Chapter 9: 1.8 First Small Star Bullied Xia Ying
3 months later.
Audition Venue for Scarlet Heaven.
Xia Yang had long arrived in that place. Beside him the film emperor, Lu Ziyun, is seating with him surrounded by few more actors that were invited for the movie, 'Scarlet Heaven'.
Only for the Main Lead Position, Lu Ziyun had been chosen unconditionally and was only summoned for the finalization of the actor sets after the audition for the main character, second male lead and supporting actors.
At the moment Lu Ziyun's gaze never fell on his little sun after what happened months ago. Ever since that day, he had seen his little moon cry like that, he couldn't help but wonder if the things he did before wronged that little moon to such an extent that he broke all ties with him. It's been a few months since he last saw Xia Ying. This person even moved out of their place and his location is unknown.
Then Lu Ziyun saw the advertis.e.m.e.nt of the perfume 'Everlasting', which he made with w.a.n.g Tian. He was stunned when he first watched it. The Xia Ying in that video is so beautiful.
At first he still looked like he is before, a cold and cool beauty. Always calm as if he is unmoved by anything. Until the scenes where he watched as Xia Ying in that short video slowly showed more and more emotions on his face as he fell in love with w.a.n.g Tian.
That cute blush that almost made him as red as a ripe apple. That shy but vibrant voice when he loudly scolded w.a.n.g Tian when he thought he was a pervert. That small sweet smile when he first received a cosmos flower. That pouting face when he received teasing smiles from his cla.s.smates when he asked who was giving him flowers. That mischievous smile when he lured w.a.n.g Tian over for a kiss and that pa.s.sionate gaze when they got married.
Everything of those is something he never knew. After all, the Xia Ying in his memories is always gloomy.
He is always sad, lonely and in pain. Thinking about this, he knew that the reason for this is because of him. He gives him his body but never his heart. He treated him as a thing but never treasured him.
Until Xia Ying finally got tired of him and then left him that night when they broke up.
Cutting all ties and connection to him.
He could still remember that day when tears fell from those majestic, phoenix shaped silvery orbs with the same shade as the color of the moon. Which is why when he heard that Xia Ying was chosen as a candidate for the main character, he didn't think twice and accepted the position as Male Lead without thinking and even forgotten that the main director of this film is none other than the Emperor.
Noticing that his lover is ignoring his presence made Xia Yang a bit irritated but didn't show it on his face. 3 months ago, even before Xia Ying and Lu Ziyun had broken up in that hotel room. Lu Ziyun had finally attainted his Bai Yueguang, Xia Yang as his. This is also the reason why he told Xia Ying to meet him that night. Since his supposed beloved had finally accepted him, Lu Ziyun decided to throw away his subst.i.tute lover, Xia Ying. Then that event happened and now the current truth is what is happening right now.
Lu Ziyun and Xia Ying are longed over.
Xia Yang is his lover.
Xia Ying becomes his new Bai Yueguang.
"Yun-gege, it's been awhile since we saw each other. Do you wish to have lunch after this?"
asked cheerfully Xia Yang with a bright smile on his face.
A frown suddenly appeared on the film emperor's face as he saw the youth's usual bright smile, but his heart didn't skip a beat which normally would. He's heartbeat was still normal but not that usual fleeting nice feeling and an unease one.
They have been lovers for 3 months. Which is why despite making Xia Ying cry that night, he asked one of the a.s.sistant directors that is a huge fan of his to withhold the news of what happened that night.
The news of that night didn't spread as he expected but when he saw that Xia Ying's name was being pulled in mud because of them. Lu Ziyun couldn't help but feel even guiltier. The ache in him was so much that he even forgot to treat his lover, Xia Yang, with usual love and instead tried to get away from him.
His dreams were haunted by Xia Ying. His smiles and his tears. It was like an endless nightmare for him at the same time it aroused his desires to see him. He looked for him everywhere, but his information was heavily protected. Even his new address is considered highly confidential when he asks his company.
Xia Ying's agent, Wen Lin, treats him like a plague and avoids him.
The whole HR Department of the Empire ignores him when he asks about Xia Ying.
Even his agent was almost fired for asking information about Xia Ying in the company.
Lu Ziyun lost all connection he had with Xia Ying. The a.s.sistant director and his minions who helped him keep the news of that night were all fired at the same time. They say it was the orders from above. Xia Ying's reputation was cleaned after the news of that night came out.
While his and Xia Yang's reputation got extremely dirty, he tried to clean it up and even ask the company, but no one was willing to help them.
