CHAPTER 110

When performing this crucial scene, Xiaoyuan entered a state of complete self-forgetfulness.

She'd experienced this during "Huo 3," but only once in that production. Here, she achieved it much earlier than expected.

Only when the director called "Cut!" did she exhale and resurface. Noticing the crowd's intense stares, she ducked her head, belatedly flushing crimson. The delayed embarrassment overwhelmed her—she turned and fled.

The director announced the wrap, and the set immediately buzzed with activity—some packing up, others heading out.

Zou Yirui watched Xiaoyuan's retreating figure with a click of her tongue. "She wasn't shy when acting, but now she is..."

Guo Zhilu shrugged and walked off without another word.

He Chenying smiled faintly in the crowd. 'So adorable,' she thought.

Xiaoyuan went straight back to the hotel, skipping the monitor review and even leaving her makeup on. It was only when Cai Juan arrived that she had it removed. As Cai Juan worked on her makeup and Tiantian prepared a hot bath, both kept their lips pressed together, stealing glances at Xiaoyuan from the corners of their eyes.

Xiaoyuan cut them off before they could speak. "Okay, you two aren't allowed to tease me!"

"We didn't say anything~" Cai Juan feigned innocence, clearing his throat.

"Didn't say anything." Tian Tian echoed.

"Didn't ask anything either." Cai Juan said with a grin.

"Didn't ask anything..." Tiantian drawled, following suit.

Xiaoyuan: "..."

Before long, Xiaoyuan shooed them away.

As he left, Cai Juan shot her a look, mimed zipping his lips, and walked off with exaggerated winks.

After a quick shower, she sank into the bathtub. Having filmed both day and night scenes today, she was exhausted, yet her mind refused to relax.

Once bathed and changed into pajamas, she climbed into bed and finally gave in, calling Wei Zhuang. Finding her phone screen too small, she flipped over and propped up her iPad on the bed.

"You said you'd find time to visit mid-month," Xiaoyuan pouted, resting her chin on her hands, her bright eyes blinking. "It's already the 9th."

Wei Zhuang seemed to be sitting at a desk, the camera angle slightly distant. After a pause, she said, "I still can't confirm which day yet."

"Oh..." Xiaoyuan's lips pursed as she grabbed a pillow to hug, flopping onto it. "I know you're busy."

She understood—Wei Zhuang was swamped, and she couldn't leave either. Still, a tiny flicker of disappointment lingered.

"How far along are you with filming?" Wei Zhuang's voice, low and cool, came through the screen.

Xiaoyuan's eyes curved as her enthusiasm returned. She recounted today's scene between Liang Ji and the Crown Prince, detailing the director's arrangements and blocking. Eventually, it turned into a monologue performance by her alone.

Midway through, Xiaoyuan suddenly stopped, her gaze flickering toward Wei Zhuang.

She knew it herself—she wasn't the same person she'd been two years ago. Back then, she'd never truly loved anyone, nor experienced anything that made her heart race and cheeks burn.

Her ability to act, to immerse herself, was all because of the woman on the screen now.

"The director arranged it like that?"

"Mm, it's actually better this way. I was worried it'd be a scene with another actor, but it turned out to be a solo. Phew!"

Xiaoyuan took a quiet deep breath and ventured, "Do you know which scene it was?"

"...Mm."

Silence stretched between them for several seconds.

Xiaoyuan's cheeks burned again. Without spelling it out, she wondered if this big meanie even understood.

She pressed her face into the pillow. From this angle, Wei Zhuang's dark hair brushed against her pale, slender neck. A little higher were her thin, faintly colored lips.

And just above them, those deep, tranquil eyes—perhaps stirred by something, perhaps not—simply gazing at her.

Xiaoyuan felt increasingly useless. When they'd first met, she'd dared to meet Wei Zhuang's eyes. Now, a single glance from her was enough to make her blush.

The warmth on Xiaoyuan's face rose several degrees again. She lowered her eyes and said, "You said you couldn't confirm which day you'd come to Xicheng, so could you..." She paused deliberately here, waiting.

Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long. Wei Zhuang asked, "What?"

"Could you video chat with me more often?" Xiaoyuan bit her lip slightly, her eyes and brows brimming with a smile. "Once a week? No, twice? Hmm, or maybe three times?"

