"Oh."
Yan Zhi reluctantly followed, stealing glances at Nuomi and shivering again.
Finally escaping from the attention of the acclaimed actor Xiao, Xia Wei Liang let out a sigh of relief and put her phone back in her bag. "Let's go in."
Ever since the online altercation last time, she now avoided Xiao Yi as much as possible, fearing another unforeseen disaster if his fans, the Yi Mi, saw them together.
Her reputation was fragile right now; she really couldn't afford any more trouble!
"Wei Liang Jie, wasn't your acting just now a bit over the top?"
"Was it? It was so fresh, natural, and down-to-earth. It's practically a highlight of my acting recently!"
"Sigh, Wei Liang Jie, do you have some extreme misunderstanding of the word 'natural'?"
The two were whispering with their heads close together when someone suddenly called out to them.
"Xia Wei Liang."
Xia Wei Liang froze, then slowly turned around, her lips twitching twice. She forced an unnaturally pleasant smile. "Teacher Xiao, did you call me?"
Xiao Yi subtly raised one of his eyebrows. "Who else?"
"..."
Xia Wei Liang's first instinct was to look around. Fortunately, they were using the artist-exclusive passage. Unless someone from their own side caused a scandal, there was no risk of being secretly photographed.
However, she still pulled Nuomi closer, placing her directly between them.
Nuomi, the unwitting pawn: ...
"Does Teacher Xiao need something?"
She smiled sweetly.
He stared at the flawless, unassailable smile on her face, like a perfectly fitted mask. It made him want to pry into what the face behind the mask truly looked like.
Xiao Yi suddenly remembered her words on the show, spoken righteously to the camera: "As for Teacher Xiao, I am not worthy."
Heh.
Not worthy?
Not worthy of getting into bed?
"Ah—"
A cry of pain came from the other side.
When Xiao Yi snapped back to reality, he realized he had pinched Xia Wei Liang's face, and with considerable force, turning the young girl's cheek red.
Beside them, Yan Zhi and Nuomi wore expressions of shock.
Xiao Yi: "..."
He slowly released his hand. Despite the vexation churning in his heart, his expression remained indifferent. "There are rumors that Miss Xia has had plastic surgery. I was merely curious and decided to verify it myself. My apologies for the intrusion."
This infuriated Xia Wei Liang!
Don't you know yourself if I've had plastic surgery? Su Dan Novel Network
You've studied it all night, and you're still not satisfied?
If you say it wasn't intentional, even the parrot at Mrs. Chen's place upstairs wouldn't believe it!
But what could she do?
He was a renowned actor, his status undeniable. Could she really overstep her bounds?
Thus, Yan Zhi and Nuomi watched the two engage in a battle of acting.
Xia Wei Liang: "That's how it was! Then I'll have to trouble Teacher Xiao to clarify this with my fans!"
Xiao Yi: "Mhm. After all, besides this face, there really isn't anything else worth looking at."
Xia Wei Liang: "..."
Is Teacher Xiao being polite?
Fearing unnecessary trouble, and more importantly, fearing that Xia Wei Liang would ride on his coattails, Yan Zhi stepped forward and blocked Xiao Yi. "Brother Yi, Jun Ge is still waiting for us."
Seeing the obvious intention to avoid being associated with them, how could Xia Wei Liang and Nuomi not understand?
Nuomi pouted and turned around, saying with feigned seriousness, "Wei Liang Jie, we should go in too. Director Zhang, Producer Zhou, and Brother Li are all waiting for us inside for a meeting!"
Xia Wei Liang pursed her lips, suppressing a smile. "Okay."
The little girl deserves a raise!
Just as the two were about to move past, Xiao Yi called out to her again with a frown.
Xia Wei Liang took a deep breath and turned back with a smile. "Teacher Xiao, is there anything else?"
She emphasized the word "else," her eyes practically spitting fire.
Xiao Yi pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "No, nothing."
"Then please take care, I won't see you out."
Xia Wei Liang quickly led Nuomi inside.
"Brother Yi, do you... have something you wanted to say to her?"
As the assistant who had been with Xiao Yi the longest, Yan Zhi understood him quite well.
Xiao Yi turned sideways, his gaze withdrawn, its depth unreadable.
"Not anymore."