"What do you mean you can't appear in front of her?" Bai Bing was completely confused. Weren't these two getting better every day? What happened that she didn't know about?
"She's avoiding me," Lin Xiaoxiao said, her tone full of grievance.
Looking at the girl who had curled up into a tiny ball, Bai Bing patted Lin Xiaoxiao's head with some pity. "What happened between you and Tang Xue? Tell your sister if you can."
Lin Xiaoxiao looked up at Bai Bing with a hint of hesitation in her eyes, but she only hesitated for a moment before telling him what had happened between her and Tang Xue.
Having learned from the experience of the past three days, Lin Xiaoxiao knew that she couldn't figure it out on her own. 099 was just for show and couldn't help much. She also didn't want to drift apart from Tang Xue, even though Tang Xue had already broken up with Lin Yu.
Even if she doesn't have a very close relationship with Tang Xue, it won't have much of an impact on her future mission.
However, she didn't want to maintain a superficial relationship with that person. She wanted to get closer to her. That was her first friend, and she truly wanted to give her the best of everything, even though she hadn't been able to yet.
"Is that what you told her?" Bai Bing's tone was very strange, and the look in her eyes as she looked at Lin Xiaoxiao was also somewhat eerie.
"What's wrong?" Lin Xiaoxiao looked bewildered. She didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said. She just wanted to be nice to Tang Xue. What was wrong with that?
“You…” Bai Bing sighed, “The things you said to Tang Xue must have scared her.”
Lin Xiaoxiao frowned, stretched out her curled-up body, and looked at Bai Bing with a humble expression, "Sister Bingbing, I don't quite understand."
Lin Xiaoxiao was genuinely bewildered. She had only said some things about wanting to be good to Tang Xue, so how did that scare her? She just felt that Tang Xue was very good to her and wanted to be good to her in return, so how did that scare her?
Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao's bewildered expression, Bai Bing sighed, feeling both helpless and amused. She'd never seen Lin Xiaoxiao so silly before, even when she liked Lin Yu.
"You!" Bai Bing pinched Lin Xiaoxiao's cheek. "Tang Xue used to have a boyfriend, which means Tang Xue is straight. You like her and want to pursue her."
You should take it one step at a time. Don't be so bold in expressing your love right away. At the very least, you should find out if Tang Xue is averse to this kind of thing.
Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, as if she was quite shocked by Bai Bing's words.
After a long pause, Lin Xiaoxiao rubbed her slightly sore chin and looked at Bai Bing with disbelief. "Sister Bingbing, do you mean that Tang Xue thought I was confessing my feelings to her?"
Even as she said these words, Lin Xiaoxiao still looked incredulous. Was that what she called a confession? Was she being bullied because she had never been in a relationship? She hadn't said "like" or "love" at all.
"Isn't that right?" Bai Bing raised an eyebrow. "You're just too impatient. No matter what, you should wait until Tang Xue has feelings for you before confessing your feelings."
When she got to this point, Bai Bing sounded unusually earnest. How come she hadn't noticed that Lin Xiaoxiao was actually quite impatient?
"No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense." Lin Xiaoxiao instinctively denied it three times in a row. Heaven and earth can bear witness, she really didn't mean it that way.
She just wanted to tell Tang Xue that she wouldn't hurt her, that she would treat her well, and that she really didn't have any impure thoughts.
"Alright, stop denying it in front of me. I know you perfectly well." Bai Bing didn't believe a word of Lin Xiaoxiao's denials.
Lin Xiaoxiao was speechless, but soon she thought of something else, "Sister Bingbing, could it be that Tang Xue really thinks that what I said to her was a confession to her?"
"It's pretty much true." Bai Bing nodded. "You said yourself that she's been avoiding you lately. She must have been scared by you."
“But…” Lin Xiaoxiao covered her face, “Why would she think that? I really didn’t mean it that way.”
Lin Xiaoxiao wanted to cry. She really didn't have any improper thoughts about Tang Xue. She just wanted to be friends with her. Who knows why her words were misinterpreted like this?
"Didn't you say that she's still talking to you? So the situation isn't that bad." Looking at Lin Xiaoxiao's pained expression, Bai Bing clicked her tongue. In this situation, she was also powerless to help.
"But how am I supposed to explain this to her?" Lin Xiaoxiao clutched her head. To be honest, all of this was just their speculation.
Perhaps Tang Xue's reason for distancing herself from her wasn't this. She couldn't very well run up to Tang Xue right now and say, "Don't misunderstand, I didn't confess to you, I didn't lust after you, you have to believe me, I really just want to be good friends with you."
If Tang Xue had never even considered this possibility, then by saying such things in front of Tang Xue, she would truly have no face to ever appear before Tang Xue again.
"I really can't help you with this." Bai Bing patted Lin Xiaoxiao's head with some sympathy. If it was just about creating opportunities for Tang Xue and Lin Xiaoxiao to be alone together...
