Ruoxi.

Be Liu Shishi again.

That calm, self-possessed, and always sensible Liu Shishi.

Instead of this fool who is troubled by love, anxious about gains and losses, and can even send the wrong text message.

Outside the window, the lights of Beijing are just coming on.

The nights in this city are always both lively and lonely.

Just like her right now.

My body is in the midst of prosperity, but my heart is in desolation.

In Lin Xiao's apartment in Shanghai.

Tang Yan had just landed when she dragged her suitcase straight here.

When she opened the door, Lin Xiao was standing by the window, lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Tang Yan hugged him from behind, pressing her face against his back. "You're so engrossed."

Lin Xiao snapped out of his daze, turned around and hugged her: "It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."

"Filming must have been tiring." Tang Yan looked up at him, her eyes gentle. "I made you some soup, it's in a thermos, drink it while it's hot."

She's always like that.

Be gentle, considerate, trust him unconditionally, and treat him well.

The guilt in Lin Xiao's heart grew wildly like vines.

"Tangtang," he suddenly spoke, "if... I mean, if I did something to hurt you, would you forgive me?"

Tang Yan's body stiffened for a moment.

She released him, took a step back, and looked at him with wariness and hurt in her eyes.

Why do you ask that?

"I was just... asking casually."

"Lin Xiao," Tang Yan took a deep breath, "I'm not stupid. In these past three months, have you and Shishi... done something?"

Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat.

"No……"

"Look at me," Tang Yan interrupted him. "Look into my eyes and tell me, is it really true that you and Shishi have nothing between you?"

Lin Xiao looked into her clear eyes, the words "there's nothing there" stuck in his throat, and he couldn't bring himself to say them.

His silence was the answer.

Tang Yan's face gradually paled.

But she didn't cry or make a scene; she simply lowered her head and whispered:

"I see."

Then he turned and walked towards the door.

"Tangtang!" Lin Xiao caught up with her, grabbed her hand, and said, "I'm sorry..."

"Don't say sorry." Tang Yan's back was to him, her shoulders trembling. "Lin Xiao, I knew this day would come. You're so outstanding, so dazzling, so many people like you... how could I possibly have you all to myself?"

She turned around, her eyes red-rimmed, but she forced a smile:

"I just never expected... it would be my best friend."

These words were like a knife, piercing deeply into Lin Xiao's heart.

"Me and Shishi..."

"Stop talking." Tang Yan shook her head. "I'm tired. I want to go home and rest."

She pulled his hand away, opened the door, and left.

This time, Lin Xiao did not give chase.

He stood at the doorway, looking at the empty corridor, feeling utterly cold inside.

Three women.

A text message sent by mistake, a silent confession, a heartbroken departure.

It seems he messed everything up.

Outside the window, the night view of Shanghai is as dazzling as stars.

But Lin Xiao felt as if he were standing in endless darkness.

I can't find my way.

There was no way out.