CHAPTER 116
Since making the video call arrangement with Wei Zhuang, they had been video chatting every two or three days. Most of the time, Xiaoyuan would do the talking while Wei Zhuang listened.
Xiaoyuan used to struggle to find topics to chat with her about, but now she simply tells her about her daily life on set, interesting anecdotes from filming, and the plot.
"Did Alex say anything about me when she got back?" Counting the days, Assistant Gao had left Hengdian about eight or nine days ago.
Xiaoyuan happily wondered if Assistant Gao had praised her acting skills in front of Wei Zhuang. But she couldn't tell from Wei Zhuang's expression—she hadn't even mentioned it.
"The actor playing Prince Rui looks very serious, but he's actually very friendly in private. Though we don't have many scenes together."
"That scene where Consort Zheng k!lled the Emperor, Teacher Zheng Wan and Teacher Zeng Li acted so well! Teacher Zeng Li will wrap up in a couple of days too."
"And Sister Chenying..."
At this point, Wei Zhuang said calmly, "Has she not wrapped up yet?"
"Not yet," Xiaoyuan replied, not noticing the woman's expression. "Sister Chenying will probably be the last to finish filming..."
"I think it'll be around the 24th or 25th," she said, having signed on for fifty working days, with a day or two off for not feeling well. "When are you returning to Shencheng?"
"Around that time. I'll let you know the exact date."
"Mhm, okay!" Xiaoyuan's eyes curved into a smile.
Time flew by, and soon it was the 25th. She finished her last scene in the morning and went to say goodbye to He Chenying before leaving in the afternoon. They hugged, and He Chenying smiled, saying they should meet up again in Shencheng when they had time. Xiaoyuan happily agreed.
"Oh, by the way, there's some news you might not know yet," He Chenying said with a wink, lowering her voice. "Huo 3 made it into the Venice Film Festival."
Xiaoyuan froze for several seconds before snapping out of it. "Really?"
"I'm not sure which category yet. Huo Bijun didn't plan to tell me either. But it's confirmed." He Chenying smiled at her. "Just wanted to give you a heads-up to make you happy."
Xiaoyuan covered her mouth, processing the news, and couldn't help but grin. "I really am so happy!"
"Usually, the nominations are announced around the 28th or 29th, so we'll know which category it's in then." He Chenying smiled. "If it makes it into the main competition, that'll be an extra reason to celebrate."
"Ah, then Ranran will have to go to Venice too!"
"We'll see when the time comes. He'll be starting school around the opening ceremony! Probably not that interested, might depend on his dad's opinion..." He Chenying patted her cheek. "Congratulations."
Xiaoyuan gave her a light, brief hug. "Thank you, Sister Chenying. You're the best."
He Chenying's expression softened slightly. As she raised her hand to touch Xiaoyuan's hair, the younger woman had already stepped back.
"Then I'm off. Sister Chenying, you've worked hard!" She jogged towards her assistants, turning back with a smile to wave at He Chenying.
He Chenying's lips curved slightly, and she also waved back.
On the way back to Shencheng, Xiaoyuan texted Wei Zhuang from the company car about her nomination news, deciding to keep it secret from everyone else—even Cai Juan and Tiantian—until she could tell Wei Zhuang in person.
After a while, Wei Zhuang replied: [On a flight now. Returning to Shencheng tonight.]
Her private jet from Beicheng might even arrive earlier than Xiaoyuan's car, or around the same time.
Xiaoyuan's heart fluttered with anticipation. She typed: [Can I come over tonight?]
Before receiving a reply, Ruan Qing called. "Sweetheart, I've got great news!"
"Ah... about the Venice Film Festival? Sister Chenying already told me."
Cai Juan and Tiantian turned around, their faces lighting up with surprise and joy.
Xiaoyuan hushed them. "Let's wait for Venice's official announcement in a couple days. That's when it'll be confirmed."
"Ahhh! That means we'll be swamped—so many red carpets ahead!"
"Yeah, the Feihe Awards in August, the Magnolia Awards, then Venice in September! Wow!"
Ruan Qing chuckled over the phone. "So tomorrow—"
"Sister!!!" Xiaoyuan whined. "I just left Hengdian! I haven't even rested yet!"
"Alright, alright. Two days of sleeping in?"
Xiaoyuan: "..."
"Interviews are piling up. You can't keep postponing them all. And you can't show up looking disheveled, right? I know you're naturally gorgeous, but media standards are brutal these days. It's just how things are—"
A hint of impatience welled up in Xiaoyuan. "I know, I know!"
Hanging up, she checked her phone—still no reply from Wei Zhuang. With hours to go, she closed her eyes.
Cai Juan signaled Tiantian to stay quiet as Xiaoyuan drifted in and out of sleep. Hunger eventually roused her, she ate a burger, then succumbed to deep drowsiness without checking her phone again. When she woke, darkness had fallen—nearly 6 PM.