Wei Zhuang raised an eyebrow.

Xiaoyuan hid her face in a pillow, a laugh escaping. "I'll count to three. If you don't object, I'll take it as a yes—one, two, three! Haha~"

She didn't pause at all, giving no time for a reaction, and simply made the decision herself. Though her heart still fluttered nervously, she could only bury her face in the pillow, giggling.

Wei Zhuang's eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't voice any objection. As Xiaoyuan lowered her face, the corner of Wei Zhuang's lips curled faintly.

The tension in Xiaoyuan's heart finally eased—she realized she wanted to share with Wei Zhuang. Whether her day had been happy or not, whether she'd done something proud or embarrassing, she wanted to share it all with her.

Only after completing this "sharing with her" step did the day truly feel complete. By then, exhaustion took over her body, and her eyelids grew heavy.

Xiaoyuan was reluctant to end the call, idly keeping the conversation going until her voice gradually trailed off.

Wei Zhuang watched as she tilted her head, murmuring one moment and then, the next, falling asleep against the pillow.

Wei Zhuang gazed at her quietly for a while, her fingers lifting to touch her own lips, her thoughts drifting away. Suddenly, she withdrew her gaze, her slender fingers lowering to do an unexpected gesture—the back of her fingers gently brushing the girl's cheek on the screen...

Three video calls a week?

Even that was a bit challenging for Xiaoyuan.

As her scenes in the later parts of filming increased, she returned to the hotel later and later. Sometimes, she even had to rehearse with Zhou Yu, and most of her scenes were night shoots.

What made her happy was that whenever she wanted to video call Wei Zhuang, as long as she dialed, Wei Zhuang would answer.

Of course, Xiaoyuan tried to keep the calls before midnight and only when she was alone, ensuring they could chat freely. Most of the time, she was the one talking while Wei Zhuang listened.

Cai Juan knew she was chatting with Wei Zhuang, but Tiantian wasn't entirely clear on who she was video calling. Still, Tiantian had good boundaries and would always excuse herself early.

One day, while engrossed in discussing the plot with Wei Zhuang, Xiaoyuan vaguely remembered Tiantian telling her the bathwater was ready and she should soak while it was warm. Without thinking, she walked into the bathroom, naturally propping up the iPad and continuing to talk to Wei Zhuang. "So, Liang Ji is really too tragic..."

It wasn't until she had unbuttoned her top and felt the chill on her shoulders that she suddenly realized something was amiss. She froze, her face blushing with embarrassment as she glanced at the iPad screen.

In that fleeting glance, she didn't even catch the other person's expression before turning away, her heart pounding in her throat. Worse still, she didn't hear Wei Zhuang say anything, but she was absolutely certain Wei Zhuang was watching her.

"Then... uh... then..." Xiaoyuan stiffly turned her body away, struggling for several seconds before finally saying, "I'll go... shower first. Yeah, I'm busy now, gotta hang up."

She took a deep breath, clutched her clothes tightly, and fumbled to tap the red button on the iPad screen.

"Phew~" As soon as the iPad closed, she covered her face and slumped onto the bathroom floor, burying her face in her hands.

'This won't do! Even though we've already... done that, it's still so embarrassing!'

Dazedly, she stepped into the shower. Water cascaded down, droplets covering her entire face.

A strange thought suddenly flashed through her mind—did Wei Zhuang think she was trying to seduce her just now?

Would that even work if it was intentional?

Did she even see anything on her end?

Xiaoyuan shook her head, sending water droplets flying everywhere.

'Ahhh! Can't keep thinking nonsense like this!'

In truth, Wei Zhuang had seen everything.

It was clear that Xiaoyuan hadn't been paying attention at the time, but the incident happened so suddenly, and the angle was just perfect—the snow-white curve of her side profile, a few strands of hair swaying with her movements to brush against the rosy peak.

To be honest, Wei Zhuang hadn't had time to look away either.

But then, in her flustered state, those soft, pale mounds had jiggled slightly with her frantic movements—every motion captured clearly...

Two or three seconds later, the video went dark.

Wei Zhuang had never encountered this situation before. It was certainly alluring, but also somehow... indescribably...

Silly.

In the solitude of her own space, a smile spread across the woman's eyes, her body language softened, and with her hand resting on her chin, she chuckled softly.

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