So, Bai Bing naturally took on all the responsibilities. However, if Tang Xue really realized Lin Xiaoxiao's feelings for her and deliberately distanced herself from Lin Xiaoxiao, Bai Bing really wouldn't have any other options.
"Sister Bingbing!" Lin Xiaoxiao grabbed Bai Bing's clothes, looking at her pitifully.
"Ahem!" Bai Bing coughed lightly, but couldn't resist reaching out to pinch Lin Xiaoxiao's cheek. "It's not that there's no way."
"What method?" Lin Xiaoxiao pretended not to see the hands that were still messing with her face and looked at Bai Bing expectantly.
Looking into Lin Xiaoxiao's bright, expectant eyes, Bai Bing seemed to see a tail behind Lin Xiaoxiao that didn't even exist.
Bai Bing coughed lightly, covering her mouth, and said seriously, "It would be better if you had a thicker skin."
Lin Xiaoxiao: "???"
"Be a little thick-skinned, be a little more attentive, and pretend you don't know she's distancing herself from you. Just continue to treat her well. Tang Xue is currently heartbroken, so this is the perfect time for you to shine."
Bai Bing patted Lin Xiaoxiao on the shoulder, "Show me the way you used to chase after people."
Lin Xiaoxiao: "???" How do I have to explain it to you so you can understand that I only have deep friendship for Tang Xue, and no other impure thoughts.
"I believe you will succeed." Bai Bing gave Lin Xiaoxiao a thumbs-up. "Now is a time when she is emotionally and physically vulnerable, so don't give up such a good opportunity."
Lin Xiaoxiao: "!!!!"
Chapter 30
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After talking with Bai Bing, Lin Xiaoxiao realized that she couldn't just sit idly by anymore. If she didn't want to drift apart from Tang Xue, she had to take the initiative and at least figure out why Tang Xue was distancing herself from her.
Only by knowing the reason can she prescribe the right medicine. Lin Xiaoxiao agreed with one of Bai Bing's words: you have to be thick-skinned. So the next day, Lin Xiaoxiao went to the filming location alone.
As the biggest investor in the production team, her arrival naturally didn't result in her being treated as an outsider and kicked out. Since Li Zhen was still busy, Lin Xiaoxiao naturally wouldn't bother him. Her purpose in coming was Tang Xue, and whether or not she saw Li Zhen was not important.
"President Li, you've arrived." Running towards Lin Xiaoxiao was a young woman of about twenty-one or twenty-two, with a neat ponytail and a smile on her face, radiating youthful energy. The young woman's name was Li Yu, and she had just graduated from university. She was the assistant that Lin Xiaoxiao had found for Tang Xue.
"Where's Tang Xue?" Lin Xiaoxiao had already looked around when she came in, but she didn't see the person she wanted to see.
“Teacher Tang is resting.” Li Yu pointed to a secluded corner.
Lin Xiaoxiao glanced in the direction Li Yu pointed, but didn't see Tang Xue. Looking at the water bottle in Li Yu's hand, she said, "Give it to me."
Li Yu didn't refuse; instead, she obediently handed the water bottle to Lin Xiaoxiao.
Lin Xiaoxiao took the water bottle and walked in the direction Lin Yu pointed.
"Who do you think is promoting Tang Xue? She actually got to act in a drama directed by Li Zhen."
"Of course, it's definitely a high-level executive of the Lin Group. You've seen what's going on online, with so many people calling for her to be replaced, but she's still firmly holding onto the lead role."
"I don't know where this person came from, but somehow managed to get the lead role. Our Lin Ying-kuo is clearly more suitable for this role."
"What can we do? They have powerful backers. The trending topic demanding the replacement of the actress has been on for days, but it hasn't done anything. We can only say that they are very resourceful and have found a powerful backer."
"Are you guys very free?" Lin Xiaoxiao, who originally didn't want to talk to these people, finally couldn't help but speak up when they said increasingly offensive things.
The sudden sound startled the group. When they turned around, they found a woman with an unusually cold expression standing behind them. The woman's dark eyes gleamed with a chilling light, causing the group to instinctively shrink back.
"Who are you?" one of them asked boldly.
"I'm the golden thigh that Tang Xue is clinging to, the one you all call her." Lin Xiaoxiao stepped forward, her tone even colder. "Is it so satisfying to gossip about others behind their backs?"
The group took a step back, seemingly frightened by Lin Xiaoxiao's icy tone and the coldness in her eyes.
"What's wrong? You were talking so eloquently just now, why are you all silent now that I'm asking you to speak?" Lin Xiaoxiao took another step forward, forcing the group to take another step back. The aura that the original owner had cultivated from years of holding a high position was something these people could not resist.
"President Lin." Just then, a man's voice came from not far away.
Lin Xiaoxiao turned her head and saw Li Zhen's smiling face. "Director Li." Lin Xiaoxiao's voice was a little cold, and her expression was not good.
