After the filming wrapped up, the director presented Song Xi with a bouquet of flowers he had prepared, and everyone took photos together to commemorate the occasion. Soon after, the group photo was posted on the official Weibo account.
Fans and netizens flooded the comments.
"Ahhh, so excited for the new drama!"
"What's going on! I still think Song Xi and Hou Hao are a perfect match!"
"Song Xi herself is rooting for the 'Sun' CP, why are some people being disruptive here? Ugh."
"Am I the only one who saw the slap mark on Song Xi's face?"
"Holy crap, I saw it too! Looks like she was slapped!"
Seeing this, Lou Yuming zoomed in on the photo. Indeed, the woman's fair left cheek was slightly red and swollen, not immediately noticeable unless one looked closely. It seemed to have been covered with foundation.
Shao Cheng quickly glanced at his phone screen and said disdainfully, "When did you old fossils start using Weibo? I've never seen you pay attention to gossip before."
Seeing that the other person was unperturbed, Shao Cheng tapped on the table with his finger, "You called me over to eat just to watch you play on your phone?"
Lou Yuming frowned, his voice low, "You eat first."
"..."
Shao Cheng rolled his eyes and took out his own phone, determined to see what could have captured his attention. He typed in the official Weibo name from memory. The latest post was a group photo. He zoomed in with his index finger and suddenly understood. When he looked up again, Lou Yuming was already preparing to make a call with a grim expression.
"It's for the plot," Shao Cheng interjected in time, holding his phone up to Lou Yuming. "The official Weibo just replied to a comment, saying the slap was part of the plot." He knew Lou Yuming well.
Hearing this, Lou Yuming put down his phone and looked at the comments again. The furrow in his brow lessened slightly, but his expression remained grim.
Shao Cheng found it amusing. He took off his glasses and said, "Don't overreact so easily. She's an actress, getting injured during filming is common. Besides, she's just a woman—"
Sensing the sharp look from Lou Yuming, Shao Cheng forced a smile. "Fine, fine, I won't say it. You're not seriously attached, are you? I'll be blunt, I'm not interfering with whatever's going on between you two now, but last time I asked Song Xi, she said she felt about you..."
"I've already made things clear with her."
Shao Cheng's brain stalled for a second. "Made what clear?"
Lou Yuming glanced at the date. "Three more days."
"?" Shao Cheng seemed to understand something, his eyes lighting up with a shock comparable to discovering an extremely rare medical case. "You're kidding, right? You never even confessed to Ke Chuyao! And now you're doing this with Song Xi... You're truly obsessed."
Hearing the long-unheard name, Lou Yuming's thin lips pressed together, and his obsidian-like eyes held a captivating, chilling luminescence.
Shao Cheng sensed the danger and quickly changed the subject. "Alright, three days left. I wish you success in winning her over." The blessing from his lips sounded rather insincere, given his long-standing dislike for Song Xi.
Shao Cheng was against it, but ever since Anna deliberately injured Lou Yuming to provoke Song Xi, he felt it would be better if they ended up together. Anna was too consumed by her obsession; perhaps once they were married and had children, she would give up. Compared to finding a suitable 'supportive wife' for Lou Yuming, Shao Cheng now felt that safety was more important.
...
After filming concluded, Song Xi rushed to G City without delay. The preview of the previous beauty show had been released and received a positive response. She had handled the situation calmly on stage and delivered many memorable lines. The producer wanted her to host the final episode, so they contacted Dai Ze. After negotiations were complete, Song Xi woke up to find herself sitting at a makeup station. She had been working non-stop recently, with her rest time spent traveling, so her skin condition was a bit poor. However, her good complexion meant that after a simple application of foundation, her face instantly achieved a dewy glow.
"Song Xi?" a female voice inquired, laced with disdain. "What are you doing here?"