Huayu: Starting with Hextech

Tang Yan saw that Wang Luodan stood naturally an arm's length away from Lin Xiao, without any intention of getting closer.

When Wang Luodan spoke to Lin Xiao, her gaze was purely that of a work conversation or a casual exchange between friends, lacking the sticky, stringy feeling that she had seen in Yang Mi's eyes.

Seeing Lin Xiao's attitude towards Wang Luodan, it was relaxed, equal, and even a bit casual like that between "buddies," rather than the subtle tension one would have with someone they were romantically involved with.

"Hey, what's with all this talk about teamwork? It's all work."

Wang Luodan waved her hand casually, "You've come at the right time. Help me keep an eye on him. Your Lin Xiao works too hard; sometimes he doesn't even eat his lunch on time. You, as his girlfriend, need to keep a close eye on him."

As she spoke, she jokingly patted Lin Xiao's arm: "Did you hear that? Your family member's here to check up on you. You'd better behave yourself from now on!"

This intimate and open gesture actually dispelled most of Tang Yan's last remaining doubts.

If there were anything between them, it wouldn't be this kind of unabashed, even slightly "disdainful" interaction.

"He's behaving well on set, I'll keep an eye on him for you!"

Wang Luodan added to Tang Yan, winking, "Don't worry, with me here, no demons or monsters can get close to him!"

This statement, half-true and half-false, both stated a position and carried a hint of sarcasm, instantly lightening the atmosphere.

Tang Yan couldn't help but smile, this time her smile was much more genuine: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister Dan."

"No trouble at all, it's nothing!" Wang Luodan glanced at the time. "You guys chat, I'm going to touch up my makeup, I have another show later. Tangtang, come visit sometime!"

She waved her hand, turned around and left decisively, leaving the two of them alone.

Watching Wang Luodan's nimble back, Tang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxing.

She looked up at Lin Xiao and whispered, "She... seems like a really nice person."

"Yes, she has a very straightforward personality, so she's easy to get along with."

Lin Xiao nodded, led her to his lounge chair, and handed her a bottle of water. "Are you hot? Why did you suddenly come here? Was it really just on the way?"

Tang Yan took the water, lowered her head, and ran her fingers over the bottle. Her voice was even softer: "...Actually, I missed you. And...I was also a little worried."

She finally told the truth.

Lin Xiao sighed inwardly and took her hand: "Now you see? Isn't it different from what you thought?"

"Mmm." Tang Yan nodded, leaning on his shoulder. "Seeing you two filming just now... that hug, I still felt a little uncomfortable. But seeing you in person, and the way you two interacted, I knew I was overthinking it. The way she looked at you was completely different from how she looked at Mimi."

It's already a big step forward that she was able to say "I'm overthinking it."

Lin Xiao ruffled her hair: "So, don't scare yourself. Focus on your filming, and I'll focus on mine. Once we're both done with this busy period, we'll have time."

"Um."

Tang Yan snuggled against him, enjoying the brief intimacy.

Not far away, Wang Luodan, who was touching up her makeup, looked at the two people snuggling together through the mirror and smiled slightly.

She whispered to her assistant, "See? This is how a normal couple should act. The girl's unease is impossible to hide. Lin Xiao has it tough too."

The assistant asked in a low voice, "Sister Dan, are you really not at all...?"

Wang Luodan tidied her hair in front of the mirror and chuckled:

"Me? Me to him? Please, there are plenty of handsome men out there. Why would I get involved with my co-star in a drama, especially one who's already in a relationship? It's not only troublesome, but it also lowers my status. Acting is work, and life is life. I can keep it separate."

She put down the powder puff, glanced again in the direction of Lin Xiao and Tang Yan, a subtle, complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but quickly returned to clarity.

"But," she muttered to herself, "that girl was so nervous, it seems Lin Xiao has had his share of female admirers in the past. Tsk, men..."

She shook her head, stopped thinking about it, and got up to prepare for the next scene.

Filming continued on set.

……

August 10, 2009, 8 PM prime time

For many viewers who were glued to their television sets or waiting online early on, it was just an ordinary summer evening.

But for the creative team behind "Chinese Paladin 3", for Lin Xiao, for Tang Yan, and for all the actors involved, this was a moment they had been waiting for a long time.

In Shanghai, in the hotel room where the crew of "Go Lala Go!" was staying.

Lin Xiao had just finished a day of filming and washed away his fatigue.

He didn't turn on the lights, only letting the neon lights of the city outside the window filter in, casting blurry shadows in the dim room.

He sat alone on the sofa, the television screen in front of him lit up, playing a program preview from a certain satellite TV channel.

The clock on the wall silently slid toward eight o'clock.

The phone lay quietly on the coffee table.

Tang Yan sent a message half an hour ago saying that she had also finished work and was watching the premiere at the hotel.

Yang Mi, Liu Shishi, Hu Ge, and others also posted promotional messages for the start of the broadcast on their respective social media accounts.

The entire cast and crew of "Chinese Paladin 3" seemed to be waiting for this moment in different ways.

It's exactly eight o'clock.

The familiar theme song "Love Through Lifetimes" swells with fervor, and a magnificent opening sequence, interwoven with ink wash painting and special effects, flashes by.

When the words "The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3" were displayed in the center of the screen, Lin Xiao could feel his heartbeat quicken slightly.

The first two episodes mainly introduce the main characters, such as Jing Tian, ​​Xue Jian, and Xu Changqing, and lay the groundwork for the story.

The plot was light and fun, and the special effects were considered excellent for its time, resulting in steadily rising viewership.

Online discussions have already begun, mostly revolving around Hu Ge's comedic performance, Yang Mi's charming cuteness, and Liu Shishi's pitiful eyes.

Lin Xiao, who plays Chonglou, has not yet appeared on screen.

However, the red-haired, purple-eyed figure in the opening sequence, appearing only briefly in the background, has already piqued the curiosity of many viewers.

"Who's that red-haired guy? He's so cool!"

"That look in the opening credits! Is he a villain? He looks so intimidating!"

A few comments like this began to appear sporadically.

Lin Xiao didn't check his phone; he just quietly watched TV.

As the end credits rolled and the second episode ended, he thought Chonglou wouldn't show up that night.

Based on the pacing of the series, Demon Lord Chonglou's official appearance will likely occur in the third or fourth episode.

However, just as the end credits of the second episode were about to finish and the audience thought the game was about to end, the scene suddenly changed!

The dark and chaotic demon realm is filled with flowing lava and jagged rocks.

A tall figure stood atop the cliff, his red hair like burning flames, strikingly bright in the dark environment.

He slowly turned around...

Close-up shot!

Her long, blood-red hair moved without wind, and dark demonic horns could be vaguely seen between her strands.

His skin was an unusually pale white, and his features were so strikingly handsome that they were almost otherworldly, especially his eyes.

His pupils were a deep, mysterious purple, as if they contained countless stars and an ancient loneliness.

A dark red demonic mark on his forehead added a touch of evil charm and majesty.