CHAPTER 126

Due to its heavy subject matter, Yaowei initially had low expectations for the box office performance of this sequel, "The Long Night." However, after gaining prestige at the Venice Film Festival and with the strong promotional efforts from Tonghua, along with support from their theater chains, the film's box office grew day by day.

In the eyes of critics, this was the most successful and brilliant installment in the Huo Detective series. The actors delivered their best performances, the director showcased his strongest narrative skills and cinematography, and the script carried significant social relevance. Discussions about the film remained at the top of major social platforms throughout its first week of release.

The 90-minute film was praised by audiences as having no dull moments, with over ninety percent of viewers admitting they were left in tears after watching it.

"Xiang Xiaoyuan's acting" and "Zeng Li's acting" even trended on hot searches, staying at the top for a long time.

September wasn't a peak season for movies, with most films being held back for the National Day holiday at the end of the month. As a result, no other film could compete with "The Long Night," which surpassed 600 million yuan at the box office within 22 days of release, entering the even more competitive National Day holiday period.

Over the past half-month, Xiaoyuan had traveled with the film's creative team to promote the movie in six or seven cities. This was her first time participating in such a large-scale promotional tour, and she was exhausted every day. The most energetic person in the team was Huo Bijun, who was always in high spirits and got along well with Tonghua's distribution and promotion directors.

Privately, Xiaoyuan overheard him sighing to Yaowei's producer, "It's truly great to lean on a big tree, Tonghua has been so good to us."

Several renowned directors also released new films during the National Day holiday, all backed by major production companies. Despite the fierce competition, Tonghua's theaters and cinemas actually increased the screening rate for "The Long Night."

What an amazing partner!

Xiaoyuan listened attentively, taking it all to heart.

After finishing the promotional events for the National Day holiday on the 30th, she flew straight back to Shencheng that night.

By the time she arrived at Wei Zhuang's home in Shencheng, it was already past 2 a.m.

As she stepped out of the elevator on the 34th floor, Xiaoyuan began to regret her decision. She had mentioned the event to Wei Zhuang on WeChat but hadn't told her she would be coming back tonight. Although she had the elevator code and the password to her room, barging in still felt inappropriate. Yet, calling her at this hour would disturb her rest.

Xiaoyuan had come straight from the event, wearing a black spaghetti-strap dress with a ginkgo-brown tailored blazer and a pair of lace-up stiletto heels.

Now completely exhausted to the point of falling asleep standing, Xiaoyuan rubbed her eyelids and flipped open her phone to contact Uncle Wang who had driven her here. But she was simply too tired—after entering the house using her fingerprint and passcode, she didn't even make it further inside before collapsing onto the large sofa in the living room and falling asleep, shoes still on.

About half an hour later, Wei Zhuang emerged from the bedroom. For some reason, she suddenly woke up, walked out of the bedroom, crossed the hallway, and entered the living room, where she immediately spotted the girl sleeping soundly on the sofa, her slender stiletto heels dangling from her delicate, sexy ankles.

Wei Zhuang watched for a brief moment before walking over. She bent down, untied the shoelaces, and helped take off the shoes. Her thumb lightly brushed the girl's ankle before removing her coat, revealing flawless snow-white arms and neckline. Wei Zhuang then fetched a thin blanket to cover her.

Xiaoyuan remained completely unaware throughout, sleeping peacefully.

A faint smile flickered across Wei Zhuang's lips.

When Xiaoyuan woke up the next morning, the room was still dim. She sat up and stretched, thinking it was still early.

Turning her head, she saw the woman sitting on the opposite sofa, reading by the warm glow of a table lamp with a cup of hot tea beside her. A corner of her shadow fell onto the carpet, soft and cozy.

This warm atmosphere unconsciously made Xiaoyuan's lips curl up.

"Awake?" Wei Zhuang asked quietly.

"Mmm," Xiaoyuan stretched her slender arms and checked her phone—it was already 9 a.m. the next morning.

'So late?'

The living room curtains automatically drew open at that moment, revealing through the floor-to-ceiling windows that it was clearly daytime outside, though dark clouds covered the sky on this gloomy morning.

Xiaoyuan had initially wanted to kiss her, but seeing how disheveled she was from sleep, she dashed back to the room to shower and freshen up, changing into a loose, comfortable cotton dress.

When she came out, the dining table was already set with a lavish breakfast. But instead of eating, she went to the living room to find Wei Zhuang. "Frances~"

"Hmm?" Wei Zhuang responded. Xiaoyuan scampered over and threw herself into her arms.

The woman lowered her gaze and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Not going to eat breakfast?"

"Ah~ I haven't seen you in so long!" Xiaoyuan nuzzled against her shoulder. "I missed you so much."

Wei Zhuang stroked her hair, then paused. "I have to go to the company later. I'll come back early tonight?"

"Ah..." Xiaoyuan lifted her face, her clear, watery eyes blinking. "Can you not go to the company?"

Their eyes met, and Xiaoyuan knew this workaholic wouldn't easily agree to stay home with her. Just as she was about to persist with her coquettish act, her stomach growled loudly.

Blushing, she released the woman and turned to run toward the dining room, covering up with, "Alright, alright, go to work then..."

