Huayu: Starting with Hextech

During a break, Lin Xiao had just sat down on a chair when a figure approached.

"Teacher Lin."

Tong Liya stood in front of him, holding a small insulated box in her hands.

Today she was wearing a light pink cheongsam, her makeup was fresh and elegant, and her eyes were as clear as a mountain spring.

"These are walnut cookies I made myself this morning," she said, handing over the insulated container, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I've seen you've been working hard filming lately, these are good for your brain..."

Before he could finish speaking, a figure cut in.

"Wow, Ya Ya is so thoughtful!"

Yang Mi appeared out of nowhere, naturally took the insulated box, opened it, and glanced inside.

"It smells delicious. But it's a pity, Lin Xiao's stomach hasn't been feeling well lately, and the doctor told him he can't eat anything, especially sweets."

As she spoke, she handed the insulated food container back to Tong Liya, her tone gentle but firm:

"We appreciate your kind gesture, but you should keep these walnut cookies for yourself. Or you can share them with other colleagues in the group; everyone's been quite busy lately."

Tong Liya was stunned, her hand holding the insulated box frozen in mid-air.

She glanced at Yang Mi, then at Lin Xiao, her lips moved, but she only whispered, "Then... then Teacher Lin, please take care of yourself."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of him."

Yang Mi patted her shoulder with a smile, then turned to Lin Xiao and said,

"By the way, Lin Xiao, the director wants you to go and watch the replay of that clip."

Lin Xiao stood up and nodded to Tong Liya: "Thank you."

He followed Yang Mi toward the monitor, and behind him came Tong Liya's assistant's quiet complaint: "Sister Mi is meddling too much..."

Yang Mi obviously heard it, but she didn't turn around. She just raised an eyebrow at Lin Xiao, her eyes saying: See, I'll block one for you.

Lin Xiao didn't say anything.

During the afternoon shoot, Tong Liya was noticeably more proactive.

There was a scene where Su Yan bumped into the Eighth Prince outside the Imperial Study. After filming, she took the script and walked over to Lin Xiao:

"Teacher Lin, in that scene just now, did you think my bowing posture was correct? I felt it wasn't natural enough..."

As she spoke, she unconsciously leaned closer to Lin Xiao.

The wide sleeves of the period costume almost touched Lin Xiao's arm.

Just as Lin Xiao was about to answer, Yang Mi's voice drifted over again:

"Ya Ya, why are you asking me this question? I've filmed a lot of Qing Dynasty dramas, so I know the etiquette of etiquette better than anyone else."

She strode over, stood between the two, and pulled Tong Liya back half a step:

"Look, this is how women in the Qing Dynasty bowed..." Yang Mi demonstrated a movement, "Your hands should be here, and your waist should be bent at this angle. What you did just now was too stiff, like you were in military training."

Tong Liya bit her lip, looked at Yang Mi, then at Lin Xiao, and finally whispered, "Thank you, Sister Mi."

"You're welcome~" Yang Mi smiled brightly, "Go and prepare for the next scene, don't delay the schedule."

After Tong Liya had walked away, Yang Mi stopped smiling and glanced at Lin Xiao:

"See that? This little brat's got a fierce attack. If I hadn't been watching over you, you would have been taken down long ago."

Lin Xiao looked at her: "Are you protecting me, or yourself?"

Yang Mi paused for a moment, then laughed: "Is there a difference? The result is the same anyway."

She leaned closer to him and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"See you at the usual place after work tonight. I'll come check if you've 'broken the rules'~"

After saying that, she turned and left, her skirt tracing a beautiful arc.

At 10 p.m., Lin Xiao had just returned to his hotel room when the doorbell rang.

Yang Mi was wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants, her hair was tied in a bun, and she was without makeup, looking like a college student.

He opened the door.

Yang Mi slipped in naturally, closed the door behind her, leaned against the door, and looked up at him.

"The examination begins," she said, her eyes sparkling.

Lin Xiao looked at her: "What are you checking?"

"Let's check if you've been won over by Ya Ya today." Yang Mi stepped forward and poked his chest with her finger. "Did you accept any of her things? Did you talk to her alone? Did you...smile at her?"

Lin Xiao grabbed her fingers: "Didn't you see it all day?"

"Watching is one thing, but who knows what you'll do when I'm not around..."

Before Yang Mi could finish speaking, Lin Xiao pulled her into his arms.

She paused for a moment, then laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck:

"So proactive? Looks like you miss me?"

Lin Xiao didn't answer, but lowered his head and kissed her.

Yang Mi responded enthusiastically.

……

Afterwards, the only sound in the room was the sound of their breathing.

Yang Mi lay on Lin Xiao's chest, tracing circles on his collarbone with her fingers.

"Lin Xiao," she suddenly spoke, her voice somewhat languid, "tell me... do we feel guilty towards Tang Yan for what we've done?"

Lin Xiao didn't say anything.

Yang Mi looked up at him and said, "I don't think so."

She propped herself up, her long hair falling down and brushing against Lin Xiao's cheek.

"As long as she doesn't know, it doesn't count as hurting her."

Her voice was very soft, as if she were trying to convince herself.

"We were just... an accident on set. After filming, we went back to our own lives."

She paused, then added:

"Let's just be... lovers on set. It'll end when filming wraps."

Lin Xiao looked at her.

Her eyes held desire, excitement, a hint of guilt, but mostly a self-hypnotized composure.

He knew she was making excuses, giving herself a reason.

He knew he needed this reason.

"Okay," he said.

Yang Mi smiled, leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth: "You're just like Wei Xiaobao~"

She got up from the bed, picked up her clothes from the floor, and put them on one by one.

Halfway through getting dressed, she seemed to remember something and took her phone out of the pocket of Lin Xiao's coat that he had tossed on the bedside table.

"Can I borrow your phone for a moment?" she said.

Lin Xiao frowned: "What?"

"I'll reply to your message."

Yang Mi had already unlocked the screen—the password was her birthday, which she had changed last night while Lin Xiao was asleep.

She opened WeChat and found Tang Yan's chat window.

The latest message was sent half an hour ago:

"Lin Xiao, are you done filming? How did today's shoot go? Did Mimi take good care of you?"

Yang Mi typed quickly:

"Just finished filming. Today's shoot went really well. Sister Mi took good care of me, so don't worry."

She thought for a moment and then added:

"Tong Liya wanted to send me food again today, but Sister Mi stopped her. She said she was watching over me."

Click send.

A few seconds later, Tang Yan replied: "That's good! I'm relieved to have Mimi here~ Get some rest, love you️"

Yang Mi turned her phone screen towards Lin Xiao and winked smugly:

"See how thoughtful I am? And I even managed to get some credit for it."

Looking at her smug expression, Lin Xiao felt a complex mix of emotions—guilt, absurdity, and a secret thrill.

Yang Mi finished dressing, walked to the door, and then looked back at him:

See you tomorrow, Teacher Lin.

She opened the door and left, her movements as nimble as a cat's.

The room fell silent again.

Lin Xiao leaned against the headboard, picked up his phone, and looked at Tang Yan's words "I love you" on the screen.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Outside the window, Hengdian is brightly lit, with countless film crews working day and night, and countless stories unfolding.

His story is hurtling toward a direction he both anticipates and dreads.