Huayu: Starting with Hextech

In March, Hengdian was still chilly, but a hint of warmth was already in the air.

The crew of "Beauty's Rival in Palace" officially started filming, with banners waving and armor shining brightly, presenting a scene reminiscent of the Han Dynasty palace.

Lin Xiao joined the crew a few days early to undergo makeup and martial arts training.

Zhou Yafu plays a young general, and there are many equestrian and martial arts scenes in the play. His existing martial arts foundation, combined with the improved physical coordination and strength brought about by the "physical enhancement", made it twice as easy for him to learn. His movements were clean and neat, showing the demeanor of a great general. Even the martial arts director praised him repeatedly.

On the day filming began, Lin Xiao changed into Zhou Yafu's general's uniform, his hair tied up, revealing his full forehead and clear brow bone. The makeup enhanced the ruggedness of his features. With a sword at his waist, he stood there with a posture as upright as a pine tree, exuding a calmness and sharpness between his brows. He looked exactly like a young general who had stepped out of the Han Dynasty.

After nearly a year of continuous effect, the "appearance buff" has already undergone a qualitative change from a quantitative one.

Today, Lin Xiao has impeccable handsome features and excellent skin. What's most remarkable is the charm that radiates from within, a blend of masculine hormones and a unique aura.

Wearing period costumes perfectly blends this charm with the character's temperament, making her dazzling and impossible to ignore.

When he walked into the scene, the previously noisy crowd fell silent for a moment, and everyone's eyes involuntarily focused on him, especially the female staff and actresses, whose eyes flashed with amazement.

"Wow... is that Lin Xiao, who plays Zhou Yafu? The promotional photos are already amazing, but he's even more stunning in person!"

"That poise, that figure, absolutely stunning! Is she really a newcomer?"

"I heard he graduated less than a year ago, and with these qualifications... he's got a real talent!"

Discussions rose and fell.

Just then, a pretty figure dressed in a pale yellow theatrical costume walked over; it was Yang Mi.

She ran up to Lin Xiao, looked up at him, and stared at him with undisguised, unabashed, bright eyes.

She stared for several seconds before she seemed to snap out of her daze, her rosy lips slightly parted, and she let out an exaggerated gasp:

"Whoa! Lin Xiao!"

She circled around him for a short while.

"What... what kind of magic pill did you secretly take behind my back? It's only been a short time since I last saw you, and you're already... a bit too handsome!"

She leaned closer, lowered her voice, and teased:

"I'm warning you, tone it down! There are so many actresses and young ladies in the crew. During the opening ceremony later, everyone's attention will be on your face, and the director and Teacher Yu Zheng will definitely hold you accountable!"

Yang Mi was very close, and her youthful aura was overwhelming.

Lin Xiao was already used to her bold style, so he just smiled and went along with her words:

"Sister Honey, you're joking. With my looks, how could I dare to be presumptuous in front of a beauty like you?"

"Smooth-talking!"

Yang Mi rolled her eyes at him, but her gaze clearly showed her satisfaction. She raised her hand and, seemingly casually, straightened Lin Xiao's collar, which wasn't actually crooked, her fingertips lightly tracing the skin of his neck.

"However, since you're so good at talking, I'll reluctantly grant you permission to 'run rampant' on set for a little while."

The gesture of adjusting his collar was intimate and natural, carrying a sense of asserting sovereignty.

The expressions of the people who witnessed this scene became somewhat subtle.

Lin Xiao's body stiffened for a moment, then he returned to normal, letting her do as she pleased, only looking at her calmly.

Yang Mi seemed quite satisfied with his reaction, withdrew her hand, and smiled even more sweetly:

"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing you. The opening ceremony is about to begin, let's go over there. General Zhou Yafu?"

"Please, Miss Mo Xueyuan."

Lin Xiao cooperated by making a gesture of invitation.

The two walked side by side to the center of the ceremony; one was tall and handsome, the other charming and lively, making for a pleasing sight that attracted even more attention.

……

The filming of "Beauty's Rival in Palace" quickly got on track.

Lin Xiao has a significant role, with many scenes opposite Lin Xinru, who plays Dou Yifang, and Chen Jianfeng, who plays Liu Heng. His steady and solid acting skills and accurate grasp of the character quickly won the recognition of the two senior actors and the respect of the entire crew.