"What's going on?" Li Zhen glanced at the group of people opposite Lin Xiaoxiao, his eyes filled with confusion. He couldn't understand why Lin Xiaoxiao had gotten into a conflict with someone as soon as she arrived.
Lin Xiaoxiao gripped her water glass tightly. "Director Li, I know you've focused all your energy on filming, but I still hope you can clean up the atmosphere on set. I don't want to see these people anymore. What I hate most are people who gossip behind people's backs."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhen immediately understood that these people must have said something to upset Lin Xiaoxiao. He was also aware of the heated discussions surrounding Tang Xue's acceptance of the role.
He even talked to Tang Xue about this, worried that she might be affected by the things online. He also occasionally heard some rumors on set.
But since he didn't see who was specifically discussing it, he didn't want to make a big fuss. He didn't expect that Lin Xiaoxiao would bump into him as soon as she arrived today.
"Don't worry, Mr. Lin, I'll handle this." Li Zhen was worried that these things would affect Tang Xue and thus the filming. He didn't deal with it before because he couldn't make an example of her. But now that these people are here, things will be much easier to handle.
"Then I'll have to trouble Director Li." Lin Xiaoxiao's expression softened a little. "I came here today to see Tang Xue."
"Please do as you please, Ms. Lin." With this incident, Li Zhen naturally couldn't keep Lin Xiaoxiao to talk any longer.
The moment she turned around, Lin Xiaoxiao's face darkened, the veins on her hand holding the water glass bulged, and the coldness emanating from her body almost solidified.
Just thinking about how Tang Xue had been hearing such comments every now and then these past few days made Lin Xiaoxiao want to sew those people's mouths shut.
It's her fault. She was the one who chose Tang Xue as the female lead, but Tang Xue suffered all the malice. It's because she's incompetent that she had to suffer such a great injustice.
As Lin Xiaoxiao turned a corner, she saw Tang Xue curled up in a ball inside a stool. The stool was small, and Tang Xue's feet could only stick out, making her look pitiful. A thin blanket covered her, and as Lin Xiaoxiao approached, she could see the person's tightly furrowed brows.
Lin Xiaoxiao reached out, seemingly wanting to touch her furrowed brows, but withdrew her hand just before it touched her.
You must be very tired and sad. Lin Xiaoxiao wrinkled her nose and her eyes became a little hot. She couldn't imagine how Tang Xue had gotten through these past few days.
She's already worked so hard, but what's she doing? She's still complaining that she's ignoring her and not talking to her for long, even though she clearly understands her current situation.
Yet she still complains that the other party doesn't spend more time on her. He clearly said he would protect her, but he let her be attacked by others because of her decisions when he couldn't see her.
Whether she was waking up or sensing a gaze upon her, Tang Xue's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.
When she finally saw the person standing in front of her, Tang Xue rubbed her eyes and asked uncertainly, "Xiao Xiao?"
"Mmm," Lin Xiaoxiao responded softly.
"Why are you here?" Tang Xue sat up and straightened her clothes, seemingly surprised by Lin Xiaoxiao's arrival.
"I came to see you." Lin Xiaoxiao handed over the water bottle, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes, but quickly, the smile she usually wore when facing Tang Xue returned to her face. "You need to get some rest." Lin Xiaoxiao reached out and touched the corner of Tang Xue's eye. "Are you very tired?"
Tang Xue subconsciously leaned back, a hint of unease flashing across her face. "It's alright. Although it's a bit tiring, it's very fulfilling. I quite like this feeling of fulfillment."
Lin Xiaoxiao seemed oblivious to Tang Xue's unease, and casually sat down on the small stool next to her, a faint smile still on her face.
"I'm glad you like it." After saying this, Lin Xiao stopped talking, as if she had completely forgotten her real purpose for coming to find Tang Xue.
Tang Xue tilted her head to look at Lin Xiaoxiao, and what came into view was the slightly curved corners of the other's mouth. In the few days since she left Lin Xiaoxiao, Tang Xue would often think of her.
Remembering what this person had said to her, remembering the smile on this person's face when facing her, she didn't know what was wrong with her, but she had to admit that the moment she saw Lin Xiaoxiao, it was as if all her fatigue had been swept away by this person's arrival.
She was really busy during the few days of filming, but not so busy that she didn't have time to reply to Lin Xiaoxiao's messages. She wanted to get closer to Lin Xiaoxiao.
But when faced with Lin Xiaoxiao's kindness, she felt a slight sense of panic. She didn't know if this panic stemmed from fear of not being able to reciprocate her kindness or something else.
She originally thought that as long as she was far away from Lin Xiaoxiao, as long as she couldn't see her, and as long as she couldn't hear what she was saying, she might be able to figure things out.
However, in the days since she left him, she has not only failed to understand him, but she has also been thinking about him more and more often. Whenever she has a spare moment, Lin Xiaoxiao's image will appear in her mind.
"I'm sorry." After some time, a slightly trembling voice rang in Tang Xue's ears.