Xi En smiled, not explaining further, and genuinely admired the plants by her side.
Many plants were meticulously cared for indoors. Not many people visited after the New Year, and both of them had deliberately dressed in a low-key manner, with hats and masks on.
However, they looked so perfect together, their celebrity aura impossible to hide. From time to time, people walked over to steal a second glance.
"Here's the premise," Xi En turned around. "In the botanical garden, a couple reunited after a long separation. Time limit: three minutes."
Hearing that it was related to acting, Xia Wei Liang's spirit immediately lifted.
A couple...
Reunited after a long separation...
Xia Wei Liang immediately got into character, visualizing her own background story.
"Wei Liang?"
Upon hearing the surprised voice, Xia Wei Liang's footsteps halted, but she didn't turn around immediately.
She recognized the voice.
She stood still for a long time, not moving.
"Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."
The person behind her spoke with a hint of disappointment. Su Dan Novel Network.
He hadn't mistaken her; he was just uncertain, unsure if she wanted to see him.
He slowly walked closer. As he passed by her, head bowed, he suddenly stopped again.
He lowered his head and saw a hand clutching the hem of his clothes.
His gaze slowly lifted, falling upon her equally flustered face. She still looked the same as she did back then, after all these years, all her emotions displayed openly on her face, including her current panic.
Yet, despite this, she was still persistently tugging at his clothes.
Xi En stared at her blankly. The way she bit her lip fiercely made her gradually overlap with the image he harbored in his heart.
Without a word, emotions began to build in his chest, almost suffocating him.
Finally, he pulled her into his arms, his large hand supporting the back of her head. Feeling her tremble, he held her even tighter, afraid of losing her again.
"Wei Liang..."
After an unknown amount of time, someone tugged at his clothes. "Teacher Xi? Class is over!"
Xi En snapped back to reality, feeling a slight daze for a moment.
He had... gotten into character just now.
Getting into character was normal for an actor of Xi En's caliber, but with her as the subject, and for a teaching exercise, he had completely immersed himself after just a single tug on his clothes!
"Teacher Xi?" Xia Wei Liang extended her hand, waving it in front of him.
Without even thinking, Xi En grabbed her hand.
Xia Wei Liang was startled by his action and stared at him, frozen, not daring to move.
Was this...
Was he still in character?!
Tsk tsk, look at that! Look at what a true actor is!
This is what an actor is like!!
What do you call getting into character in three seconds? This acting is truly top-notch!
He was still looking at her with that gaze of "love at first sight but unattainable," truly outstanding!
"Teacher Xi, I'm impressed! Truly impressed!"
Xia Wei Liang said sincerely, "From now on, I will definitely learn seriously from you, Teacher Xi!"
She was determined to learn all his skills, to walk their path and leave no room for others!
Xi En's eyes sharpened, but he quickly regained his composure, released her hand, and said, "Sorry."
"No, no! I'm not very experienced with getting into character, but rest assured, as long as you're willing to teach, I'm willing to learn!"
Looking at her adoring expression, Xi En slowly turned around. "Shall we go look further ahead?"
"Okay, okay, okay!"
Xia Wei Liang trotted to catch up. "Teacher Xi... how was my performance just now? Did I look like a great beauty seeing her lover after many years?"
Xi En: "..."
"Teacher Xi, you don't have to be reserved, you can praise me heavily, I can take it!"
He glanced back at her and simply said, "Not bad."
"Really?"
Xia Wei Liang felt a flutter of pride.
To hear "not bad" from the Film Emperor himself was such high praise!
She became more enthusiastic.
"Teacher Xi, what's the next part? Are we still playing lovers? Siblings would be fine too. If not, I can even play father and daughter! Or, how about human and beast? Or not human at all, that's fine too..."
Stopping by an artificial rockery, Xi En paused.
Seeing the surrounding scenery, Xia Wei Liang understood.
"Jumping off a cliff, right? A tragic farewell, correct? Come on!"
He chuckled, took off his glasses, and looked up at her. "I didn't expect you to be so proactive."
"With such a good teacher as you, if I'm not proactive, it would be a waste of talent, even God wouldn't approve!"
Xi En thought for a moment and said, "You've improved quickly. Now, let's practice your gaze."
"To interpret the character with my eyes?"
Xia Wei Liang nodded incessantly. "I have no problem with that!"
He raised his hand and pointed at a small white flower on the rockery. "Now, stare at that flower."
"Okay!"
Xia Wei Liang was a good student. Without a word, without a question, if told to stare at a flower, she wouldn't look at the grass.
So, like an enlightened monk in meditation, she sat directly on the rock, staring intently at the flower. She didn't notice that the man beside her was on the opposite side, watching her while she looked at the flower.
Her eyes started to ache, but she dared not shift her gaze. Whether it was deep affection or intense hatred, she stared unblinkingly.
The man lowered his gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"That's enough."
He said.
"Whoosh—"
Xia Wei Liang finally relaxed, rubbing her eyes with both hands. "Teacher Xi, with no exaggeration at all, if I kept looking, I might need a guide dog in the future."
"Then let's get some practice in beforehand."
He suddenly stood up and took her hand.
Xia Wei Liang froze.
What did this mean?
Was the next scene "A guide dog and its newly blind owner"?
Holding her hand, the curve of Xi En's lips widened, but Xia Wei Liang felt a bit uneasy. Was he still in character?
She stared at his hand gripping hers and struggled slightly.
The hint was so clear, wouldn't he understand?
Suddenly, the man in front of her spoke, "Later, I'll ask you questions, like how many trash cans you passed, how many resting benches..."
Xia Wei Liang was startled. Was this a math test now?
Since the teacher had spoken, how could she dare to be distracted? She quickly focused on counting the trash cans, resting benches, and small stone mounds they passed.
One, two, three...
Getting distracted like this, she forgot to struggle. In fact, having someone lead her helped her concentrate better.
Xi En held her hand and involuntarily slowed his pace, his gaze slightly narrowed, his emotions unreadable.
"Alright."
He said.
At the same time, he let go of the hand he was holding.
Slowly releasing it.
"I've counted!" Xia Wei Liang said confidently, "6 trash cans, 8 resting benches, 9 stone mounds!"
He turned to the side. "It's 10, 10 stone mounds."
"10? How is that possible?"
Xia Wei Liang didn't believe it and even went back to count again.
Finally, she returned, dejected. "...Yes, 10."
But how had he managed it?
It felt like he was just holding her hand to prevent her from falling and leading the way, how could he have had time to count?