The awaited Monday arrived. Zhai Xiang arrived at the movie set.
After getting changed and receiving directions, the filming began. The first scene was a flashback with Eclessia's family happily spending time together then everything turns into a bloody scene with her clan murdered by a group of knights having Trystan's father as leader.
âGood job. You're made for this role, miss Lu. â Cheng Zixuan said applauding.
Zhia Xiang finished drinking water.
âThank you. You're next, good luck. â Zhia Xiang said.
âWatch me. âCheng Zixuan said meaning "I'll give you a good show".
Next scene was Trystan's introduction as a noble knight by showing him winning a battle against the country's enemies. Everyone cheered his name and called him their protector.
Zhia Xiang watched and noticed the glances and smirks Zixuan's would give her.
âDid you liked my performance? â Cheng Zixuan asked brushing a hand through his blonde hair.
âYou're a profesionist after all. We're together for the next scene. â Zhia Xiang said preparing for the next scene.
The next scene showed Trystan lost in the woods. He sees the lonely Eclessia collecting herbs and falls for her at first sigh.
âExcuse me... âCheng Zixuan said holding his hand out.
Zhia Xiang jumped back startled and looked at him ready to attack.
âI didn't meant to scare you, apologies. I just want to know your name. â Cheng Zixuan said smiling hoping he didn't gave the wrong impression.
âWho are you? âZhia Xiang asked still suspicious.
âI'm Trystan. I was lost in the woods when I saw you... my heart was struck by Cupid's arrow. â
âWhat a sweet talker you are... creep. âZhia Xiang spat and turned around to leave.
âWait, miss, please tell me your name. â Zixuan asked again.
âNo way. â Zhia Xiang said and left without looking back.
âGood! It's time for break now. â the director said satisfied.
Zhia Xiang went to her changing room to rest.
She didn't expected to see Huang Lan standing on the couch.
âAh, you're here. How was it? I was bored so I decided to come see how you're doing. âHuang Lan tried to explain himself.
Zhia Xiang sat down on the couch and closed her eyes.
âIt's going good. â
âI thought you may get hungry so I brought food. â Huang Lan said placing a bag on the table.
Zhia Xiang opened her eyes and looked at him.
âHe brought food? He thought I would be hungry? Is he trying to win me over? I don't have any particular feelings for him so I'll be nice for now. âZhia Xiang decided and took the bag.
âThank you. â she said and took a sandwich out to eat it.
Huang Lan looked at her and a smile appeared on his face.
âI can bring you food everyday. â he said.
âAlright. â Zhia Xiang said and ate quiet.
âIt's still a long way to go with this mission. I'll finish the other task after I'm done with this movie. â
Knock knock.
âEnter. âZhia Xiang said thinking it's her manager.
Cheng Zixuan entered the room smiling.
âOh, you're here too? What a clingy husband you are, Huang Lan. Anyway, I came to ask you if you're free after we're done for today. âCheng Zixuan asked looking at Zhia Xiang.
âWhy are you asking? âZhia Xiang asked.
âI feel like going drinking later and I want you to be my drinking partner. â
Huang Lan's eye twitched. It was clearly that Cheng Zixuan was interested in his wife.
âI'll like to spend time with her after she's done.âHuang Lan said.
âOh? Are you speaking for her? I didn't know you are that kind of man.â Cheng Zixuan said acting surprised.
Zhia Xiang sighed.
âI'm free so let's drink after. â Zhia Xiang said.
Cheng Zixuan smiled and looked at Huang Lan.
âAlright, I'll go back to prepare for the next scene. â Cheng Zixuan said and left the room.
Huang Lan looked at Zhia Xiang.
âWhy are you looking at me like that? â
âDo you like him? âHuang Lan asked, afraid to hear the answer.
âI do. Why? âZhia Xiang replied and sat at the make up table.
Huang Lan looked at the floor silent.
âMiss Lu we begin in 5 minutes! â a voice announced from the hall.
âOkey. â Zhia Xiang said and brushed her hair gently.
Huang Lan was conflicted, his feelings were all over and he didn't know what to do with them.
The rest of the shooting went amazing and as promised, Zhia Xiang went drinking with Cheng Zixuan.
âSay~ Do you love Huang Lan much? âCheng Zixuan asked getting closer to Zhia Xiang.
âThat's none of your bussines, mister Cheng. âZhia Xiang replied.
âWhat if I wanted it to be? What if... I wanted you for myself? âCheng Zixuan asked looking at her lips.
âFlirting with a married woman? What if people hear about it? â
Cheng Zixuan laughed.
âMarried or not, I'm interested in you. I'm better than Huang Lan so why don't you choose me? â
Zhia Xiang looked at him amused.
âYou're quite drunk, let me call your manager to take you home. âZhia Xiang said reaching for her phone.
âI don't want to go yet! Hm, what if we both go at my house and watch a movie?â Cheng Zixuan asked caressing her shoulder with his fingers.
âNo, thank you. â Zhia Xiang refused and called Zixuan's manager to pick him up.
After Cheng Zixuan was took by his manager, Zhia Xiang returned home.
Huang Lan was waiting her in the living. He noticed her, but couldn't manage to say anything.
Zhia Xiang went to the fridge and took some leftover to eat in her room.
A week passed since the shootings for "Vicious" began and nothing big happened. Huang Lan bought Zhia Xiang food every day and tried to get closer to her.
Today, she attended an interview about the upcoming movie together with Cheng Zixuan.
âWhat are your opinions on the characters that you are playing as? â the lady asked.
âI'll go first. Trystan Marshal is a noble not just in title, he acts with dignity, he isn't just a spoiled rich man. He truly wanted to keep the people of his country safe, but there's more to him. âCheng Zixuan explained.
