Huayu: You were supposed to be a top star, but you've become capital?

The night in Huairou was quiet. Bai Mengyan leaned back on the sofa in her suite, her legs curled up, her iPad on her lap, displaying an electronic version of "Silent Separation".

A week has passed, and this is the third time she has watched it.

"Still watching?"

Lin Shen came out of the bathroom and sat down next to her on the sofa.

Bai Mengyan raised her eyes, then quickly lowered them again: "Hmm... I'm afraid I don't understand it thoroughly enough."

"That's clear enough." Lin Shen reached out, took the iPad from her hand, and placed it on the coffee table. "If you keep looking at it like that, you could become Gu Man's editor."

"But--"

"There's no 'but' about it." Lin Shen pulled her closer to him. "There are still a few days before the official gathering. Today is just a preliminary meeting with Gu Man."

Bai Mengyan pursed her lips and didn't say anything, but her body betrayed her by snuggling closer into his arms.

Lin Shen looked down at her and suddenly smiled: "What's wrong? Are you so nervous?"

"...A little bit, I'm afraid I'll embarrass you." Bai Mengyan honestly admitted, her fingers twisting together. "What if Teacher Gu Man thinks I'm not suitable? What if I don't perform well in the audition? What if..."

"What if, what if," Lin Shen interrupted her, looking at her leisurely, "There aren't that many 'what ifs'."

"First of all, Gu Man is my fan. She wanted me to play He Yichen, which in itself shows that her taste is not wrong."

Bai Mengyan blinked, stunned by this shameless confidence.

"Secondly," Lin Shen held up two fingers, "because you're cut out for this, not because you're anyone to me, but because you're capable."

Bai Mengyan paused for a moment, her eyes welling up with tears. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but then felt that anything she said would be too weak.

In the end, she didn't say anything, but just leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips.

Lin Shen raised an eyebrow: "That's it?"

Bai Mengyan blushed: "Then what else do you want?"

Lin Shen didn't answer, but directly pulled the person over, expressing his demands through action.

Then, not long after, he gasped.

"hiss--"

Bai Mengyan quickly tried to deny it, looking completely innocent: "I... I didn't mean to this..."

Lin Shen licked the inside of his lower lip, and that familiar stinging sensation returned.

He looked down at Bai Mengyan, who was trying hard to suppress her laughter. Her eyes were curved into two crescent moons, and her canine teeth were faintly visible.

"...What's your zodiac sign?" Lin Shen asked.

"I was born in the Year of the Dog," Bai Mengyan replied matter-of-factly. "Otherwise, why would I bite you?"

Looking at her smug little face, Lin Shen suddenly felt that the pain didn't seem so bad after all.

Fine.

He admitted defeat.

Anyway, Lin Mu suffered a lot this week because she told her she would try to get Zhao Mosheng for her.

But how should I put it?

It hurts, but it also feels good; I've gotten used to it.

-----------------

June 22, Huairou.

At 5:30 p.m., Luo Yongchang finally called it a day off.

Lin Shen stood up, thanked the lighting director for his hard work, nodded to the stagehands, and smiled.

Just as I took two steps, Tang Yan came over from the rest area.

She finished work early today, changed into casual clothes, and touched up her makeup meticulously, making her a beautiful sight to behold.

"Teacher Lin~ Are you free tonight?" Tang Yan smiled just right. "A new Japanese restaurant just opened in Huairou. I've had someone make a reservation. Want to try it together?"

"Sister Tangtang, I can't go tonight, I have plans."

"Just cancel it," Tang Yan said casually, continuing to stare at him. "What's so important? We still need to work out our scenes together."

Lin Shen didn't stop walking. He turned his head to look at her and smiled politely.

"I can't refuse, if I could refuse, I definitely would."

"How about another day?" Tang Yan took the opportunity to ask.

"I'll treat you another day," Lin Shen readily agreed, already heading towards the door. "I'm off now, see you tomorrow."

Yang Chaoyue was already waiting by the door with his bag, and followed briskly.

Tang Yan stood there, watching the figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, the smile on her face gradually fading away.

She didn't say anything, turned around and walked back, her high heels clicking on the floor, the rhythm a few beats faster than when she came.

The assistant jogged after him, barely daring to breathe.

The moment the car door closed, Tang Yan's face darkened completely.

"Walk."

One word, as cold as ice.

The van drove out of the film studio and merged into the evening rush hour traffic. Yang Chaoyue turned around from the passenger seat and asked, "Brother Shen, shall we go straight back to the hotel?"

"Hmm." Lin Shen glanced at his phone screen. Bai Mengyan had sent a message half an hour ago:

"I finished work at 3 PM and am reading the script at the hotel. I'll wait for you~"

He smiled slightly and replied, "I'll be there in half an hour. Get dressed and wait for me."

The reply came instantly: "Okay!"

Yang Chaoyue pretended not to see and focused on looking out the window.

After the car came to a stop in the hotel's underground parking garage, Lin Shen went directly to the top floor via the private elevator.

The elevator goes directly to the top floor.

When Lin Shen entered, Bai Mengyan was nestled on the sofa, and the iPad was back in her hands.

Hearing the noise, she looked up, her eyes lighting up: "You're back?"

"Okay." Lin Shen handed his coat to Yang Chaoyue and walked towards the master bedroom. "Change your clothes and leave in ten minutes."

"good!"

Bai Mengyan sprang up from the sofa, tossed her iPad onto the coffee table, and jogged inside.

Yang Chaoyue stood there, looking at the door that wasn't closed properly, then wisely sat back down on the living room sofa, took out his phone, and started browsing Weibo.

—She didn't see anything.

In the master bedroom, Lin Shen was changing clothes. Bai Mengyan stood in front of the wardrobe, hesitated for a moment between two coats, and finally chose a light gray one.

She was carrying her clothes when she suddenly remembered something, turned around and asked:

"Brother Shen, do you think Professor Gu Man might think I don't resemble Zhao Mosheng?"

Lin Shen turned to look at her.

Bai Mengyan stood by the wardrobe, clutching a clothes hanger in her hand, her eyes revealing an unconcealable nervousness.

She's been really working hard these past few days. When she's not filming, she's been reading the original novel in the hotel, pondering Zhao Mosheng's lines over and over again, and even writing her own character biography, which is several pages long.

Before going to bed at night, she would still drag Lin Shen to rehearse their lines, going over each line one by one. Sometimes Lin Shen was already sleepy, but she would still keep going on and on.

Lin Shen walked over, took the clothes hanger from her hand, and hung it back in the closet.

"Haku Mengken."

"Um?"

"We're just going to have a meal, not to be interrogated."

Bai Mengyan blinked.

Lin Shen looked at her and smiled helplessly: "You're so nervous. When we get to the dinner table, she'll think I brought a frightened quail."

Bai Mengyan blushed at his words, wanting to refute them, but then felt that what he said seemed to make sense.

"...Then tell me what to do."

Lin Shen thought for a moment and said seriously, "Just be normal. You don't need to act or pretend. Just be yourself."

"So what am I usually like?"

"So silly."

"...Lin Shen!"

Bai Mengyan threw a punch, but it wasn't very hard; it was more like she was being coquettish.