"We're almost home, Yuan'er."
Xiaoyuan unlocked her phone to Wei Zhuang's message: [I'm almost home. Where are you now?]
Their car had already entered the residential complex's underground garage.
"[I napped and woke up when we arrived at the complex...]" Xiaoyuan was already plotting how to sneak over to Wei Zhuang's place.
[Wait for me. I'll pick you up later.]
Her heart melted like candy. [Mhm, okay, I'll wait for you.]
After unloading luggage with the driver's help, Cai Juan and Tiantian wheeled the suitcases upstairs while Xiaoyuan lingered behind. "Tiantian, let me carry my bag."
"Okay." Tiantian handed over the purse.
When the elevator arrived, she entered first. Cai Juan was tugged by Xiaoyuan, who let Tiantian go up ahead.
"Brother, I won't be going up." Xiaoyuan whispered to him.
"...Got it, got it. Go ahead."
The moment the word "ahead" left his lips, Cai Juan watched as Xiaoyuan turned and ran off. He sighed helplessly, muttering, "No wonder they say girls are outward-looking since ancient times, it's simply unbearable."
He pressed the elevator button and walked in, lost in thought:
'Had Xiaoyuan been with her for quite a while now?'
'Their relationship seemed pretty good? Who would've thought!'
The timing was truly perfect.
Just as Xiaoyuan reached the basement, she spotted the familiar car. She jogged over, opened the door, and slid inside.
A faint fragrance filled the back seat of the car, lemon mixed with vetiver, carrying the fresh scent of an oasis in a parched desert.
Perfect for a hot summer night.
Wei Zhuang was wearing a new perfume. She was dressed in a loose blue men's oversized shirt and white silk trousers.
She looked fresh, casual, yet exuded feminine elegance.
The moment Xiaoyuan got in, she wrapped her arms around Wei Zhuang's neck. "You came."
The car started moving, the summer night breeze rustling the plane trees, leaving clusters of shimmering light in its wake.
"Seatbelt," Wei Zhuang murmured, smoothing Xiaoyuan's hair before reaching behind her to pull the belt over and fasten it.
Xiaoyuan grinned at her. "Thank you." She kept her arms around her, breathing in Wei Zhuang's cool, distinctive scent mingled with the perfume, her heartbeat quickening.
"Did you finish everything you needed to?" Xiaoyuan asked softly. "No more business trips for now, right?"
"Mhm." Wei Zhuang hummed in response.
Xiaoyuan thought about her own upcoming schedule and sighed inwardly—none of it could be postponed. With early starts and late returns, staying with Wei Zhuang would only disrupt her rest.
She fell silent for a while, sulking.
Wei Zhuang studied her expression, recalling the news she'd received earlier—Huo 3, the film that had given Xiaoyuan so much trouble, had been selected for the main competition at the Venice Film Festival.
Would telling her now make her happy?
"Oh, right!" Xiaoyuan suddenly perked up, eyes bright. "The Huo 3 I filmed got into the Venice Film Festival!"
Wei Zhuang paused slightly. "Hm?"
"Sister Chenying told me, though she wasn't sure which section. She just wanted to give me a heads-up to cheer me up." Xiaoyuan looked up at her, her eyelashes fluttering, full of anticipation for praise.
Wei Zhuang paused again. Under Xiaoyuan's expectant gaze, she finally said, "Mm, that's good."
Xiaoyuan frowned slightly. Wei Zhuang's face was half-shadowed in the dim car light, her expression unreadable. Xiaoyuan couldn't quite decipher it.
"Hmm?"
"..."
Silence stretched for several seconds.
"Still, I don't know... which section it's in..." Xiaoyuan muttered.
Emotions flickered in Wei Zhuang's eyes, but in the end, she said nothing.
Xiaoyuan glanced up at her again, unable to resist a mix of complaint and coquetry. "Aren't you going to praise me?"
The sudden question caught Wei Zhuang off guard. Xiaoyuan's warmth pressed closer, her eyes glistening, her features softly radiant, breathtakingly lovely.
Wei Zhuang steadied herself, lifting a hand to stroke the back of Xiaoyuan's head. "It is good. You deserve it."
Xiaoyuan blinked at her twice, figuring that was all the praise she was going to get, so she might as well accept it graciously.
Pursing her lips, she glanced at Uncle Wang in the front seat, then threw caution to the wind and leaned in to kiss the woman's cheek. Unable to hold back a smile, she whispered, "I missed you so much!"
The emotions in Wei Zhuang's eyes had softened, subtle but warm. She reached up and pinched Xiaoyuan's chin lightly.
Xiaoyuan rested her head against Wei Zhuang's shoulder, her heart overflowing with sweetness.
Comments
Post a Comment