IOLYF Chapter 16

The set of *The Residual Sword* was packed with big-name actors. Even those with just a minute or two of screen time were often played by well-known faces in the industry. They weren’t there just for the roles; many simply wanted to be seen by Liu Hekun, a famous director. So, the area around the set was usually surrounded by a fleet of trailers. Even with the production nearing its end, there were still a dozen or so trailers parked around, and the crew had grown accustomed to it.

When Mo Ming arrived on set in a trailer that morning, no one thought it was out of the ordinary. Especially after that video had spread overnight, everyone felt it was only fitting that Mo Ming had upgraded his mode of transportation.

As Mo Ming sat in the makeup room, Xiao Song noticed a shift in how his colleagues treated him. Everyone suddenly seemed overly polite, even the makeup artist, who kept asking nervously every few minutes, “Is this okay, Mr. Mo?”

But Mo Ming acted like nothing had happened, calmly and methodically going about his usual routine.

Mo Ming had a scene scheduled for around 10 a.m., but on Xiao Song’s suggestion, he waited in his trailer beforehand.

Xia Qing, noticing the trailer Mo Ming was in from a distance, asked his assistant how long until shooting began. Then, he pulled out his phone and sent Mo Ming a message.

[Xia Qing]: Your lifestyle has improved quickly, huh [covering mouth in a laugh emoji].

[Mo Ming]: [pouting face emoji].

Xia Qing noticed that Mo Ming often preferred using emojis instead of words, yet somehow, he always managed to convey exactly what he meant. Staring at that little pouting face, Xia Qing chuckled lightly, put away his phone, and walked over to Mo Ming’s trailer.

Once inside, Xia Qing sat near the open door, ensuring he could still be seen from outside, with a script in his hand, pretending to be busy.

“You’re being overly cautious, aren’t you?” Mo Ming murmured, his lips curling slightly. “Am I really that dangerous?”

“Now that you’re Han Shao Zhou’s boy, if any misunderstandings about us got out, what would happen to my career?” Xia Qing joked. “But aren’t you worried Han Shao Zhou might just dump you in a fit of anger?”

“Doesn’t Xia Ge know? He’s bound to throw me away sooner or later…”

Mo Ming sat on the opposite side of the small table from Xia Qing, resting his chin in one hand. His delicate eyebrows drooped as his lips curled into a sorrowful, pitiful expression.

Xia Qing glanced at the crew members walking outside the trailer, restraining himself from getting up.

“When you first got involved with Han Shao Zhou, didn’t you realize he was using you as a stand-in for Wen Ci?”

“I knew…” Mo Ming whispered, “My adoptive father is a gambler, drowning in debt. I had no choice but to… help him pay off his debts.”

Mo Ming’s eyes grew misty, and in a low, hoarse voice, he asked Xia Qing, “Xia Ge, does that make me fallen?”

Xia Qing’s heart skipped a beat under Mo Ming’s teary gaze. “No, it doesn’t.”

“Han always treated me as someone else’s shadow,” Mo Ming murmured, his chin resting on his crossed arms like a wounded kitten. “You must have noticed, I’ve been in the industry for over a year, and the company never promoted me. He’s always kept me hidden away, as if I’m something shameful… If that video hadn’t been leaked online, the company wouldn’t have even given me this trailer.”

Everything seemed to make sense.

Xia Qing’s gaze softened with a hint of sympathy. “So what are you planning to do now?”

“I don’t know…” Mo Ming buried his face in his arms, his voice muffled, “He was so angry last night, thinking I’d leaked the video to use him for hype. He talked about breaking up with me…”

Xia Qing’s expression froze for a moment. “And you…”

“I begged him… and he reluctantly kept me. But I know, he’s already tired of me.”

“Then why are you so determined to stay by his side?”

“He gives me fifty thousand yuan a month for spending money. I… need that money to support my family. I just think, as long as I can stay one more day, I will…”

Xia Qing was genuinely shocked. “Fifty thousand? Han Shao Zhou is that stingy? That doesn’t seem right. Everyone knows how lavish he was when pursuing Wen Ci.”

“Han Shao Zhou isn’t stingy, but it depends on the person. I’m just…” Mo Ming’s voice grew increasingly hoarse, “…a stand-in.”

Xia Qing finally couldn’t resist and got up to sit closer to Mo Ming. He gently ran his fingers through Mo Ming’s soft hair.

