9 1.8 First Small Star – Bullied Xia Ying

3 months later.

At the audition Venue for the Movie 'Scarlet Heaven'.

Xia Yang had long arrived in that place. Beside him, the film emperor, Lu Ziyun, is seating with him surrounded by a few more actors that were invited for the movie, 'Scarlet Heaven'.

For the Main Lead's position, Lu Ziyun had been chosen unconditionally and was only summoned for the finalization of the actor which would be settled after the audition for the main character, the second male lead, and supporting actors had been filled.

At the moment Lu Ziyun's gaze never fell on his little sun after what happened months ago. Ever since the day, he had seen his little moon cry for him, 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 remained unknown, especially for him.

Then Lu Ziyun saw the advertisement for the perfume 'Everlasting', which he made with Wang 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 but once he recalls the scenes in that short advertisement video where he watched Xia Ying showing more and more emotions on his face as he fell in love with Wang Tian made him lose control of his own feelings instead.

That cute blush that almost made him as red as a ripe apple. That shy but vibrant voice when he loudly scolded Wang 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 classmates when he asked who was giving him flowers. That mischievous smile when he lured Wang Tian over for a kiss and that passionate 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 recall the day when tears fell from those majestic, phoenix-shaped silvery orbs with the same shade as the color of the moon. Whenever he remembers that delicate yet beautiful visage of Xia Ying, he could no longer hold back his changing feelings until Xia Ying becomes the new source of his obsession. So, when he heard that Xia Ying was chosen as a candidate for the main character of the Movie 'Scarlet Heaven', he didn't think twice and accepted the position as Male Lead and even forgot that the main director of this film is none other than the Emperor, his own boss whom he feared in his heart.

He wanted to see him so badly which is why his eyes couldn't help but stay at the entrance waiting for that figure in his dreams to become reality.

Meanwhile, noticing that his lover, Lu Ziyun, ignoring his presence made Xia Yang a bit irritated but didn't dare to show it on his face. He is after all an actor who needs to pay attention to his image at all times.

3 months ago, even before Xia Ying and Lu Ziyun had officially broken up in that hotel room. The Film Emperor treated him as if he was his everything. So when his twin brother and the film emperor planned to meet as usual he seduced Lu Ziyun and asked him to become his official lover forcing the current relationship his brother have with Lu Ziyun to crack. At that time, even Lu Ziyun thought that he finally attained his Bai Yueguang, Xia Yang, as his, and decided to end his relationship with his current lover, Xia Ying. This is also the reason why he told Xia Ying to meet him that night not at their condo but in a hotel instead. Since his supposed beloved had finally accepted him, Lu Ziyun decided to throw away his substitute lover.

Who would have expected things to end up in a way Xia Yang didn't expect to. He thought that his timid elder twin brother would continue to become Lu Ziyun's martyr. He would not only take away his lover from him at the same time destroyed his reputation and everything else would be completely his. When that event happened, the ending is the same as his brother and Lu Ziyun had broken up as he wanted but if Lu Ziyun left his heart with Xia Ying, he would sometimes lose interest in him which scared him a lot, and now what he feared had happened. 

Lu Ziyun and Xia Ying have longed over. Okay, that's what he wanted.

Xia Yang is his lover. This is also what was expected but,

Xia Ying became Lu Ziyun's new Bai Yueguang. This is something he never wanted to happen.

And so he tried to destroy the awkwardness between him and his lover which lead to him opening a conversation out of nowhere.

"Yun-gege, it's been a while 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 that normally would. His heartbeat was still and standard. It did not have that usual fleeting nice feeling.

They have been lovers for 3 months. This is why despite making Xia Ying cry that night, he asked one of the assistant directors that is a huge fan of his to withhold the news of what happened in that hotel. He wanted to protect Xia Yang's reputation from turning black but now he wasn't so sure if what he did that night is truly what he wanted.

The news of that night didn't spread as he expected but when he saw that Xia Ying's name was being pulled in the 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 desire to see him. He looked for him everywhere, but his information was heavily protected as if someone is isolation him from everyone else. Even his new address is considered highly confidential when he asked 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 for information about Xia Ying in the company.

Lu Ziyun lost all connection he had with Xia Ying. The assistant 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 from 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 restarted accepting jobs once again.

