Huayu: Starting with Hextech

March, Hengdian, the filming location of "Beauty's Rival in Palace".

"Cut! Great! That emotional delivery was spot on!" Director Wu Jinyuan's voice came from behind the monitor. "Yang Mi's gaze when she turned around, Lin Xiao's expression—it was all perfect. Get ready for the next scene!"

Lin Xiao snapped out of character and reached out to wipe the "rain" off his face.

His costume clung to his body, soaking wet, outlining the contours of his increasingly muscular and well-proportioned physique, which had become more robust and balanced due to his recent physical enhancement.

Several young female stagehands were whispering to each other not far away, their eyes occasionally glancing over.

"Teacher Lin Xiao, here's a towel." Assistant Li on set handed over a towel.

Lin Xiao took it and wiped it a couple of times when Yang Mi came over.

Her costume was also mostly wet, the thin fabric clinging to her body, revealing her stunning curves.

She didn't seem to mind at all; instead, she smiled and reached out to tidy up the damp stray hairs on Lin Xiao's forehead.

"How was my performance just now? Did you feel heartbroken by General Zhou's cold face?"

Her fingertips were warm and damp.

The surrounding staff were already used to it.

Teacher Yang Mi's "special care" for Teacher Lin Xiao was an open secret in the production crew.

"Mi Jie's acting skills are always on point."

Lin Xiao took a half step back without making a sound, creating some distance between himself and her.

"Tsk, so official."

Yang Mi pouted, took a bottle of water, unscrewed it, and handed it to him. "By the way, did you see the post I made on WeChat Moments yesterday? The one with our backs to the camera when we were rehearsing. Tangtang even commented on it."

Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat.

He knew which photo Yang Mi was referring to.

Yesterday evening, after filming wrapped, Yang Mi's assistant casually snapped a photo of the two rehearsing their lines in the palace corridor.

In the photo, the afterglow of the setting sun shines on the two of them. She looks up at him as she speaks, and he lowers his head slightly to listen. They are very close, and the atmosphere is ambiguous.

Yang Mi posted on her WeChat Moments at the time, with the caption: "A day discussing the script with 'General Zhou' (smirking)".

Tang Yan quickly commented: "(Eating gossip) What are you talking about so enthusiastically about the script?"

Yang Mi replied to Tang Yan: "Of course, we're talking about how to make your General Zhou fall for me, this 'little maid' (doge)."

What appears to be playful banter between best friends is actually a turbulent undercurrent.

"I saw it." Lin Xiao took a sip of water, his tone flat. "How's Tangtang doing on the 'Pandamen' set?"

"She's very busy," Yang Mi blinked. "But even when she's busy, she remembers to check my WeChat Moments every day. She just sent me a QQ message, asking if I'd been 'keeping an eye on' you today, so that no one would take advantage of the situation."

As she said this, her eyes glanced almost imperceptibly at Wang Likun, who was touching up her makeup not far away.

Just as Lin Xiao was about to speak, his phone vibrated.

It was a text message from Tang Yan: "Lin Xiao, I'm free the day after tomorrow afternoon and would like to visit you on set in Hengdian. Is that convenient?"

Before he could reply, Yang Mi leaned over and glanced at him, then immediately burst out laughing:

"Oh, Tangtang's coming to check up on you? Great! It'll be a good opportunity for her to see how diligently I've been 'keeping an eye on' you for her."

Her laughter was crisp and clear, with an undisguised playfulness.

Lin Xiao glanced at her and replied to Tang Yan, "Is it convenient? What time will you arrive? I'll pick you up."

"I'll arrive at Hengdian Station around 3 PM! No need to pick me up, I'll just take a taxi there myself!"

"Okay, be careful."

After putting down his phone, Lin Xiao said to Yang Mi, "Tangtang will come the day after tomorrow afternoon."

"I know," Yang Mi smiled even more brightly. "She just told me on QQ. Don't worry, I'll definitely 'treat' her well and show her how 'harmonious' our crew is."

She emphasized the word "harmony," a sly glint in her eyes.

Lin Xiao suddenly had a premonition that Tang Yan's visit to the set this time would probably not be peaceful.

Two days later, at 3:30 pm, on the set of "Beauty's Rival in Palace".

Tang Yan, dressed in a light blue dress, wearing a sun hat and a mask, quietly arrived at the film set accompanied by her assistant, Xiao Wei.