However, compared to his professional performance on screen, Yang Mi's "offensive" towards him off-screen was a much-talked-about "scene" among the crew.

Yang Mi seems to have perfectly extended the storyline of "Mo Xueyuan's crush on Zhou Yafu" into real life.

Whenever the two of them were together, her gaze would often seem to follow Lin Xiao subtly.

During rehearsals, her expressive eyes always conveyed admiration, concern, or unspoken emotions, her gaze captivating and infectious. Even the director praised her for "getting into character quickly and being emotionally rich."

But as soon as the director yelled "cut," she immediately jumped out of Mo Xueyuan's state and turned back into the lively and cunning Yang Mi, and then... she got even closer to Lin Xiao.

During breaks, she would always "coincidentally" appear next to Lin Xiao's chair, either handing him a bottle of water or sharing some snacks, and then naturally sit down and start chatting away.

From scripts to gossip, from Hengdian delicacies to future plans, she always had something to say. Her laughter was crisp and her eyes were bright, as if she and Lin Xiao were old friends who had known each other for many years and were very familiar with each other.

Physical contact is frequent and natural.

When discussing the script, she would naturally pat Lin Xiao's arm or shoulder to emphasize her point of view.

When she saw that Lin Xiao's hair was covered in dandruff, she would simply reach out and brush it away for him.

When Lin Xiao was wearing his armor costume, she would come over and study the way he wore the armor and its patterns with a serious expression, her fingers occasionally "accidentally" touching his chest or arm.

After filming a highly emotional scene, she seemed "exhausted" and naturally leaned on Lin Xiao's shoulder to rest.

Her actions were bold and straightforward.

She seemed completely unconcerned about what others thought or what scandals might arise.

Or perhaps she is enjoying the thrill and attention that comes with this ambiguity.

The crew members went from being surprised at first, to getting used to it, and then occasionally whispering among themselves.

"Is Yang Mi interested in Lin Xiao?"

"That's so obvious, it feels like she's pursuing him?"

"Lin Xiao's composure is impressive. He can still remain calm in the face of such a beautiful woman's advances?"

"I heard Lin Xiao seems to have a girlfriend? Is it Tang Yan?"

"Who knows? Things in the entertainment industry are all a mix of truth and lies..."

Yang Mi may have heard these comments, but she clearly didn't care.

She was like an energetic, beautiful, and aggressive little fox, enthusiastically circling her "prey," probing, teasing, and trying to get closer in various ways.

Lin Xiao, when faced with Yang Mi's "attacks," was mostly gentle in his attitude, not rejecting her approach and jokes, and going along with her rhythm, but always maintaining a subtle boundary.

He won't create ambiguity, won't respond to excessive flirting, and won't give her any overstepping promises or hints.

This "you advance, I retreat; you retreat, I remain still" approach actually made Yang Mi find it more interesting and challenging.

During a break from filming a night scene, the two sat on the stone steps under the palace wall, waiting for their turn.

The spring night in Hengdian was still a bit chilly. Yang Mi, wrapped in a down jacket, tilted her head to look at Lin Xiao's profile as he silently acted out a scene, and suddenly whispered:

"Lin Xiao, I've noticed that you seem approachable, but you actually have a lot of inner defenses."

Lin Xiao looked up from his script and asked her, "Really?"

"have."

Yang Mi nodded firmly, her eyes shining brightly in the night. "Does Tangtang feel the same way? It seems so easy to get closer to you, but I always feel like there's something between us."

She suddenly mentioned Tang Yan, her tone casual, as if she were just casually mentioning a close friend.

Lin Xiao's eyes flickered slightly, he smiled, but didn't reply, and looked back at the script: "The next scene is quite emotional, Sister Mi, would you like to go over the lines again?"

Yang Mi stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly laughed, her laughter particularly clear in the quiet night: "Alright, let's rehearse the lines. General Zhou Yafu, please give me your guidance~"

She dropped her joking expression, took out the script, and acted as if she had never said those meaningful words.

But Lin Xiao knew that Yang Mi's "offensive" was never as simple as the jokes and teasing on the surface.

She is intelligent, ambitious, and knows how to use all her advantages, including her beauty and personality.

This reunion in Hengdian has only just begun.