Huayu: Starting with Hextech

"Lin Xiao," Li Huizhu patted his shoulder, "that change in your eyes just now was absolutely stunning. From anger to despair, and then to an all-consuming possessiveness, it progressed layer by layer. And that last kiss... you timed your withdrawal perfectly."

"It was Sister Mi who handled it well," Lin Xiao said.

Yang Mi leaned closer to watch the playback, and her face turned even redder when she saw the scene of the two kissing. She whispered, "You...you were really rough just now."

Did I hurt you?

"A little... but it works very well."

The two exchanged a glance, then quickly looked away.

Not far away, Tong Liya stood in her rest area, holding a thermos cup in her hands, quietly watching this side.

She didn't have any scenes to film today and wasn't supposed to come to the set, but she came early after hearing that they were going to shoot this important scene.

She wanted to see how Lin Xiao acted, wanted to learn from him, and also wanted to... get closer to him.

But what she saw was Lin Xiao and Yang Mi's long and lingering kiss.

It's a scene where the two are still tightly embracing each other after the director yells "cut".

It's now, when they watch the replay side by side, that unspoken understanding that no one else can interfere with.

Tong Liya lowered her eyes, staring at the steam rising from the cup.

The mist blurred her vision.

She recalled the first time she met Lin Xiao—at the opening ceremony, he was dressed in Qing Dynasty attire, gentle and refined, and smiled as he said to her, "Just call me Lin Xiao."

She still remembers the heartbeat she felt at that moment.

She also recalled how, on set these past few days, when she mustered the courage to ask him for advice on the script, Yang Mi would always "coincidentally" appear and jokingly send her away.

I remember the way Lin Xiao looked at Yang Mi, a look that was different from how he looked at anyone else.

Oh, I see... that's how it is.

Tong Liya sighed softly, tightened the lid of the cup, and turned to leave the set.

His back view looked somewhat lonely.

"What happened to Ya Ya?" a staff member noticed. "Wasn't she here to watch the show? Why did she leave?"

"Maybe... they were provoked," another person whispered. "Who wouldn't be moved by that scene just now?"

These words reached Lin Xiao's ears. He looked up and only saw Tong Liya's back disappearing outside the door.

Yang Mi saw it too, and snorted, "Little brat."

Lin Xiao glanced at her: "You're very hostile towards her."

"Really?" Yang Mi raised an eyebrow. "I'm just fulfilling my promise to Tangtang—keeping all potential threats out of her reach."

As she said this, she lightly traced a line on Lin Xiao's back with her finger.

Lin Xiao didn't reply, but simply looked away and turned to the monitor.

The kissing scene was still playing on a loop on the screen.

Snow fell on their shoulders, and their figures embraced tightly behind the artificial hill, as if they wanted to become one.

Very beautiful.

But its beauty is somewhat dangerous.

Li Huizhu was still excitedly talking about the upcoming filming plans, but Lin Xiao couldn't quite listen.

The moment he kissed her just now kept replaying in his mind—

What flashed in Yang Mi's eyes—Qingchuan's shock, or her own inner turmoil?

What was surging in his heart—the possessiveness of the Eighth Prince, or Lin Xiao's unspeakable desire?

The noise on the film set gradually faded away.

Lin Xiao stood in the center of the crowd, but felt as if he were standing on a deserted island.

The sea is all around, its surface calm, but the undersea currents are turbulent.

And he was already at the center of the vortex.

……

11:30 p.m., at the hotel

Lin Xiao had just finished showering and was drying his hair when he came out of the bathroom.

The room was well-heated, and a thin layer of condensation formed on the windowpanes, keeping out the damp, cold winter night outside.

My phone vibrated on the bedside table.

He walked over and glanced at the screen—it was Tang Yan's video call request.

The moment the call connected, Tang Yan's delicate yet slightly tired face appeared on the screen.

She appears to still be on set, with the background being the dressing room of "Summer's Desire," and she is wearing a pink modern costume.

"Lin Xiao!" Her voice was tinged with laughter, but there were faint dark circles under her eyes. "You're done work?"

"Yeah, just got back to the hotel." Lin Xiao sat down on the edge of the bed, propping his phone against the pillow. "What about you? Still working?"

"Almost done, just one last night scene." Tang Yan rested her chin on her hand, watching him intently through the screen. "How did your filming go today?"

There was a cautious, tentative tone in her voice.

Lin Xiao knew what she was asking—although Tang Yan didn't say it explicitly, she had been "casually" asking about things on set almost every day since her last visit, especially his scenes with Yang Mi.

"Not bad." Lin Xiao continued drying his hair with a towel. "We filmed a major scene."

"What kind of play is it?" Tang Yan blinked, seemingly casually.

"The Eighth Prince got drunk and forcibly kissed Qingchuan," Lin Xiao said calmly.

On the other end of the screen, Tang Yan's smile froze for a moment.

But she quickly recovered and even joked, "Oh, a kissing scene? Did Mimi take advantage of you?"

As she said this, her eyes were fixed on Lin Xiao's expression.

"No," Lin Xiao replied without changing his expression. "It's just filming as usual."

"That's good." Tang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but the unease in her eyes hadn't completely disappeared. "Mimi... has she been treating you well lately? Has she...?"

Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Lin Xiao turned to look at the door: "Who is it?"

"Me, Mimi~"

Yang Mi's voice came through the door, carrying her usual charming sweetness.

"Junior brother, open the door, I need to talk to you."

Lin Xiao frowned slightly.

On the screen, Tang Yan clearly heard Yang Mi's voice. Her expression changed, but she still tried to maintain a smile: "Mi Mi, you're here to see you so late?"

"It might be... a problem with the script." Lin Xiao stood up.

"Then you should go quickly," Tang Yan said, her tone slightly reluctant. "Don't keep them waiting."

Lin Xiao walked to the door with his phone in hand, hesitated for a second, and then opened the door.

Yang Mi stood outside the door.

She was wearing a white hotel bathrobe, her hair was wet and draped over her shoulders, and her face was flushed from just taking a shower.

The bathrobe's belt wasn't tied too tightly, and the neckline was slightly open, revealing the collarbone and a small patch of fair skin.

She did have a script in her hand, but the casually rolled-up script didn't look like she was there to seriously discuss work.

"Oh, video chatting with Tangtang?"

Yang Mi spotted the phone in Lin Xiao's hand at a glance, and a bright smile immediately appeared on her face.

"Let me say a few words to her!"

Without a word, she took the phone from Lin Xiao's hand, her movements as natural as if she were at home.

"Candy~"

Yang Mi held her phone up to her face, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.

"Still filming so late? You must be tired!"

On the screen, Tang Yan's expression visibly froze for a moment, but she quickly smiled back.

"Mimi? What are you doing in Lin Xiao's room?"

"Come and discuss the script with me."

Yang Mi waved the script in her hand.

"There's a very important scene tomorrow, and I need to talk to him about the emotions beforehand. That's why I came over right after taking a shower."