The Movie 'Scarlet Heaven' happened to be his first job after his long suspension.

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. Someone who had garnered everyone's eyes without any other reason except for his heavenly-defying beauty. His body line and curve were as if God personally sculpted it. White, smooth skin like silk which looks as soft as a marshmallow, his light blonde hair glitters under the light as if he was covered by a holy aura.

As if an angel descended, the venue was even more silent than night. This is Xia Ying after he took the beautifying pill and became a heavenly fairy that descended into 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 stares 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 by ice. He is not like the one before him, a flawless and gorgeous figure with delicate yet 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 his lover, the film emperor's reaction upon his arrival.

'Isn't that Xia Ying!? Damn, 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 a fairy!? Why would he be here in this mortal realm!?'

'Fuck! 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!? God 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 ended 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 was 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. Whatever it is that is between the two of them before 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. They couldn't move away from their eyes. AT this moment only Xia Ying existed in their line of sight.

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, Wang Tian.

"Go start the audition for the protagonist and second male lead. After that a meeting." Wang Tian ordered as he walked towards his seat but didn't forget to give a smile in Xia Ying's direction.

Xia Ying, on the other hand, ignored him for being so busy that he even forgot to call him last night. Wang Tian smiled helplessly when he saw he got ignored.

The audition begins just like that. The first to begin is the audition for the position of Second male lead, the protagonist's little brother. A bright character who is an embodiment of cheerfulness and honesty which in the end falls in Xia Yang's hands. He gave his elder brother a proud expression when he got the position 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 from others but among them, there are few who saw his smugness when he got his position as a second lead. The film emperor scowled 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 almost 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 the Main Character 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 Wang 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 Main Character, 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 immediately became the center of attention. The judges all frowned when they saw him respond like that. Everyone couldn't help but peek at Wang Tian's expression to see if the emperor is incensed.

"Do you have a problem, Xia Yang?" Wang 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, "Lookup. I didn't allow you to lower your head. Give me an answer for causing such commotion in my movie's audition, Xia Yang," commanded Wang 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, he was the only unaffected one.

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 quieter as he spoke but he didn't dare to look down as he was ordered not to.

Wang Tian heard his reason and couldn't help but raise his brows in marvel. 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 grimace on his face.

"Ho~ and why is it that you're surprised to see your brother enter this audition room? Didn't you know that only his invitation came from me? Are you saying that I, this Emperor, am blind?" asked Wang Tian with antagonism in his eyes.

Xia Yang started to tremble in fear while others were appalled 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 in disguise." Explained Wang Tian.

The corner of Xia Ying's mouth couldn't help but twitch when he heard Wang Tian's explanation of the main character's profile. His angelic fairy-like face unavoidably turns dark for a moment.

Wang Tian saw the changes in his expression and can only smile. He even tried to bully him more to force him to reveal his real personality in public. 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 Wang Tian.

Everyone continues to observe Xia Ying's distorting face as they listen to Wang Tian's nonsense.

After all, everyone in the upper circle knew that Wang Tian and Xia Ying were already in an ambiguous relationship. 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.

In their minds only one thought is shared: 'Ah. Young love…'.

In the end, Xia Ying couldn't help it anymore. He walked toward Wang Tian and even fearlessly grabbed his collar which astounded everyone. They've witnessed their little innocent fairy turns into a demon before them.

"Who the hell are you calling little devil?" said Xia Ying as he reached the peak of his vexation.

Glaring at Wang Tian openly that he no longer cares for his image. On the other hand, the audience watches that overbearing demon king laugh as he observes the darkening face of Xia Ying.

Chuckling Wang Tian, "Your mask broke my little devil~," said with a sly smile on his face.

Pissed 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, Wang Tian couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha~ so cute. He's the best. To think that he is temperamental as well. Hahaha~" Only when he laughed enough that he stopped laughing and started issuing orders to the assistant directors of the movie who came with him.

"You can end the audition. My wife will be the one playing the protagonist's role. Well, if you are worried go get some temporary actor for now."

"S-Sire, are you sure? I mean he… Actor Xia Ying seems very angry." One of the judges asked.

"No. He is only mad 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." Wang 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.