Showbiz Scandal: The Official Announcement of My Ex and Myself-Chapter 187: A Lion Pretending to Be a Lamb, Full of Flaws
Yu Xia turned back again.
"Ah... oh, okay."
It seems Xie Qingci’s plan was going to fall through.
He Ci pulled a chair over and sat down, adopting a posture like he was ready for a long heart-to-heart talk. Yu Xia cuddled with her quilt and sat up, listening to him say, "People often say you’re the type most easily liked by the opposite sex; I didn’t believe it before."
After saying this, he looked at her with a "I can’t believe I never realized your dazzling charm" expression of amazement.
"I never expected it, that even someone who seems to have impossibly high standards would secretly have a crush on you. No wonder he almost got into trouble before when he beat up that maniac who knocked on your door in the middle of the night. I really thought that today’s young people just like playing the hero. But why though, why does he like you? Did you secretly flirt with him?"
Yu Xia: "...Stop wronging good people."
She shamelessly lied, "Maybe I’m just too charming, always radiating my glow. It’s perfectly normal and natural to be attracted to me."
He Ci: "In terms of narcissism and shamelessness, you’re one of a kind."
She touched her nose and turned her head awkwardly.
"Then what do you think it is? Did I throw money at him and order him to like me?"
"Do you think you’re some kind of rich patron?" He Ci rolled his eyes, and there was a more complex expression on his face upon closer inspection.
It’s that feeling of disdain mixed with inexplicable pride, like the expression of a father in a drama who finds out his daughter is loved by the world’s richest man.
Yu Xia watched his reaction out of the corner of her eye and casually asked, "So what should I do next?"
"Stay away, keep your distance."
She unapologetically shook her head: "That’s hard to say. You know he looks just like my type, and since he’s secretly crushing on me, I probably won’t be able to hold back for long."
He Ci’s eyebrow twitched: "So you’re not even embarrassed anymore? You can just say things like this? You think you’re a playboy surrounded by admirers? Even if you can’t hold back, you better hold back for me!"
Yu Xia shrugged: "I’m just stating a possibility. Not many can keep their composure around someone like Xie Qingci, right?"
"That’s true," He Ci leaned back, giving off an aura much taller than his height, "So for the next while, I’m going to be staying with the crew to keep an eye on you, so you can maintain your composure."
"...No, is that really necessary?"
"I think it’s very necessary. Plus, I can help Mei take care of you. Aren’t you happy?"
She nodded stiffly and reluctantly.
"So happy, haha, I’m so happy I could fly."
Then as soon as He Ci left, she turned and sent Xie Qingci a message.
[Don’t come over, my agent is staying nearby to watch over me]
[Xie Qingci: ?]
[Xie Qingci: What, am I being guarded against?]
Of course, she wouldn’t put it that way about He Ci, so she sweetened it up: [He’s just worried I might get into trouble again and is here to help, so Mei can take better care of me.]
This reason he could easily accept.
[Xie Qingci: That’s good.] 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞
[Xie Qingci: But what about me?]
She recalled the tough days before when she couldn’t even cover the dark circles under her eyes, and with a little guilt, replied to him:
[Just concentrate on filming.]
[Xie Qingci: It’s really sad. Sister turns her face and doesn’t recognize me. I’ve been discarded without hesitation]
If he hadn’t said it, she might’ve felt a bit guilty, but once he laid it out clearly, she felt quite confident.
[Can’t help it, you just like this kind of bad girl, don’t you, darling?]
[Xie Qingci: I don’t like bad girls, just you]
She grinned and typed rapidly: [Sweet talk, but it doesn’t work]
[Xie Qingci: Then let’s video call every night, I want to watch you sleep]
[Xie Qingci: Is that okay?]
Yu Xia noticed that often when he asked something like "okay" or "is it possible," it was always in a separate sentence.
It’s as if, after saying the previous sentence, he felt it was too strong, so he reluctantly added a question that he didn’t really care about.
A lion pretending to be a sheep, full of flaws.
She didn’t find it annoying, instead, she liked it even more, so she replied with an even sweeter phrase.
[I’ll do whatever you say]
Xie Qingci immediately pushed his luck.
[Xie Qingci: Really, anything I say?]
She replied: [Guess?]
What a hopeful thought, this stinky kid really does push it, fully mastering the art of taking a mile when given an inch.
Yu Xia didn’t take up too much of his time, chatted for a bit, then put down her phone to study her script.
The scene they didn’t get right this afternoon still needed to be reshot; they’d have to find another sunset to go up on the roof again.
It wasn’t a problem for her. Although she was injured, it wasn’t serious, and she didn’t feel traumatized. Besides, for action scenes of this level, she wouldn’t use a double, she’d do it herself.
To professional actors, using a stunt double excessively indicates a lack of professionalism and dedication and is subject to criticism.
She memorized some lines for the upcoming scenes and obediently waited for Mei to return.
When Mei came back with her dinner, the three of them, including He Ci, enjoyed a nice meal together in the room.
He Ci lay on the sofa, patting his belly, his fingers elegantly holding a toothpick as he instructed her:
"It seems very necessary for me to accompany you guys. If I didn’t come every two weeks, you’d gain six pounds. Get up, stand for half an hour."
Yu Xia had mentally prepared for the torment. She got up and even performed a one-legged crane stance.
"Even though my injury isn’t too serious, it still hurts, so I need to be careful."
He Ci: "Alright then, just lift your leg high and stand for half an hour. That way, the effect is even better."
"..." Even pig farm feeders aren’t this strict.
She staggered to stand for half an hour, hurried He Ci to leave, then cuddled her phone and whined to Xie Qingci.
Xie Qingci had just finished a scene and hadn’t eaten yet. After seeing her message, he simply brought takeout back to the hotel and called her.
"What’s wrong? Your manager won’t let you eat too much?" His voice was gentle, laced with a smile and indulgence.
Since the female actor wasn’t there, his following scenes were all action ones. By now, he was a bit tired, and his meal was still untouched beside him, but he didn’t mind at all, focusing entirely on the call, and his frown eased upon hearing her voice.
Even though their rooms were right next to each other, being able to hear each other’s voices made them feel as if they were much closer, almost within reach.
Also, he wondered if it was just his imagination, but in this call, Yu Xia’s voice seemed to naturally have a sweet, coquettish quality after being processed through the phone line.
It left his ears tingling, and his tone softened further as he spoke.
"What do you feel like eating, I’ll buy it for you?"
Yu Xia declined but said her legs were sore and numb from standing.
Xie Qingci cherished this sweet atmosphere, feeling as though his long-aching heart was being soothed in a warm spring.
He cooed to her like she was a child, softly biting the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to devote all attention to the sound on the other end of the phone.
"Want me to come over? I can lie with you for a while. Is that okay?"
