Chapter 53 The Meaning Behind Giving Lipstick

After the two had calmed themselves, they sat down to continue their dinner. Lin Xi’s face was still too flushed to be seen, while Lu Yuxiu acted as if nothing had happened, utterly composed.

“You kissed off all my lipstick!” Lin Xi touched her slightly sore lips, curling her fingers and complaining softly.

Lu Yuxiu smiled, satisfied, like a well-fed wolf. His hand rested on the back of her chair. “I’ll buy you more.”

Lin Xi shot him an annoyed glare.

“Wrap-up! Thank you, director!” The actors’ voices rang out from outside.

Just then, Lu Yuxiu and Lin Xi finished their meal as well.

Lin Xi’s eyes sparkled. “Let’s invite Xiao Jin and the others to play games together!” Without waiting for Lu Yuxiu’s reply, she jumped up and went out to find them.

Lu Yuxiu smiled helplessly and followed her.

On set, the crew was busy tidying up. The extras were packing to leave, while a few main actors lingered, chatting idly.

Wen Jin was sitting on a nearby chair, sipping water.

“Hey, everyone, anyone up for a game?” Lin Xi called out enthusiastically, looking at the scattered group with anticipation shining in her eyes.

“Huh?” One of the actresses responded, “I don’t play games.”

“No, no, Xi-jie, I just want to sleep now!” another actor waved his hands insistently.

“I’m in! Count me!” Jiang He emerged from her dressing room, holding her gaming equipment—clearly a seasoned player.

Lin Xi shifted her focus, blinking at Wen Jin.

Wen Jin initially shook her head, lips pressed together, but Lin Xi’s pleading gaze was too much to resist.

“Xiao Jin?” Lin Xi, worried Wen Jin wouldn’t come, stepped forward and jokingly threatened, “Come on, come on? Fourth brother’s taken you through games before, I know!”

“Alright~_~” Wen Jin finally relented.

Lu Yuxiu gathered everyone into a team. Lin Xi glanced around. “Still missing one person!”

“Wait, Gu Yao seems to be online,” Wen Jin said.

“Let’s invite him.” Lin Xi had barely finished speaking when Gu Yao’s avatar appeared.

He spoke through voice chat, surprised, “Xiao Jin? You’re online? Just finished work and not resting?” A hint of rebuke in his tone.

“Oh, Fourth Brother, I asked Xiao Jin to play with me!” Lin Xi couldn’t help but retort.

The two clashed immediately.

“Why are you all suddenly gaming? Yuxiu, you too? Haven’t you been away from games for ages?” Gu Yao sounded even more astonished.

“Hey, Gu Yao!” Jiang He greeted him.

“Alright, alright, let’s start!” Lin Xi was already impatient.

“Buzz—” The phone vibrated, entering the hero selection screen.

“I’ll play jungle, I’ll play jungle.” Gu Yao said arrogantly, “This matchmaking is no different from playing with kids.”

“I’ll choose mage,” Lin Xi picked a female hero she’d been practicing.

Wen Jin took support, Lu Yuxiu chose marksman, and Jiang He naturally filled the top lane.

On the waiting screen, Lin Xi noticed heart icons beside Gu Yao and Wen Jin’s nicknames.

“What’s this?” Lin Xi leaned toward Wen Jin to ask.

Wen Jin smiled sweetly and explained, “It’s a couple badge. You can also set up best friend or sworn sibling badges—once intimacy hits 1000, it shows up in the game.”

“Oh~ so that’s how it works.” Lin Xi nodded in understanding, then turned to Lu Yuxiu. “I want that badge too!”

“Alright!” Lu Yuxiu’s smile was indulgent, obliging her.

Suddenly, a “tsk!” came from the earpiece. Lin Xi instantly fell silent, pursing her lips, realizing she’d forgotten Fourth Brother was listening.

After all, she hadn’t reported her relationship, so it was natural for her brothers to be displeased, though they wouldn’t forcibly stop her; Fourth Brother could only let her go.

Lu Yuxiu, seeing her like this, felt a little uneasy himself. He freed a hand to pinch her nose. “Little coward!”

Lin Xi protested, scrunching her nose, unaware of the gravity of the situation.

When she was young, her brothers cherished her, insisting any future boyfriend would need their approval before dating her, and should always be ready for a “surprise inspection.” She had sweated at the thought—did they want her to find a god? Invulnerable? Steel arms? No one would dare pursue her!

Enough of that.

Honor of Kings was a wildly popular domestic 5v5 competitive game, boasting dozens of heroes, focusing on skill and awareness. The background music was exhilarating and addictive.

Lin Xi, eager to learn quickly, had watched plenty of short clips in private. She was still a rookie but found herself increasingly hooked—the worse she played, the more she loved it.

“Buzz—” came the greeting, “Welcome to Honor of Kings!”

The game began. Lin Xi controlled her hero, Xiao Qiao, on the mid lane, safely leveling up to four—and then got caught twice by the enemy jungler due to poor positioning.

“Ugh, so annoying! Why does their jungle keep targeting me?” Lin Xi finally complained.

“Stay under the tower, I’ll avenge you!” Gu Yao declared, confident. “Xiao Jin, let’s go!”

