After a half-day stroll through the botanical garden, Xia Weiliang had acquired many new insights. She learned that understanding plants not only required the eyes but also the engagement of hearing and touch, and even taste and smell, as these were the ways to truly converse with them.
Xia Weiliang was curious, "Teacher Xi..."
"Call me by my name." He turned his head to look at her, his expression showing a hint of displeasure.
"Oh..." Xia Weiliang still felt a bit embarrassed. After all, he was genuinely knowledgeable and deserved to be called "teacher."
However, since he believed she possessed comparable strength in certain aspects, well, then she would reluctantly indulge him.
"Xi En, how do you know so much?"
"I've acted in television shows related to plants before, so I picked up a few things along the way."
"Truly professional!" Xia Weiliang cupped her hands in a gesture of respect, "I've learned a lot!"
"You're not bad either." He glanced at her sideways, a smile in his eyes, "You can keep up with my pace."
"Naturally!"
Once Xia Weiliang affirmed something for herself, she never doubted it again!
Since the other person offered a ladder, she had to climb it!
He smiled again, "Let's call it a day. I'll take you back."
"No need, I'll cycle back."
Outside the botanical garden, there was a row of shared MoDi bicycles, and she couldn't betray her identity as their spokesperson.
Xi En was worried and said, "I'll go with you."
"No, no need. Teacher Xi... Xi En, you don't know, but MoDi’s parent company has a safety program for me. As long as I'm cycling, the backend monitors everything. If anything happens, reinforcements will be dispatched!"
He, however, shook his head, "That still won't do."
Without further discussion, he grabbed the hood of her jacket and started walking, "Since I brought you out, I must see this through to the end."
"Really, no need..."
He suddenly turned to look at her, "Would you be this polite with Xiao Yi?"
"?"
This was the second time he had asked a similar question today.
Xia Weiliang frowned, sensing the complexity of the issue.
So, was this legendary rival always about competition in everything?
Alas, the more powerful people were, the harder they had to work. Couldn't you look back? There were so many comrades queuing up and vying for position behind you, why insist on looking forward?
Arriving at the shared bicycles, Xia Weiliang operated with practiced ease.
As soon as the bike started, she heard a voice from the other end, "Welcome, Empress, on your noble carriage!"
"Heh heh..." Xia Weiliang's face bloomed into a smile, "Xiao Di, you rascals are mischievous again."
She knew the backend monitoring had already begun. As she mounted the bicycle, she looked back at Xi En, who was still engrossed in his phone.
Xia Weiliang parked her bike and walked over to him, "Can't figure it out?"
Xi En nodded honestly, "First time using it."
"Leave it to me, your spokesperson!"
She took his phone and was astonished at how pristine it was!
After a flurry of activity on her end, she finally managed it, "Done!"
"Thank you."
He smiled and mounted his bike. Looking up, he noticed Xia Weiliang still staring at him. "What's wrong?"
"Xi En, you should smile more."
He froze.
Xia Weiliang added, "I mean, not the usual smile that seems like a mask. Like just now, a genuinely happy smile."
Xi En slowly lowered his head, "Happy... smile."
"Exactly! Like me, no matter how big the problem, you have to smile, and a really happy smile at that!"
The two rode their bicycles side-by-side, with Xi En's van following at a moderate distance.
"Don't you have any worries?"
He asked curiously.
"Of course! I get quite annoyed when I'm broke," Xia Weiliang said with a smile. "But as long as I think that I'm still alive, that I still have time to make up for my regrets, and that I can live life the way I want... then what's there to be unhappy about?"
Xi En pondered her words and slowly broke into a smile, "You're right."
"That's why, this time, I'm determined to carve out a name for myself in the industry through my own merits!"
Xi En found it amusing, "But your current status is already beyond the reach of many."
"That's different. I'm an actress. If I can't even do my job well, how can I face anyone?"
Xi En tilted his head to look at her, "Xia Weiliang, you're quite surprising."
She also turned her head and flashed him a brilliant smile. Although her face was obscured by her mask, her eyes sparkled.
"My life is an accident. Since that's the case, why not let the accidents be even more dramatic?"
As she spoke, an accident occurred.
Thump—
The road suddenly caved in. It was so sudden, so coincidental, that Xia Weiliang plunged headfirst into it—
"Weiliang!"
Xi En dismounted his bicycle and rushed over to save her.
"Ouch!"
Xia Weiliang lay sprawled in the pit, the bicycle pressing down on her.
Xi En jumped in without a second thought, tossing the bike aside. He dared not move her lightly, and after confirming she had no fractures, he helped her up.
Xia Weiliang was disheveled, her face a mask of misery, looking at Xi En with a wronged expression, "My mouth is meant for bad omens."
Once he confirmed she was not seriously injured, the tension finally eased. Xi En was amused by her.
"Heavens, someone has fallen into the pit!"
"Who is so unlucky?"
"Hurry up and save them!"
"Huh? Is that... Xia Weiliang?!"
"Ah! It's the Empress!!!"
Xia Weiliang took a deep breath.
Alright, everyone, clear the way, she was about to perform a mortifying spectacle right here.
The hood of her jacket was suddenly placed on her head. She looked up and met Xi En's gaze. He gave her a reassuring smile, "It's okay."
They say a teacher's brilliance illuminates the earth,
At that moment, she saw a radiant glow from Xi En that could illuminate all of humanity!
"Empress! We've come to save you!"
MoDi's special task force, created for Xia Weiliang, sprang into action, navigating through traffic and crowds. Amidst the bewildered onlookers questioning if it was indeed the Empress, they provided definitive confirmation.
Xia Weiliang stood resolutely in the pit.
She vowed not to cry!
That day, the news of actress Xia Weiliang falling into a pit after her shared bicycle encountered a road collapse once again dominated all platforms.
Looking at the endless string of "Hahahahahahahahaha" in the comments section, Xia Weiliang quietly put down her phone.
"Inhale! Exhale! Inhale again! Exhale again... The world is so beautiful, I mustn't be so irritable... Come, inhale, exhale..."
When Xi En entered the hospital room, he saw her sitting cross-legged on the bed, practicing her breathing.
He chuckled, "The test results are out. It's just a minor soft tissue contusion."
Xia Weiliang kept her eyes closed, her voice as ephemeral as the wind, about to dissipate.
"The extent of the injury doesn't matter anymore. My face is ruined, what's the use of this perfect skin?"
Xi En suppressed a smile and sat opposite her, observing her closely.
Xia Weiliang suddenly opened her eyes and was startled by the handsome face before her, "What are you doing here?"
The door opened at that very moment, and the newcomer's footsteps suddenly faltered.