Zhia Xiang was listening intrigued.
âWhat do you mean? Do you mind telling us more about it? â the interviewer asked.
âHe has a dark side to him, a side that wasn't put in spotlight, but I feel like it was there. He was a little too obsessed with saving everyone and being a hero. He even wanted to mend Eclessia's evil ways, I feel like it wasn't just out of kindness. He knew what his father did to her clan. âCheng Zixuan explained.
âDo you think he was actually evil? â the interviewer asked again.
âI'm not sure. I would like to talk with the author one day and ask them more about him. âCheng Zixuan spoke with a charming smile.
âMoving onto miss Lu, what are your opinions about Eclessia? â the lady asked turning her attention to Zhia Xiang.
âEclessia is a woman who lost everything she loved, without warning, her dear ones were slaughtered in front of her. She had to learn to live with the idea that she's alone now. Her hate for the murderer kept her alive and gave her a reason to live on. When she met Trystan and began to get closer to him she often thought if it's right for her to be happy with him. She always thought she's a coward for living while her clan died.
As for me, I understand her actions and way of thinking even is she was wrong in many instances. In truth, I think she was afraid of dying, she wanted to live despite feeling guilty for being the only one alive. âZhia Xiang explained with a dark glare as she remembered bits of her past.
âDo you think her and Trystan could have had an happy ending? âthe lady asked again.
âThey had a happy ending. Dying was the only way for them to be together. âZhia Xiang sighed and tried to brush the memories away.
âThank you for accepting to be interviewed by us. It was a pleasure having you here. âthe interviewer said.
âIt was our pleasure. âCheng Zixuan said and grabbed Zhia Xiang's arm.
He noticed her weird behavior during the interview and wanted to ask.
Cheng Zixuan brought her to his house and Zhia Xiang didn't protested.
âNow that's we are alone... will you tell me what's wrong? âCheng Zixuan asked.
âWhat are you talking about? âZhia Xiang asked.
âYou had something in your mind during the interview. Something bad. â
âOh? âZhia Xiang asked.
It was right, the memories about her past were coming to her while speaking about Eclessia.
She, too, had to watch her parents die in front of her, but her circumstances were different... much different.
Zhia Xiang remembered that gruesome moment like it was yesterday. Her face showed no emotion, but her eyes were screaming for help.
âWho hurt you? âCheng Zixuan asked, startled by the look of despair in her eyes.
Who hurt you?
That question repeated in Zhia Xiang's mind like a broken record.
âWho hurt me? Was it my father? My mother? Myself? My mind? Who? Who hurt me? The adults in my life? The fake promises? WHO WAS IT? â Zhia Xiang's mind was a mess.
Her body began to shake and her eyes were wide, capturing the shock perfectly. She didn't know the answer to that, or she did know it, but couldn't find it now.
Cheng Zixuan pulled her in his arms.
âCalm down, alright? Everything will be fine. âCheng Zixuan said trying to comfort Zhia Xiang.
âCalm down now. Everything will be fine, papa isn't here anymore to hurt you. Mama will have to go as well... you have to be a strong girl and survive. Forgive me. â Zhia Xiang's mother said with a smile on her face.
The first time Zhia Xiang saw her mother have a sincere smile on her was also the last time she'll see her mother.
Zhia Xiang closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
âYou have to calm down, subject #654, your mind is unstable and I might have to cancel this mission and take you back. â
âI'm fine now. No need for that. â
âDo you feel better? âCheng Zixuan asked, still holding Zhia Xiang in his arms.
âYes,thank you. â
Cheng Zixuan brought a bottle of liquor and two glasses. He opened the bottle and poured the cherry liquor in the two glasses, offering Zhia Xiang one.
She nodded grateful and took the glass, taking a big sip.
Cheng Zixuan looked at her in silence, as much as he wanted to ask, he knew it's not appropriate.
Zhia Xiang appreciated his silence.
After they finished the alcohol, Zhia Xiang was ready to leave. It was around 11 pm now.
âLet me help you get home. âCheng Zixuan said touching her cheek.
âI can manage, don't worry. âZhia Xiang replied looking into his eyes.
âAlright, as you wish, princess. I'll send you home with my driver. âCheng Zixuan said taking his phone out.
âIt's late, why disturb him? I can take a taxi. â
âIt's dangerous. âCheng Zixuan said searching for the driver's number in his agenda.
Zhia Xiang grabbed the hand holding the phone and shook her head.
Cheng Zixuan sighed helpless and put the phone back in his back poket.
âCall me when you're safely home. â
âOk, see you tomorrow. âZhia Xiang said and waved her hand before leaving his residence.
Of course there was the envy in person, Shu Ning, who payed a paparazzi to follow Zhia Xiang around. The man took pictures thinking that's his big catch that will give him a promotion.
âFamous actress Lu Fao leaving Cheng Zixuan's house at night. Is she having an affair? â the man whispered excited to go back and post an article.
Zhia Xiang sensed the man taking pictures of her so she decided to get rid of him.
The man happily hummed as he walked back to his car.
âNot so fast. âZhia Xiang said in a cold, harsh tone.
She looked at the man amused.
âDo... do we know each other? âthe man asked afraid of her stare.
âI don't know. Do we? âZhia Xiang asked walking closer to the man.
âDon't... don't come closer! âthe man said stepping back, hitting the door of his car.
âNowhere to run. âZhia Xiang laughed and took the pocket knife out.
The man shouted once when he felt a cold blade piercing his chest. Zhia Xiang looked at him with her murderous glare as he light in his eyes dimmed and vanished.
âI'll destroy the film in this camera. âagent 0 said ruining the film that had the photos of Zhia Xiang and Cheng Zixuan.