Wen Jin played the support hero Yao, who could attach to teammates and provide shields.

Gu Yao controlled Yaoyao, charging forward with Wen Jin, instantly eliminating the enemy jungle.

Lin Xi raised her brows in surprise. “Fourth Brother, not bad! Your reputation isn’t just hot air!”

“Tsk!” Gu Yao scoffed. “Don’t underestimate me!”

As they bickered, Lu Yuxiu suddenly moved to sit beside Lin Xi. She hadn’t noticed anything amiss, continuing to play, smiling.

His hero remained unmoving in-game. Lin Xi turned to him, noticing his somewhat plaintive gaze.

She blinked in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“I can avenge you too,” he said suddenly, a hint of grievance in his tone.

“Huh?” Lin Xi was momentarily stunned, her mind racing before arriving at an improbable conclusion.

“You’re jealous!” Lin Xi, wary of the others hearing, leaned close to his ear, eyes wide.

From his eyes, she could clearly read: “You’re just now realizing?”

Lin Xi couldn’t help but laugh, pulling at his collar. “Are you the king of jealousy? So possessive!”

Lu Yuxiu snorted, stealing a kiss from her cheek. Lin Xi couldn’t hide her smile, shooting him a mock glare.

That night, the group got carried away, gaming until one or two in the morning.

The next morning, all stood before Lu Jin with heavy dark circles. His gaze swept over them.

His expression was indescribable. After a long silence, he finally spoke, astonishing them: “Did you all team up to rob a bank last night?”

“Pfft—” Jiang He couldn’t hold back, bursting out laughing at Lu Jin’s dry humor.

“Lu... Director Lu, how did you discover our secret? Unless you joined us?” Jiang He joked, making Lin Xi and Wen Jin grin widely.

Lu Jin glared, smacking Jiang He’s back. “Enough nonsense. Go get your makeup done, cover those dark circles, we start soon!”

“Alright, alright! I’m off!” Jiang He responded quickly, shooting Lin Xi and Wen Jin a playful wink.

Lin Xi and Wen Jin nodded obediently, linking arms as they followed.

After they’d gone, Lu Jin raised his brows at Lu Yuxiu. “Not bad, son! Living it up lately, huh? Pulling all-nighters together!”

Lu Yuxiu glanced at his father coolly. “Mm. I’m still young, after all.”

With that, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and headed for the makeup room. Lu Jin mulled over the remark, then snapped, “You brat!” startling a staff member passing by.

Lin Xi was dragged to makeup by Miya and Xiao Ke. Sitting before the mirror, script in hand, she couldn’t help but picture the game screen whenever she closed her eyes. She wondered if she was possessed—once you fall into gaming, it’s deep as the sea.

She couldn’t resist spending money, getting skins for her favorite heroes, swapping effects, becoming a VIP 8.

Lin Xi squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself not to neglect her work.

As she recited her lines with eyes half-closed, a big red box appeared before her. She looked up—Lu Yuxiu had placed a lavish gift box atop her script.

“What’s this?” Lin Xi asked, tilting her head.

His smile was indulgent. “Open it and see.”

Curiosity piqued, Lin Xi lifted the lid, revealing a box full of lipsticks in every shade. She recognized them—they were the hottest, most expensive brands, striking straight at her heart!

Every girl’s dream, surely.

“Wow!” Xiao Ke exclaimed beside her, awed by the extravagance.

Lin Xi was amazed, her smile growing uncontrollably. “How did you think of giving me lipstick?”

He leaned in, lowering his voice with unmistakable intimacy. “Didn’t you complain yesterday that I ate all your lipstick?”

Lin Xi blushed instantly. He actually remembered such an embarrassing detail!

Lu Yuxiu, oblivious to her embarrassment, grinned mischievously. “From now on, return a bit of lipstick to me each day.”

Lin Xi stared at him, astonished. Was this something a person would say? What a shameless flirt!

Miya and Xiao Ke shrank in their corners, mentally chanting that they were wooden dolls, hadn’t heard a thing.

“Time for work!” Crew members called at each dressing room door.

“Let’s go.” Lu Yuxiu took Lin Xi’s hand, the two heading for set as if no one else existed.

A staff member sighed, “Those two are a perfect match! Why haven’t they announced their relationship? I can’t wait!”

“Right! It feels like I’m sitting on a big secret, and can’t tell anyone—it’s torture!” another agreed.

Lin Xi heard them, her face reddening like an apple. She patted Lu Yuxiu’s hand, signaling him to let go. “Hey, hey, pay attention to appearances!”

“We’re a proper couple,” Lu Yuxiu insisted, refusing to loosen his grip.

“Hmph!” Lin Xi frowned. “I haven’t officially approved you yet!”

Lu Yuxiu raised a brow, leaning in. “I thought I’d already satisfied you—so not yet?”

Lin Xi, used to his teasing, reminded him kindly, “I see our ‘God of Repair’ is getting thicker-skinned! Do your fans know you’re like this? Careful you don’t lose them!”

“Heh,” Lu Yuxiu laughed softly. “As long as you know, that’s enough. Why worry about face in front of my woman? You’re all I need.”

Lin Xi blushed again, thoroughly flustered by his flirting. This man, once in love, became a master at sweet-talking, but she found it irresistible.