Huayu: Starting with Hextech

November 7, Beginning of Winter

Lin Xiao woke up early in the morning, finished washing up, and was getting ready to go to the film set when the long-absent system notification sounded crisply in his mind:

[Ding! Detected the 24 solar terms: Beginning of Winter.]

[Hextech Seasonal Special Rewards Triggered]

Please choose one of the following three options.

The pale blue interface unfolds, with three options shimmering faintly.

Option 1: Absorb the Halo. Effect: After selection, you can target an actor in the same production team, deeply perceive, understand, and absorb the essence of their acting techniques, transforming it into your own acting experience.

[Option Two: Focus Aura. Effect: After selecting this option, you will have a high level of concentration and excellent performance during your performances on set. You will be less affected by external distractions, and your emotional investment and physical control will reach their current peak.]

[Option 3: Allure Aura. Effect: Gain one opportunity to actively trigger. You can choose a member of the opposite sex from the film crew who already has some affection for you, creating a "natural" opportunity to be alone with them, greatly increasing their affection and willingness to get closer.]

Lin Xiao's gaze swept quickly over the three options.

Option two is very practical, ensuring a stable and solid filming environment for the upcoming important scenes.

Option three... is interesting.

A captivating aura creates "opportunities".

Several figures flashed through his mind in an instant: Zhang Meng, who was cheerful and clearly had a crush on him? Or Chen Zihan, who was charming and liked to tease him? Or even... Bai Bing, who had a cool and aloof demeanor and whom he had been interacting with more lately?

The thought of the White Soldiers stirred something within Lin Xiao.

Undeniably, this actress, one of the "Four Beauties of Beijing," possesses a unique attraction to him, whether it's her appearance, temperament, or the focused, professional yet somewhat mysterious and aloof aura she exudes.

If I choose option three and target the enemy, perhaps I can break down that subtle barrier and take the relationship a step further.

This thought made him hesitate for about... a second.

But he quickly came to his senses and shook his head.

Stormtroopers are certainly appealing, but now is not the time.

Tang Yan, that little jealous girl, is still watching from the side, and what is his own core goal at this stage?

The priority is to quickly improve our strength, establish a firm foothold, and solidify our foundation with each new work!

When it comes to matters of the heart, you can take it slow, and you can even observe from multiple angles, but you can't let it interfere with your main path.

The short-term emotional boost from option three is far less valuable than the long-term skill enhancement from option one.

His gaze finally settled firmly on option one, [Absorb Aura].

Designate one actor from the same production team and absorb the essence of their performance...

Subconsciously, a name popped into his mind.

Zhang Shi.

Zhang Shi, who plays Zhao Gao!

This is a true veteran actor with superb acting skills.

In the original drama of "The Myth", he played Gao Yao, who went from a timid cook to a powerful official in charge of the imperial carriage, a role with a wide range of emotions.

Especially the classic scene where, after his character turns to the dark side, he roars at Yi Xiaochuan in the palace, "I will climb to the top step by step! I want to be Zhao Gao!" This is a textbook example of his acting prowess.

Even in 2025, that performance was still being repeatedly interpreted and worshipped on short video platforms.

If one can absorb even a portion of the essence of Zhang Shi's acting, it will be an immeasurable asset for his future roles!

This is far more valuable than a fleeting opportunity for flirtation or a short-term boost to one's status!

"I choose one." Lin Xiao's mind was firm. "Target: Zhang Shi."

[Selection confirmed! Absorption halo is now in effect]

……

That morning, it happened to be Zhang Shi's performance.

At first glance, Teacher Zhang Shi appears to be a somewhat timid and shifty-eyed low-level figure.

But when he entered the frame, his entire aura changed instantly.

That fear, concealment, guilt, and a hint of barely perceptible resentment and obsession were interwoven in his eyes, tone of voice, and subtle body movements.

His speech was sometimes rapid, sometimes drawn out; his evasive gaze wasn't simply out of fear, but rather mixed with calculation; his fingers unconsciously twirled the hem of his clothes, perfectly portraying the state of a small person facing oppression, wanting to hide secrets while harboring resentment.

While Lin Xiao was watching him act, his [Aura Absorption] quietly activated.

He felt as if he had gained an invisible sensory antenna, which not only allowed him to see the "form" of Zhang Shi's performance, but also allowed him to vaguely touch the "spirit" that supported the performance.

How he controlled the tension of his words through his breathing, how he conveyed a defensive mindset with a slight hunch of his shoulders, and how he planted the seeds of madness for the future "Zhao Gao" deep in his evasive eyes.

This is an extremely mysterious experience.

Lin Xiao greedily absorbed and analyzed the performance insights from the veteran actors.

After filming the scene, Lin Xiao felt that he had gained a deeper understanding of "filling in the characters with details", and even had new inspiration for his next few scenes.

During his time on set, Lin Xiao took every opportunity to observe Zhang Shi's performance.

Whenever Zhang Shi was filming, he would quietly observe from the sidelines.

With the [Absorption Aura] still in effect, Zhang Shi's seemingly casual yet incredibly precise little designs, the subtle transitions between emotional shifts, and the drastically different body language and vocal qualities at different stages were all keenly captured, absorbed, and digested by Lin Xiao like a gentle stream.

He even began to consciously or unconsciously try to use some of the techniques he had just learned in his subsequent filming.

For example, when expressing Yi Dachuan's inner anxiety, he no longer relied solely on frowning, but tried to control the subtle trembling of his fingers and the rhythm of his breathing; when showing the character's determination, he made the focus of his eyes more concentrated, giving the lines a more steady and solid force.

These subtle changes may not be noticeable to laymen, but professional actors like director Jiang Jiajun and actor Hu Ge can feel them clearly.

"Lin Xiao, you seem to have become more 'deep' in your recent scenes," Brother Hu said to him during a break. "Your handling of details is richer, not bad, you've improved very quickly."

After filming a restrained solo scene with Lin Xiao, director Jiang Jiajun said to the assistant director, "See? This kid has talent and is willing to delve into things. In such a short time, the character of Yi Dachuan has already been established and is becoming more and more interesting. He's a promising talent."

Hearing these affirmations from the core of the production team, Lin Xiao knew that the [Absorption Halo] brought not only immediate experience but also an improvement in performance concepts and methods.

Lin Xiao felt that the essence of acting he had absorbed from Teacher Zhang Shi had been planted in his consciousness like seeds, slowly taking root and sprouting, and merging with his own understanding, which would surely become valuable nourishment for his future acting career.

As for option three, which had brought about that slight hesitation and reverie regarding the Stormtroopers...

Lin Xiao looked at Bai Bing, who was acting alone not far away. Her cool profile stood out against the busy background of the film set.

He looked away, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Some scenery doesn't need to be picked in time.

Only by becoming a better observer can one see a wider world.

Right now, it's more practical to focus on the scene at hand and... how to handle the possible new round of "interrogation" when Tang Yan visits the set next time.