“Maybe you should just break it off. You’re so good-looking; who wouldn’t want you? Does it have to be Han Shao Zhou?”

Mo Ming slowly lifted his head, his eyes glistening with moisture. “I’m scared. I’ve only ever been with Han. I don’t know much about this kind of thing, and I don’t dare to get involved with strangers…”

Looking into those beautiful eyes, filled with a mixture of vulnerability and expectation, Xia Qing felt his throat tighten. Mo Ming subtly reached out, lightly hooking his finger around Xia Qing’s hand that hung by his side.

“Xia Ge, would you mind…?” Mo Ming asked softly.

Xia Qing’s breathing grew heavier. He was about to say something when his assistant called from outside the trailer.

“Xia Ge, the shoot is about to start. You need to get ready.”

Xia Qing responded with irritation, “Alright, I’m coming.”

Mo Ming wiped his eyes and stood up, speaking gently, “Xia Ge, you should get going. Don’t let me hold up your work. Just forget everything I just said.”

Xia Qing gently pinched Mo Ming’s chin, smiling as he looked at him, “You don’t realize how much your pretty face charms people. If Han Shao Zhou doesn’t appreciate you, that’s his loss.”

Mo Ming blinked, his face flushing slightly.

“I get you,” Xia Qing chuckled softly, “Don’t worry, Ge won’t leave you hanging…”

Xia Qing left the trailer feeling quite pleased, while his assistant followed closely, nervously reminding him, “Xia Ge, that Mo Ming is Han Shao Zhou’s boy.”

Even if he were slow, he could still see that Xia Qing was interested in Mo Ming… This seemingly gentle and harmless young actor had been clinging to Xia Qing these past few days, asking for advice, acting like Xia Qing’s little fanboy, all while sporting an innocent, attractive face more seductive than anyone Xia Qing had ever been with.

“I know,” Xia Qing laughed, “That’s what makes it exciting…”

He had no fear of Han Shao Zhou and Mo Ming’s relationship. Even if he took this little guy to a hotel room right now, he wouldn’t have to worry about any repercussions, especially since Shen Xixi had told him that Wen Ci would be returning to Chuanhai soon.

Mo Ming was just a poor thing, terrified of being dumped by his sugar daddy, clinging to Xia Qing as if he were his last hope.

The late autumn sun was warm and gentle.

After Xia Qing left, Mo Ming sat on the steps of his trailer, tilting his head up to bask in the soft, refreshing morning light, taking a deep breath.

Xiao Song returned with a cup of hot milk tea, only to see Xia Qing coming out of Mo Ming’s trailer.

Since discovering that Mo Ming liked Han Shao Zhou, Xiao Song had been puzzled by Mo Ming’s closeness to Xia Qing. But there was no way he would ever believe that Mo Ming was trying to play both sides.

His Mo Ge wasn’t that kind of person…

“When you record that variety show next month, Mo Ge, you should keep your distance from Xia Qing,” Xiao Song handed the hot milk tea to Mo Ming, his face conflicted, “To be honest, I’m really worried Xia Qing might trick you.”

After last night, he felt like the whole world was trying to deceive Mo Ming.

His Mo Ge was just too pitiful…

Prompted by Xiao Song’s reminder, Mo Ming recalled the variety show scheduled for early next month and frowned.

He hadn’t expected to meet Xia Qing in advance on the set of *The Residual Sword,* and given the current situation, it seemed unlikely that Xia Qing would continue participating in that variety show. So the show held little significance for Mo Ming now, but since he had already signed the contract, it wouldn’t be right to back out.

“Xiao Song, can the company coordinate with the show’s producers to find a replacement?”

Xiao Song was taken aback, “It’s possible, but both sides would need to agree to the change. Mo Ge, are you saying you don’t want to do the show anymore?”

“I’ve been thinking about it. There are probably other artists at Xingci who want this spot more than I do.” But if they couldn’t work it out, he wouldn’t bail at the last minute. He didn’t want to leave any trouble behind for Xi Nan before leaving the company.

Xiao Song gave a wry smile, “Mo Ge, you should forget about that idea. If it was before last night, the producers might have agreed to replace you. After all, Xingci has plenty of bigger names to fill in, and they wouldn’t lose out. But after what happened last night, there’s no way. After that incident, Mo Ge, you’re like a walking, talking hype machine. The producers are probably thrilled and would never agree to switch you out.”

“…Okay, I was just asking.”

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