All those that used to help him disappeared in the company one by one. The others avoided him except for professional duties. He spent a lot of money just to clean up his and Xia Yang's name. Only after taking a vacation for 3 months waiting for the netizens to forget about their scandal that he started accepting jobs once again.
Scarlet Heaven happened to be his first job after his long rest.
Seeing his lover speaking to him in his daze,
"I will think about it."
Nonchalantly replied Lu Ziyun as he once again returned his gaze to the entrance of the hall as if waiting for someone else to come.
It was at that moment that a commotion took place because someone arrived in the venue who garner everyone's eyes without any other reason except for his heavenly defying beauty. His body line and curve as if G.o.d personally sculpted it. White, smooth skin like silk which looks as soft as marshmallow, his light blonde hair glitters in the light as if he was backed by the holy aura.
As if an angel descended, the venue was even more silent than night. It was Xia Ying who took the beautifying pill and became a heavenly fairy that descended in the mortal world. Even the film emperor was stunned like an idiot as he suddenly stood up from his chair with wide eyes as he stared at Xia Ying in disbelief.
Even Xia Yang was looking at his twin brother with disbelief, he knows his brother's appearance well. He is a cool beauty whose presence is akin to being surrounded with ice. He is not like the one before him, flawlessly gorgeous figure with delicate and captivating features as if being in his presence is a blasphemy.
He can only grit his teeth in silence with immense envy as he stares at his elder twin brother especially after seeing the film emperor's reaction upon his arrival.
'Isn't that's Xia Ying!? d.a.m.n, he is really beautiful!'
'He is usually a cool beauty and unapproachable, before he still looks like a mortal but now no matter how you look he is'
'Isn't that's a fairy!? Why would he be here in this mortal realm!?'
'f.u.c.k! I heard the rumors that he is gay and used to go out with the film emperor. But why is he becoming more beautiful after the breakup. G.o.d is really unfair!!'
The film emperor, Lu Ziyun who calmed down for a moment tried to call for Xia Ying.
"Y-Ying'er"
He calls out as if he were calling his beloved, but Xia Ying just looked at him for a split moment before averting his eyes and walking towards an open seat ignoring his presence.
Xia Ying's reaction portrays only one thing:
'What ends is a done deal.'
.
Upon seeing Xia Ying's reaction when he called him Lu Ziyun gave himself a bitter smile and returned to his seat like nothing happened but his eyes like everyone else inside the room couldn't help but wonder towards the corner where the Fairy seated.
But there is turmoil within his chest as if he wanted to pull over that little fairy in his embrace.
Wanting to show his love and care while endlessly pampering him but he knew that he no longer had any right. As whatever it is that is between the two of them had ended by his own actions.
Abruptly, another loud murmur echoes in the room but most of the main players ignore such things.
Until the director and co-judges enter the room themselves. Once the group entered most of the judges showed shocked expressions on their faces when they spotted Xia Ying by the corner, falling in a state of allure as if they were hypnotized.
It was only when they heard someone cough behind them that brought them back to reality, especially if the one who just coughs is their very own emperor, w.a.n.g Tian.
"Go start the audition for the protagonist and second male lead. After that a meeting."
w.a.n.g Tian ordered as he walked towards his seat but didn't forget to give a smile to Xia Ying's way.
Xia Ying on the other hand ignored him for being so busy that he even forgot to call him last night. w.a.n.g Tian smiled helplessly when he saw he got ignored.
The audition begins just like that. The first one to begin is for the position of Second male lead, the protagonist's little brother. A bright character who is an embodiment of cheerfulness and honestly which in the end fall on Xia Yang's hands. He gave his elder brother a proud expression when he got the position he was invited for but when he looked at his elder twin brother, he saw him playing with his phone ignoring the whole process of audition for Second Male Lead as he was not included in that group.
'Hmph! If he is not called just now for the second male lead position, then he must be invited for a supporting character position. So, what if you're beautiful you are still lower than me...!'
Xia Yang's thoughts as he stares at Xia Ying as if looking down on him.
Xia Yang thought that his expression was hidden to others but among them they are few who saw his smugness when he got his position as second lead. The film emperor frowned when he saw Xia Yang show such an unlikeable expression while his eyes continued to wonder at that fairy in his own wonderland.
Lu Ziyun undeniably thought the same thing as Xia Yang, after all Xia Ying's reputation is in tatters because of him and couldn't help but feel regretful. But as if something hit their faces, Xia Ying's name was called when the audition for Protagonist started and unexpectedly Xia Ying's name was the first one to be called.
"Xia Ying, act scenes 3 and 13."