She didn't let Lin Xiao pick her up, wanting to surprise him. Or rather, she wanted to see what Lin Xiao was really like on set.

The scene being filmed is of Mo Xueyuan being seriously injured while saving Dou Yifang, and Zhou Yafu carrying her as they run frantically through the rain to seek help.

"Action!"

In the scene, Lin Xiao, who plays Zhou Yafu, is soaked to the bone, holding the dying Yang Mi in his arms, and staggering through the torrential rain.

His face was a mixture of rain, sweat, and anxiety; his eyes were red-rimmed, and a suppressed growl escaped his throat.

"Xueyuan! Hang in there! We're almost there! Hang in there!"

Yang Mi, held in his arms, was pale, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. She weakly raised her hand and gently touched Lin Xiao's cheek, her voice barely a whisper.

"General Zhou... don't worry about me... hurry... save the Empress..."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Lin Xiao's voice trembled, yet remained unusually firm. "I promised to protect you, and I will keep my promise!"

He looked down at her, raindrops dripping down his sharply defined jawline and onto her face.

Their eyes met, their gazes locked, and feelings stirred within them.

The camera zoomed in, giving Lin Xiao a close-up.

The surging emotions in his eyes were almost overflowing, making the director behind the monitor hold his breath.

"Great! That take is a hit!" Wu Jinyuan shouted. "The emotions were fantastic! Lin Xiao, Yang Mi, your performance in this scene is textbook perfect!"

A round of applause erupted from the audience.

Several female staff members even secretly wiped their eyes.

Standing outside the arena, Tang Yan felt her heart sinking little by little.

Lin Xiao's performance on camera was so realistic that she couldn't help but wonder if it was acting or genuine tenderness towards another woman.

"Sister Tangtang, are you alright?" Assistant Xiaowei noticed that her complexion was off and asked in a low voice.

Tang Yan shook her head, forcing a smile: "It's nothing, I just think... he acted so well."

After filming wrapped, Lin Xiao carefully put Yang Mi down.

Staff members immediately surrounded them, offering towels and hot water.

Yang Mi, wrapped in a towel, immediately went to Lin Xiao's side and reached out to wipe the water from his face, her actions natural and intimate.

"You were so into that scene just now, I almost believed it."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for Tang Yan, who was not far away, to hear.

Lin Xiao took the towel and dried himself: "It's because you set a good example."

"Come on, it's clearly your eyes that are too expressive." Yang Mi laughed and punched his shoulder. "I was lying in your arms just now, listening to your heartbeat, and I almost forgot I was acting."

These ambiguous words elicited knowing smiles from the surrounding staff.

Tang Yan clenched her fists instinctively.

At this moment, Lin Xiao finally saw her outside the arena, paused for a moment, then smiled and strode over:

"Tangtang? Why are you here so early? Didn't you say you'd wait for me at the hotel?"

I wanted to surprise you.

Tang Yan tried to make her voice sound relaxed, but her gaze involuntarily drifted towards Yang Mi behind him.

Yang Mi also saw Tang Yan and immediately flashed a bright smile, running over: "Tangtang! You really came!"

She gave Tang Yan a big hug, completely ignoring that she was still soaking wet. "Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I could have come to pick you up!"

"I don't want to trouble you, you're so busy filming." Tang Yan hugged her back, trying to keep her tone natural.

"What's the trouble! I'm happy you're here!"

Yang Mi let go of her and then naturally took Lin Xiao's arm.

This action made Tang Yan's eyelids twitch. "Perfect, let Tangtang see that I've taken good care of your Lin Xiao, not a single hair is missing!"

Lin Xiao coughed lightly, subtly withdrawing his arm, and said to Tang Yan, "Let's go to my lounge first; you must be tired from the car ride."

"Okay." Tang Yan nodded.

As the three walked toward the lounge, staff members kept greeting Lin Xiao and Yang Mi along the way.

Yang Mi stayed close to Lin Xiao almost the entire time, chatting and laughing every now and then, and occasionally reaching out to straighten his collar or hair, acting as intimately as if she were his girlfriend.

Tang Yan silently followed beside her, watching all of this, her jealousy growing wildly like weeds.

Upon arriving at the lounge, Lin Xiao poured Tang Yan a glass of water: "Sit down for a while, I'll go change into some dry clothes."

"Mmm." Tang Yan took the water; her fingertips were icy cold.

Lin Xiao went to the small cubicle inside to change his clothes.

Only Tang Yan and Yang Mi remained in the lounge.