Huayu: Starting with Hextech

Early October, Shanghai

Lin Xiao dragged his suitcase and stood downstairs at the apartment building he hadn't seen for more than three months, looking up at that familiar window.

Pushing open the door, the room was clean and tidy, with a fresh scent in the air, just as it had been when he left, yet it seemed to have been carefully maintained.

Fresh bouquets of flowers are displayed on the coffee table, and bed sheets and duvet covers drying on the balcony exude the scent of sunshine.

Lin Xiao put down his luggage and had just sat down on the sofa when he heard the sound of a key turning outside the door.

The door opened, and Tang Yan appeared in the doorway.

She looked like she had just rushed back from an event, her face still covered in stage makeup, wearing a light pink dress with a thin cardigan over it, and carrying two supermarket shopping bags, looking rather hurried.

Her eyes lit up instantly when she saw Lin Xiao on the sofa.

The bag in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud," but she didn't care. She rushed over in a few steps and hugged Lin Xiao's neck tightly.

"Lin Xiao! You're finally back!"

Her voice was filled with undisguised excitement and affection as she buried her face deep in his neck, greedily inhaling his scent.

Lin Xiao hugged her back, and could feel her body trembling slightly and straining.

"Yes, I'm back."

He gently stroked her back. After three months of separation, the warmth and softness in his arms truly brought him a long-lost sense of peace.

After hugging him for a while, Tang Yan finally let go, but her hands were still tightly gripping his arm. She looked up at him carefully, her eyes focused almost greedily, as if she wanted to see every little change in him during the three months he had been gone.

Lin Xiao was also looking at her.

She had lost some weight, her chin was more pointed, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes, indicating that she hadn't been getting enough rest lately.

But his eyes remained clear and bright, filled with pure joy and longing.

"You've lost weight." Lin Xiao touched her face.

"The same to you……"

Tang Yan murmured, her fingers unconsciously tracing his brow bone, bridge of his nose, and jawline.

She could clearly sense that the man in front of her had undergone some inexplicable change since he left three months ago.

His gaze deepened, like a lake that had accumulated much more, a calm yet powerful presence.

His demeanor was more composed and relaxed, and even though he was just sitting casually on the sofa, he exuded an invisible aura that belonged to him alone.

There was also a hint of... a sense of estrangement from not seeing each other for so long. Although it was faint, Tang Yan, being as sensitive as she was, could clearly sense it.

This change made her feel uneasy.

"Are you hungry? I've bought groceries, I'll cook right away!"

As if grabbing something, she hurriedly said, bending down to pick up the bag that had fallen to the ground, "These are all your favorite foods! I recently learned a few new dishes from Auntie, I guarantee they'll be delicious!"

"No rush, take your time."

Lin Xiao wanted to help, but she pressed him back onto the sofa, saying, "Sit and rest. You must be tired after sitting in the car for so long. You don't need to do anything today, I'll do it!"

She quickly changed into her pajamas, tied on an apron, and went into the kitchen to get busy.

Chopping vegetables, washing vegetables, turning on the stove, pouring oil... a series of actions were carried out in an orderly manner, clearly not something done at the last minute.

Lin Xiao leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching her busy figure.

She's become more caring than before, or rather, she's more eager to take care of him.

This meticulous care, tinged with an almost ingratiating eagerness, seemed to be an attempt to fill the void left by their separation with this intense tenderness and devotion.

To smooth over the "distance" she sensed, and to firmly grasp him again.

He had mixed feelings.

He enjoys this gentle and homey feeling, which greatly relieves the fatigue after intense shooting.

However, Tang Yan's subtle sense of "compensation" and unease also made him feel a bit of pressure.

He knew that the root of the problem had not been solved; it was just temporarily overshadowed by the joy of the reunion.

Dinner was plentiful, featuring sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed sea bass, braised prawns, lettuce with oyster sauce, and a corn and pork rib soup that had been simmering for a long time.

Each dish was a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, showing that it had been prepared with care.

"Try these ribs. I made them using a new recipe I learned. See if you like them?"

Tang Yan picked up the largest piece and put it in Lin Xiao's bowl, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Lin Xiao tasted it and nodded: "It's delicious, even more flavorful than before."