The one who ordered is unexpectedly w.a.n.g Tian whose eyes never left this person's visage since the beginning.
Xie Ying stood up and answered,
"Yes."
But even before he can show his acting he could hear a loud exclamation from the crowd. It was someone he expected to do so as always. Upon hearing his brother's name called for the position of Protagonist, Xia Yang stood up in disbelief.
"
No way!
"
shouted Xia Yang.
All eyes landed on him when he said that. Moreover, since he stood up from his seat, he became the center of attraction. The judges all frowned when they saw him react like that. Everyone couldn't help but peek at w.a.n.g Tian's expression to see if the emperor is angry.
"Do you have a problem Xia Yang?"
w.a.n.g Tian asked but his sharp eyes landed on Xia Yang's being making the latter shudder from unconscious horror.
"T-That... T-T..."
Stuttering Xia Yang could only lower his head.
A stern voice ordered,
"Look up. I didn't allow you to lower your head. Give me an answer for causing such commotion in my movie audition, Xia Yang."
Commanded w.a.n.g tian as the aura around him became overwhelming, making Xia Ying and others inside the room feel as if they were being cooked on their seats. Only Xia Ying gave out a small smile as if entertained.
In due fear Xia Yang could only answer honestly, "I... I was... Only surprised by that... Brother was invited to be a candidate for the... M-Main C-Character position..." replied Xia Yang as each word became softer and lower as he spoke but he didn't dare to look down as he was ordered not to.
w.a.n.g Tian who heard his reason couldn't help but raise his brows in amazement. Everyone else couldn't help but look at Xia Yang as if he is an idiot. Even the film emperor couldn't stop himself from pulling the lad to stop talking with a frown on his face.
"Ho~ and why is that you're surprised to see your brother enter this audition. Didn't you know that only his invitation came from me? Are you saying that I, this Emperor, am blind?"
asked w.a.n.g Tian with antagonism in his eyes.
Xia Yang started to tremble in fear while others were shocked when they heard that it was the emperor who sent the invitation to Xia Ying.
"Don't you know what kind of protagonist I'm looking for? A heavenly beauty of an angel with a cold and unreadable expression but with darkness emitting within his heart. A little devil."
Explained w.a.n.g Tian.
The corner of Xia Ying's mouth couldn't help but twitch when he heard w.a.n.g Tian's explanation of the protagonist's profile. His angelic fairy like face couldn't help but turn dark for a moment.
w.a.n.g Tian who saw his changes in expression can only smile and tried to bully him more to force him to show his real personality. He wanted to tease him because he got ignored just now.
"Only someone with an innocent face but an evil personality can become my protagonist. Are you saying Xia Ying doesn't fit those criteria?"
said w.a.n.g Tian.
Everyone continues to observe Xia Ying's distorting face as they listen to w.a.n.g Tian's nonsense.
After all everyone in the upper circle knew that w.a.n.g Tian and Xia Ying were already in an ambiguous relations.h.i.+p. This kind of scene is like the emperor teasing his love for his attention. No one is blind enough not to notice that Xia Ying intentionally ignored the emperor just now when he smiled at him.
They watch the two bickers playfully and taunt each other for attention.
On their minds only one thought is shared:
'Ah. Young love'
.
It was when Xia Ying couldn't help it anymore that he walked towards w.a.n.g Tian and grabbed his collar which shocked everyone. They've witnessed their little innocent fairy turned into a demon before them.
"Who the h.e.l.l are you calling little devil?"
said Xia Ying as he reached the peak of his discontent.
Glaring at w.a.n.g Tian with no fear on his face at all. On the other hand, they watch that overbearing demon king laugh as he watches the darkening face of Xia Ying.
Chuckling w.a.n.g Tian,
"Your mask broke my little devil~"
said with a sly smile on his face.
p.i.s.sed off,
"Shut up, you stalker! Bullying me now, humph! I'm leaving!"
replied Xia Ying who walked towards the door without any hesitation.
Upon seeing Xia Ying puffing cheeks in anger, w.a.n.g Tian couldn't help but laugh,
"Hahaha~ so cute. He's the best. To think about his temperament as well. Hahaha~ You can end the audition. My wife will be the one playing the protagonist role. Well if you are worried go get some temporary actor for now."
"S-Sire are you sure? I mean he He seems angry."
One of the judges asked.
"No. He is only angry because I intentionally didn't give him a good night call last night. He's just pouting. The rest is in your hand. I still need to coax my wife."
w.a.n.g Tian said before leaving.
As he left a group of stunned people in the venue, but he doesn't care at all.
There was an endless silence left behind him.