After some time, Lin Ya's mind starts to feel dizzy, spinning, and she can no longer sense what is happening. Her face turns pale, and she breaks into a cold sweat.
Zhu Lu and Tao Ling look at her with concern.
"Hey Lin Ya, don't worry," Tao Ling says gently. "Just take it slow. Maybe she's someone you barely noticed, so she faded into the background."
Lin Ya sighs and nods. She grabs both of their hands.
"Don't say anything to anyone," she whispers.
Zhu Lu and Tao Ling nod and ask if she can manage. She hesitates for a moment, then nods again.
At that moment, Xu Ming comes out from the room where everyone else is already gathered. He looks at Lin Ya and then at her friends, and he grabs Lin Ya's hand.
"What's wrong? Are you okay? You look so pale," he asks.
He tightens his grip slightly as he notices her sweating. "Let's go inside—it's hot here." He looks at her friends. "Follow me."
He leads Lin Ya and her friends into the room, still holding her hand. Leaning slightly closer, he whispers, "I'm here. If you feel uncomfortable, feel free to tell me."
Lin Ya nods. Her friends giggle quietly at the scene.
They reach the table where everyone is seated. Xu Ming pulls out a chair for Lin Ya with his free hand while still holding her other hand. She sits, and he takes a seat beside her.
Yan Yue, sitting next to her, nudges her arm.
"What took you so long, sister-in-law?" he asks.
Lin Ya looks at him, confused. "Sister-in-law?"
Yan Yue's eyes flicker at their interlocked hands for a moment, then look away. "Oh, nothing."
Lin Ya huffs politely.
Yan Yue smirks.
Ming Lang glares at Yan Yue.
"What's wrong?" Yan Yue responds.
"You know that very well, Yan Yue," Ming Lang says.
"Fine, such a killer joy," Yan Yue mutters, rolling his eyes.
Xu Ming leans slightly toward Lin Ya. "Don't mind them," he whispers.
Lin Ya nods, giving a polite, awkward smile.
Despite the ease of others, her eyes return to Li Xiang, sitting opposite her. Lin Ya is sweating constantly and holding Xu Ming's hand like it's a lifeline.
Zhu Lu and Tao Ling barely notice her discomfort, busy mingling with others.
Li Xiang notices her trembling and sweating. She laughs bitterly—not rude, but sharp with sarcasm. She takes a tissue from the box and hands it to Lin Ya.
"You look like a soggy potato," she says.
Lin Ya quickly takes the tissue and wipes her sweat.
At that moment, the director enters and distributes scripts to everyone.
"Since Xu Ming's friends don't know the script or who is playing which character, let me give you a brief introduction," he says warmly, looking at the three of them.
Lin Ya, Zhu Lu, and Tao Ling shift their attention to him.
"The story of Fading Life takes place during the Song Dynasty. It is about two kingdoms at war—the Jiang Kingdom and the Wei Kingdom. They have fought many times because the Wei Kingdom wants to take over the Jiang Kingdom.
"In the Jiang Kingdom, the crown prince Jiang Lin is played by Ming Lang. He is the elder brother of Princess Jiang Mu, played by Li Xiang.
"The general Ling Xiao is played by Xu Ming. Jiang Mu and Ling Xiao were childhood sweethearts. As they grew up, their love deepened. They will face many hardships together. In the end, the last war between Jiang and Wei takes Ling Xiao away.
"The general of the Wei Kingdom is Xiang Lang played by Yan Yue, who serves his king out of loyalty, as he saved him from bandits when he was a kid an orphan who was raised by the king ."
The director looks around. "I'm not just explaining this for just them to understand the plot, but so everyone can grasp the significance of each role and deliver the emotions of every scene properly."
He bows slightly. Everyone nods.
Li Xiang glances at Yan Yue, crosses her arms, and looks at the director.
"Director, do you think he can actually make viewers experience the emotions of hands being tied and loyalty perfectly?" she asks.
Yan Yue glares at her. "What, you think I can't? I am very professional when it comes to acting."
Li Xiang raises her hand to cut him off.
Zhu Lu and Tao Ling watch them argue with wide eyes.
"Okay, we'll see," Li Xiang says.
He scoffs. "Fine."
The director intervenes. "Alright, stop fighting. Go through your scripts—we start shooting officially tomorrow."
Everyone nods.
Lin Ya, still dizzy and blurred, can't take it anymore. She quietly texts Zhu Lu and Tao Ling that she will leave early. They reply, telling her to rest and not to overthink.
Then she texts Xu Ming.
He replies, "Okay, shall I ask my driver to take you back?"
She texts back, "No, I just booked a taxi. It will arrive in a few minutes."
"Alright," he replies.
Lin Ya closes her phone and nods at him one final time. He nods back.
She stands politely and addresses the crowd. "I need to leave early because I have work to do."
Yan Yue looks at her leaving.
"Leaving already?"
"I want to talk and know more about you, sister-in-law."
Lin Ya replies softly, "Maybe next time."
"Okay, you owe us for leaving so soon," Yan Yue says.
Li Xiang rolls her eyes. "She doesn't owe you anything."
She looks at Lin Ya. "Take care and reach home safely."
Yan Yue huffs.
Lin Ya nods, avoiding their eyes, and hurries out.
At the gate, the taxi has already arrived. She gets in and says to the driver, her voice drained and pale, "Take me to Bei Ling Hospital."
The driver nods and starts driving. Lin Ya leans back, closing her eyes as fragments of memories begin to surface.