Her buttocks had barely begun to lift when her waist tightened abruptly. A pair of large hands, catching her completely off guard, clamped down, holding her firmly and preventing any movement.
"You—"
Xia Wei Liang suddenly fell silent.
So abruptly...
Without any reason...
Utterly bewildered...
She became quiet.
She remained utterly still, her body stiff and rigid, her back held ramrod straight, afraid to touch him again!
The expression on her face was beyond words!
It was just... incredibly awkward, to put it mildly.
She truly couldn't even cry from laughter. Mechanically, she raised a hand and poked the corner of her mouth, trying to comfort herself inwardly.
*Heh, what’s the big deal!!*
*I-isn't it just a normal physiological phenomenon!*
Sensing her stiffness, the man behind her slowly straightened his body and leaned against her.
Ahhh!
Xia Wei Liang felt her entire back burning. If she were to jump up now, wouldn't that make her seem like someone who had never seen the world before?!
"That time at the hotel..."
"!!"
Xia Wei Liang immediately adopted a serious expression. "Teacher Xiao, it was all a misunderstanding."
The man behind her lowered his dark eyes, his gaze sweeping over her slender, fair neck. His voice grew even fainter, so delicate it seemed it could be scattered by the wind at any moment.
"You threw yourself at me both times. Claiming it was a misunderstanding lacks persuasion~ And I recall, you weren't just persistent that night..."
What she had wanted to pretend never happened, was now like a bomb exploding in her mind when he brought it up.
Xia Wei Liang shot up, taking a step back, her face red as she explained, "What 'once, once twice, three or five times,' I don't understand what you're talking about... Besides, that that that time I was also set up by... by someone else..."
"Oh?"
The man slowly stood up, bracing his hands on the armrests on either side of her, trapping her within them little by little.
Staring at her evasive eyes, he spoke word by word, "Xia Wei Liang, do you think I came here to settle old scores with you?"
"Aren't-aren't you?"
Xia Wei Liang tilted her head to look at him, her voice changing pitch along with it.
Are you, old sir, really not settling old scores? Just a whim, a casual chat?
"Regarding you sleeping with me..."
Xia Wei Liang clutched her chest, almost spitting out a mouthful of old blood!
"Teacher Xiao, please give me a chance. I've already turned over a new leaf!"
Xiao Yi sneered, his stern face drawing even closer. "Then what should we do? You've already caused me harm."
"..."
*Wuwu, I really want to lie down and pinch my philtrum.*
Taking a deep breath, she cast her gaze elsewhere and softly defended herself, "Who caused whom harm... isn't certain yet~"
After all, that was her first time... a memory she had deliberately downplayed.
He's a man, couldn't he have exercised a little self-control?
He took all the advantage, and now he's playing the victim? Isn't that a bit too much, Teacher Xiao?
He glanced at her, his lips pressed together, it was unclear whether he was amused or something else. The corners of his lips were slowly turning upwards, and then he spoke slowly, "You're right, I should be responsible for you."
"No need!" Xia Wei Liang reacted sharply, her 'Er Kang' hands almost poking him in the face. "For something like this, neither of us wanted it! We're all people of the jianghu! We don't fuss over trivialities!"
"Don't fuss... over trivialities?"
Xiao Yi gritted his teeth, chewing on those words. The expression on his face turned visibly colder.
"Ah, what I mean is... we're all in the same circle, we see each other face to face constantly. To avoid future awkwardness, it's better to just pretend it never happened... especially since I'm still in my... rising phase..."
This last sentence, the emphasis, was practically written on her forehead.
Peeking at his expression, the more she spoke, the softer her voice became, and the darker the man's expression grew.
Xia Wei Liang was about to cry.
This male god is offering to solve your worries, why is he putting on a show of cold indifference right now?
Does she have to cling to him just because of one unexpected moment of physical contact? Should she even be planning how to get her child onto his household registration?
Please, that's a supporting female character's script!
Not the script for a powerful, elegant, immortal sect’s great female lead!
The man's handsome and refined face held a hint of mockery.
It was as if he was laughing at her, or perhaps at himself.
He took a step back, his gaze as calm as flowing water swept over her, his voice devoid of any fluctuation. "I understand what you mean."
"Y-you do?"
Xia Wei Liang was almost numb from the imposing, frosty, domineering aura he exuded.
What did she mean?
Didn't she understand herself?
"I-it's best if you understand, we're still friends..."
*Tsk!*
After saying that, Xia Wei Liang wanted to slap herself twice.
Listen to that!
Ah, listen to that!
Tell me, isn't she being a scumbag!
After sleeping with someone, not taking responsibility is one thing, but wanting to remain friends? Is that even human language?
As expected, Xiao Yi's expression grew even uglier.
He turned and opened the car door, getting out.
Xia Wei Liang, behind him, tried her best to maintain a smile, determined not to cry.
"Brother Yi, why so soon..."
Yan Zhi initially wanted to tease a bit, but upon noticing his brother's displeased expression, he wisely shut his mouth and quickly followed him as he strode into the hotel.
After Xia Wei Liang got out, Nuo Mi also came over. "Sister Wei Wei, I think Brother Yi's expression looks... not good. Did you two have a fight?"
Xia Wei Liang maintained an elegant upward gaze at a thirty-two-degree angle to the sky, the curve of her lips seemingly welded in place. She said faintly, "Nuo Mi, I have a friend who just offended the Best Actor who won three Golden Awards. Do you think she'll be able to have a good time in this circle anymore?"
Upon hearing this, Nuo Mi immediately pulled out her phone and made a call.
"Sister Huan! Sister Wei Wei offended Brother Yi! Quickly think of a solution! If she gets blacklisted, we'll all be unemployed!!"
Xia Wei Liang: "..."
--
That evening, the crew announced an impromptu gathering.
Given Director Zhou's stingy nature, for him to willingly pay for the entire crew's meal was a sight rarely seen.
However, he seemed to be in good spirits, his eyes almost squinting into slits as he pulled Xiao Yi to the side to chat.
Xiao Yi maintained a cold expression throughout, responding to the director’s words while keeping his eyes closed, lost in thought.
Vice Director Wang stood at the entrance of the hotel restaurant, constantly looking around. When he saw Xia Wei Liang arriving late, he was startled.
Xia Wei Liang had her long hair down, no makeup, wearing a white dress and a black cloak.
From a distance, she looked like she could pull out a broom and fly on it at any moment...
Vice Director Wang was adept at observation, especially when it came to capturing emotions; he had a rare talent for it, truly a friend to humanity!
"Yo yo yo, what's going on here?" he asked Nuo Mi, who was following behind her. "How many bottles down to be this downcast?"
Little Nuo Mi shook her head helplessly.
With his extraordinary talent, Vice Director Wang immediately sensed a hint of gossip. He greeted Xia Wei Liang even more enthusiastically. "It's okay, it's okay, Brother is here! I'll find you for a private chat later!"
Then he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You're the main character tonight! During the family recognition, you have to nail that stepmother vibe, make it solid!"
Family recognition?
Xia Wei Liang was a bit slow to react at this moment. After entering, she was directly seated by Vice Director Wang in his own seat, which was to Director Zhou's right.
"You're sitting here tonight!"
Xia Wei Liang waved her hands. She was the third female lead, and in a crew with a clear and strict hierarchy, the seats beside the director were not something her current standing could command!
She subtly glanced at the Best Actor seated at the other end, which made her even more hesitant to act presumptuously.