Tang Yan immediately smiled, her eyes crinkling as if she had received a great reward.

Throughout the meal, she barely touched her chopsticks, busy serving food and soup to Lin Xiao. Watching him eat made her feel content.

After the meal, Lin Xiao took out the gifts he had brought back.

A silk scarf from a certain affordable luxury brand, in an elegant off-white color, printed with abstract ink-wash patterns, perfectly suits Tang Yan's temperament.

"I saw this while shopping near the film set, and I thought it would suit you." Lin Xiao handed it to her.

Tang Yan took it with delight, gently rubbing it against her face, her eyes reddening again:

"So beautiful... Thank you, Lin Xiao."

She carefully put it away, then snuggled up to him and whispered, "Is the film crew...fun? Anything interesting happening?"

She knew she shouldn't ask too many questions or go into too much detail, for fear of bothering him, but she couldn't help wanting to know about his life after he left.

Lin Xiao picked out some interesting stories to tell.

It talked about how Wang Luodan "argued with the director on set," how the whole crew ate barbecue together by the roadside during a night shoot, and Xu Xiao'ou's confidence and expectations for the series...

He deliberately downplayed the minor incident involving Li Caihua, only mentioning that "there was a rather enthusiastic actress, but Lao Wang helped to deflect her," speaking in a relaxed tone and glossing over it.

Tang Yan listened attentively, laughing along when she heard about Wang Luodan's amusing stories, and feeling happy for Xu Xiao'ou when she heard how much he valued her.

When she heard "Old Wang helped block it," she nestled against him and relaxed slightly, whispering, "Sister Dan is so kind... You should thank her properly."

"Yes, I gave her a gift." Lin Xiao ruffled her hair.

As they chatted, Tang Yan suddenly said softly, "Lin Xiao, I recently... turned down a gig to record a show in another city, and also a brand event. I want to... spend more time in Shanghai."

Lin Xiao looked at her.

She lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers: "I know you just got back and must be very busy, with a lot of things to handle. I just... I just wanted to be there for you if you needed someone to keep you company, or if anything happened, so I could be there for you... I... I don't want to be like before, so far away from you, knowing nothing, and just having to overthink things..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, carrying a cautious probing and a humble attempt to please.

Lin Xiao sighed inwardly.

He understood that this was Tang Yan's way of "compensating" and "reinforcing" in her own way.

She turned down work and sacrificed career opportunities just to spend more time with him and increase her so-called "sense of security".

He was moved by her dedication and deep affection, but also worried about her attitude of almost giving up on her own growth.

A healthy relationship should not be one in which one party constantly sacrifices to please and bind the other.

"Tangtang,"

He held her hand, his tone gentle but earnest.

"Work is important too. You have your own career and plans, don't let me disrupt them. I came back because I have some things to take care of, but I won't be idle all the time. We all have our own paths to walk, and it's not right for us to be tied together all the time."

Tang Yan looked at him, her eyes filled with gratitude for being understood, but also a subtle sense of loss at being "pushed away" by him.

She bit her lip, and in the end just gave a soft "hmm," rested her head on his shoulder, and didn't say anything more.

She knew Lin Xiao was right, but she couldn't control herself.

She was afraid of distance, afraid of the unknown, afraid that the increasingly dazzling Lin Xiao would have more and more women around him.

She could only use the clumsiest ways she could think of—giving, accompanying, and trying to please—to increase her importance in his heart.

As night deepened, the two lay in each other's arms on their familiar bed.

Tang Yan curled up in Lin Xiao's arms, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist, as if afraid that he would disappear at any moment.

Her breathing gradually became even, but Lin Xiao could sense that even in her sleep, her body was not completely relaxed.

He stared at the ceiling, his eyes clear in the darkness.

A gentle harbor is something to cherish, but excessive dependence and anxiety can also become a burden on the journey ahead.

He knew that Tang Yan might not have much time left to grow and build a sense of security.

If she cannot find her own center and strength soon, the relationship may collapse under the pressure of imbalance before both parties feel exhausted.

Outside the window, autumn insects chirped softly.

Embracing warmth, yet the road ahead still seems shrouded in mist.