"Even if you hadn't broken up with me, I would have," she said. On the hospital terrace, water droplets ticked rhythmically off the leaves of the ivy.

Her voice was slightly indistinct, as if drifting from a great distance... a dense fog.

The heavy black mist seemed like the clutching hands of a sneering demon, enveloping and tearing at him, poised to devour him without mercy. His limbs were bound tightly, leaving him paralyzed and utterly drained of strength... Luo Xi knew he was having another nightmare. The nightmare that had once retreated because of her had returned, more suffocating than ever before.

In a nightmare like this, he almost didn't want to wake up. What was the point of continuing to play the perfect Luo Xi in front of screens and the public? He might as well be consumed by the nightmare... he no longer had the strength to struggle... Suddenly, a sliver of light! He instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sudden glare, his fingers pale and slender.

Through the blinding light, Luo Xi slowly opened his eyes. In his haze, he saw the figure bathed in the window's glow—only a faint silhouette against the backlighting... "Xia Mo..." "Luo Xi!" Jennie rushed anxiously to his side.

She had knocked for a long time outside the temporary lounge door without an answer. When she pushed it open, she found the heavy curtains completely blocking the afternoon light, plunging the room into darkness, and it seemed no fresh air had entered for a long time.

Seeing Luo Xi’s eyes snap shut and his lips, pale as soaked white paper, Jennie gasped internally. She crouched near the sofa and repeatedly asked, "Why do you look so bad? Are you unwell?" It wasn't her... Right, why would she be here... "...No."

After a long moment, Luo Xi sat up from the sofa, his jet-black hair falling messily across his eyes. He stared blankly for a while, then looked up at Jennie and asked, "Have you filmed my scenes?" The Grand Prosperity of the Heavens was nearing completion, and the shooting schedule had been brutally tight these past few days; he hadn't had a full night's sleep in nearly three days.

But perhaps that was for the best; it left no time to dwell on the matters that felt like they were driving him insane.

"Yes, the director told me to fetch you."

"Then let's go."

Luo Xi stood up, and a slight dizziness made his breathing suddenly catch.

"But your health..." "It's fine."

Luo Xi walked onto the set. A weary crew member ran over, apologizing, "Ah Luo, sorry, Camera One is having a minor issue. Please wait a moment; it will be fixed shortly."

"Luo Xi, come sit over here."

Shen Qi called out to him from a corner of the set.

Seeing the empty chair next to her, Luo Xi walked over and sat down, silently watching the busy crew in the center of the soundstage, saying nothing.

Jennie followed him over.

Shen Qi produced a thermos, saying to him with concern, "This is soup slow-cooked by the nanny. It's been kept warm for you to drink when you woke up."

"Thank you. I don't want any."

Luo Xi replied politely and distantly, not taking the thermos, merely flipping open his script to review the lines for the next scene.

Shen Qi froze awkwardly for a moment, bit her lip slightly, and then suddenly said, "By the way, did you see today's newspaper?"

"I'm not interested."

She set the thermos down and took out a newspaper, unfolding it. A hint of mockery flickered in her eyes as she said, "Big news! The entire entertainment circle must be shocked. Yin Xia Mo is truly something else..." Summer of Foam III