Huayu: Starting with Hextech

In early September, with the summer heat still lingering, the filming of "Go Lala Go!" entered its most intense second half.

Lin Xiao's scenes became increasingly concentrated, often filming from early morning until late at night, with non-stop shooting becoming the norm.

He could bear the physical fatigue, but mentally he felt like a rubber band being stretched at both ends.

On one hand, there was her increasingly adept performance and the crew's efficient pace; on the other hand, Tang Yan's emotions became tense and uneasy once again.

The continued popularity of "Chinese Paladin 3" has propelled Lin Xiao's popularity and exposure to a new level.

What followed was even more pervasive media coverage and online discussions.

This naturally includes in-depth exploration of the on-screen couples and interpretations from various angles.

Tang Yan felt slightly more at ease about Lin Xiao's situation on the set of "Du Lala's Promotion Diary" because of Wang Luodan's presence.

However, the surging tide of "Lou Xuan CP" on the Internet, as well as the occasional leaked stills or work photos of Lin Xiao with other actresses in the "Du Lala's Promotion" crew, still occasionally prick her sensitive nerves.

That night, Lin Xiao had just finished filming a night scene and returned to the hotel at one o'clock in the morning.

He was so tired that his eyelids were drooping, and all he wanted to do was wash up and go to sleep immediately.

When I opened my phone, I saw several messages from Tang Yan around 10 p.m. The last one was a Weibo link with a sad emoji.

Lin Xiao clicked on the link.

It's a Weibo post from an entertainment marketing account, titled: 【Behind-the-scenes footage from "Go Lala Go!": Lin Xiao and Li Caihua "developed feelings for each other on set"? Their eye contact and the atmosphere are amazing!】

The accompanying picture is a photo taken by paparazzi.

There are side profiles of Lin Xiao and Li Caihua sitting and talking in a bar scene in the drama, with ambiguous lighting; there is a photo that seems to be taken during a break, with Li Caihua smiling and saying something to Lin Xiao, who is listening attentively; and there is a photo of the two walking side by side towards a certain filming area from behind.

The marketing accounts went to great lengths to exaggerate, extending Daisy's "unforgettable" feelings for Wang Wei from the drama to real life, implying that the two developed feelings for each other during filming and had close interactions.

Although the pictures were blurry and the text exaggerated, it was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye that this was a common tactic to ride the wave of popularity. But to those with ulterior motives, especially to Tang Yan who already lacked a sense of security, it was undoubtedly a spark that ignited the anxiety she had managed to suppress.

Lin Xiao sighed and dialed Tang Yan's number.

It rang several times before being answered. Tang Yan's deliberately low, nasal voice came from the other end: "Feed?"

"Still not asleep?" Lin Xiao tried to keep his voice calm.

"Um... I'm looking at the script." Tang Yan's voice was a little unsteady. "You're done filming?"

"Just got back. I saw the link you posted." Lin Xiao got straight to the point. "That was just something a marketing account wrote. The photos were stills from the show and candid shots of people resting, taken out of context. You know what happened that day, Lao Wang was right there."

"I know..." Tang Yan's voice lowered, "I just... felt a little uncomfortable seeing the photos. That Li Caihua... the way she looked at you..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Lin Xiao understood what she meant.

In the drama, Li Caihua's gaze towards Wang Wei was full of calculation and lingering affection. Off-screen, before being blocked by Wang Luodan that day, her deliberate and seductive manner of approaching him was indeed easy to associate with him.

"A play is a play, and life is life. Didn't Lao Wang make that clear to her?"

Lin Xiao patiently explained, "Besides filming, I spend all my time either filming or going back to the hotel to read the script and rest. How could I possibly have time for anything with her? Tangtang, you have to believe me, and you have to believe Lao Wang too."

"I believe it, I really believe it..."

Tang Yan's voice trembled with tears, and that familiar, suppressed sense of helplessness spread once again.

"But Lin Xiao, I just can't control myself... You're getting busier and busier, and we talk less and less on the phone. I can't see you; I can only learn about you online and from other people, see pictures of you with other women... I'm so panicked, so scared... scared that you're drifting further and further away from me, scared that I'll be left behind..."

Her crying wasn't as disastrous as last time; it was more like a long-suppressed grievance and fear.

This feeling is more exhausting and powerless than a violent outburst.

Lin Xiao leaned against the headboard and rubbed his aching temples.

After a high-intensity shoot, the body desperately craved rest, but the mind had to brace itself to cope with yet another emotional turmoil from the lover.

He understood Tang Yan's unease, knowing that her personality made her more prone to this kind of anxiety.

But understanding doesn't mean you don't feel drained.

"Tangtang,"

His voice remained gentle, but carried a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

"We're both working hard on our own careers, which is a good thing. This short separation and busy schedule is so we can be together better in the future. If you're always so anxious and need constant reassurance, not only will you be exhausted, but I'll also feel a lot of pressure."

He paused, trying to find a more effective way to communicate:

"Perhaps you could try focusing more on your own role? If you concentrate on acting well and achieving results, it will be a form of accumulation and proof for yourself. When you become stronger and more confident, you might not be so afraid of losing it."

These words are actually quite cruel, as if they are accusing her of not being independent enough.

But Lin Xiao felt that this might be the key to solving the problem.

Simply offering reassurance and assurances seems to only provide temporary relief, not a cure.

The crying on the other end of the phone stopped, replaced by suppressed sobs and a deeper silence.

After a long silence, Tang Yan choked out, "...I understand. I'm sorry, Lin Xiao, I've troubled you again. You've had a long day, get some rest. I...I'll read the script a little longer."

Her voice was filled with disappointment and self-loathing.

Lin Xiao was also feeling bad, but he knew that saying anything more at this moment would be of no use.

"You should go to bed early too, don't stay up late. Be careful while filming tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, the room fell into complete silence.

Exhaustion washed over him like a tide, but Lin Xiao found it hard to fall asleep.

He realized that the problems between him and Tang Yan did not seem to be resolved by the breakthrough in their relationship; on the contrary, they were magnified because of his rapid rise to fame and the busy schedule that followed.

Tang Yan's sense of security is like an unfillable black hole, requiring him to continuously invest emotional energy to fill it, while he himself also needs space to breathe and grow.

This realization made him feel a little helpless, and also a little worried about the future relationship.

Just as this emotional low was setting in, good news came again from his career.

A few days later, Lin Xiao, who was filming an important conference room scene, heard the crew excitedly discussing something during a break.

He picked up his phone and saw countless push notifications and messages tagging him.

The Myth has been officially scheduled for release!

Several leading TV stations and video platforms simultaneously announced that the TV series "The Myth" will be broadcast in mid-September as the successor to "Chinese Paladin 3".

The promotional slogan reads, "Traveling through time, guarding for a thousand years, continuing the legend."