On the first day of the human–rabbit duo’s return to filming, the interactive system goes live. 8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL3hcDoqA9
The crew is fired up and ready— 8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOMxUwnsVh
the boss, tears glinting across his face.
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Inside the studio, as the final call of “Cut!” rang out, filming for The Hidden Moon and the Sea of Dawn, Episode Fifteen, officially came to an end.
The lights dimmed gradually.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONHjyAPTvD
The machines powered down.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAXiYGhu5J
Crew members began speaking in low voices—yet the atmosphere was far less oppressive than what had just unfolded on screen.
This was the first day back after a four-week hiatus, and also the first shoot since the new interactive system went live.
Tight pacing and heavy emotions ran alongside the light in the crew’s eyes without contradiction—
a kind of momentum that comes from stepping into the unknown.
That is, if one chose not to count the dark figure crouched in a corner behind the set…
Time rewinds fifteen minutes earlier—
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As usual, the boss was hiding behind the black curtain at the edge of the stage, sneaking glances at the shoot.
When Liu Xiyu appeared on screen, cradling a rabbit soaked in blood, his eyes lit up, and a foolish smile crept up at the corners of his mouth without him realizing it.
He stayed fully immersed all the way through the end of filming—until the manager walked over, voice calm but edged with warning.
“There’s something we need to tell you in advance—8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOhq3F8m8H
for the sake of voting fairness, you won’t be allowed to participate in the interactive polls.”
The boss froze, his smile still stuck exactly where it had been.
A few seconds passed.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9peW89alMI
Then, as if the meaning finally sank in, he sprang up from the floor.
“WHY—WHAT—DO YOU MEAN?!”
His voice was full of shock and accusation.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMC57UMU8U
He pointed at himself, eyes wide enough he looked ready to pop out.
“I’m the one who came up with this! I’m also the biggest fan of them!8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAYPRcxMMz
How can you do this to me?!”
His eyes reddened instantly, tears trembling with every syllable.
The volume was too loud.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPrQqsfwsj
The set fell dead silent at once, and a few members of the lighting crew instinctively turned their heads to sneak a look.
Meanwhile, the art lead was leaning against the edge of a camera rig, eating a piece of chocolate.
The screenwriter tapped away at his laptop.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHVNKcmOjz
Hearing the familiar shouting, he didn’t even bother to look up.
“He found out he’s not allowed to vote.”
“Hahaha, figures!”
The art lead licked chocolate off her fingers, thoroughly enjoying the misfortune.
“I’ve been waiting for this scene ever since the manager said yesterday he were going to tell him.”
But the boss still refused to give up, continuing to argue his case with righteous indignation.
“I paid for this! I’m an investor! Since when do investors not get to vote—what kind of logic is that?!”
The manager kept his composure, looked straight at him, and replied without a trace of mercy:
“You’re an investor. That’s the logic.”
Then, reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a pack of tissues and stuffed it into his hand without hesitation.
“I know you’re upset. You’re allowed to cry,” he said calmly.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9pIZiJgnL
“But you’re still not allowed to vote.”
The boss was rendered speechless.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz1HWa9kGk
Tears rolled silently down his cheeks.
In the end, he squatted down, hugged his knees, and bowed his head, curling into himself as if the entire world had turned against him.
In the corner, it was as though a cloud of darkness clung to him, the atmospheric pressure dropping several degrees in an instant.
Mission accomplished, the manager clapped his hands once and turned toward the actors’ lounge.
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At that moment, Liu Xiyu was half-kneeling on the platform, carefully wiping the fake blood from the rabbit cradled in her arms.
Though it was only special-effects makeup, once it dried it clung to the fur, making it painfully difficult to clean.
“Ah…”8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B8ltV1gWb
She sighed softly. “How long has it been since I last saw Ayue this filthy?”
“Xiyu, you don’t have to keep wiping…” the rabbit murmured.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcqPtEv4P8
“Just wrap me up—I’ll go wash up when we get back.”
“No,” she said gently but firmly.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERx7zEHf4r
“Once the blood dries, it’ll pull at your fur. That hurts.”
“…Oh.”
The rabbit’s voice came out muffled, but there was no further resistance.
Among the beastfolk, all forms were capable of speech; the only differences lay in appearance and physical structure.
And in Liu Xiyu’s eyes—whether rabbit or human—Ayue was always her Ayue.
The door was tapped softly—three knocks.
A few seconds passed before the manager pushed it open, stepping inside with the same gentle smile as always.
“Good work today. Are you getting used to the new shooting format?”
“I am.”
Liu Xiyu nodded.
“The script itself hasn’t changed much—there’s just the added interactive segments.”
She kept speaking as her hands continued to move, careful and unhurried, every motion gentle.
Watching the scene, the manager’s lips curved upward without him noticing.
“Just wanted to sync a quick update with you.”
“Even though The Hidden Moon and the Sea of Dawn was on hiatus for a while, the view count has kept climbing.”
“And—there are viewers leaving comments saying the rabbit is really cute.”
At that, Liu Xiyu’s eyes lit up.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sg5QIueVi
Her fingers lightly rubbed the ears nestled in her arms.
“So there really are comments like that? Ayue is very cute, after all~”
“Xiyu—”
The tips of the rabbit’s ears flushed red almost instantly.
Liu Xiyu laughed softly, her voice as gentle as a spring night breeze.
“Ahh, looks like Ayue is embarrassed.”
Watching the way they interacted, the manager quietly marked down a mental note—[CP status: healthy]—then turned and left, satisfied.
He left behind a quiet space, so the two of them could continue sharing their time together.
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And in a corner not too far away—
the boss still hadn’t moved, only sniffing quietly from time to time.
He was still their most devoted audience member—8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTEMKyg9Gh
that, no one could deny.
Except for the voting system.
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and then Add to home screen.