She had just been casually acting spoiled—what if Wei Zhuang actually agreed? Even if she didn't, it wasn't too disappointing. After all, she had the entire National Day holiday off and planned to stubbornly stay at Wei Zhuang's place.

After finishing breakfast, drinking her milk, brushing her teeth, completing her skincare routine, and returning to the living room, Xiaoyuan was surprised to find Wei Zhuang still sitting on the sofa.

"You... didn't you say you were going to work?" Xiaoyuan asked in surprise.

Wei Zhuang glanced at her, her eyes speaking volumes.

Xiaoyuan smiled, trotted over, and hugged her tightly.

Xiaoyuan felt utterly blissful. Wei Zhuang didn't go to work—she only attended an hour-long video conference in the afternoon before coming upstairs to announce she wouldn't need to go to the office during the National Day holiday. Any urgent matters could be handled via video calls.

Xiaoyuan could hardly believe her ears. Wei Zhuang, this aloof and distant workaholic, was actually making concessions for her?

Overjoyed, Xiaoyuan pounced on her again, planting a loud, smacking kiss on her lips. The woman frowned ever so slightly, her eyes betraying a hint of helplessness.

Beaming, Xiaoyuan leaned in for another kiss, but Wei Zhuang turned her face away, dodging the puppy-like slobbery affection. Undeterred, Xiaoyuan clung to her, laughing. "Don't be shy, Sister Zhuang!"

Wei Zhuang: "...Stop fooling around."

"I'm not fooling around! Come on, give me a kiss, Sister Zhuang." Xiaoyuan puckered her lips and leaned in.

Wei Zhuang: "Don't call me 'sister.'"

Xiaoyuan paused, then burst out laughing. "Huh? Should I call you 'Auntie' then?"

Wei Zhuang: "..."

Grinning radiantly in her arms, Xiaoyuan leaned close to her ear, biting her lip as she whispered, "But... you obviously love it when I call you 'sister'..."

Though the words were meant to tease Wei Zhuang, Xiaoyuan's mind flashed back to their last int!mate moment, and her cheeks flushed guiltily before she could stop herself.

The current of mutual understanding immediately connected between them, crackling with ambiguity.

After several seconds of locked gazes, Xiaoyuan chickened out first. She averted her eyes, scanning the room. "Ah, where's my phone?"

"Maybe Ruan Qing is looking for me." she said with exaggerated seriousness before walking off.

Wei Zhuang watched her loosely tied hair, the soft pink hue of her profile, and her hurried excuse-making with quiet amusement.

After dinner, Xiaoyuan finished a work call and returned to pester her. Eventually, they decided to watch The Long Night together. As the exclusive distributor, Tonghua's CEO naturally had access to the final cut.

They headed to Wei Zhuang's "home theater," where Xiaoyuan noticed the single chaise lounge had been replaced with an expansive, undoubtedly expensive reclining loveseat—perfect for comfortably watching movies together.

They settled in side by side, ready to watch a film they had both already seen.

"But we haven't watched it together," Xiaoyuan said with a smile. She glanced at Wei Zhuang and asked, "Did Tonghua sign The Long Night because of me?"

After a brief pause, Wei Zhuang replied, "Tonghua's film investments are handled by a dedicated team."

Xiaoyuan pouted. "...Okay."

She looked away.

'Why is this woman being so oblivious to romance today?'

'So annoying!'

Wei Zhuang tilted her head and silently observed her.

The large screen was playing The Long Night, and the room was quiet.

Over the past two weeks, Xiaoyuan had watched the film several times while promoting it in various cities. Aside from the first viewing, where she had paid close attention, the subsequent screenings had been half-hearted—she had been too preoccupied with media interviews. Lacking experience in handling press interactions, she had spent a considerable amount of time on interviews, photoshoots, and appearances across TV and online platforms, leaving her severely sleep-deprived.

Now, resting in a place she loved, perhaps subconsciously confident in The Long Night and having weathered the disappointment of missing out on the Magnolia Award, she found herself able to watch the film more objectively, as if from an outsider's perspective.

She watched attentively but not entirely immersed—one-third of her mind followed the plot, another third questioned whether she would still perform certain scenes the same way now, and the remaining third critically assessed "the actress on screen" and her performance.

She didn't notice Wei Zhuang glancing at her repeatedly from the side.

It wasn't until the scene where Meng Xiaozhou was ass@ulted that Xiaoyuan was abruptly pulled back into her memories. She inhaled sharply and turned her face away.

The actor playing Yang Yi had been a guest performer, a specialist in villainous roles, and his immersion in the character had been genuinely unsettling.

Xiaoyuan had thought she had moved past it, that she had freed herself from the shadows of her childhood. But now, hearing the man's eerie, discomforting laughter from the screen, she felt her skin crawl.

Suddenly, slender yet strong arms wrapped around her, and Wei Zhuang gently guided Xiaoyuan's face to rest against the curve of her shoulder.

Xiaoyuan clung to her, listening as the woman murmured, "Did he hurt you here?"

Her heartbeat steady beneath Xiaoyuan's ear, she seemed to be asking whether the actor playing Yang Yi had overstepped during filming.

"...No." The scene in the film lasted less than a minute, but they had spent two hours shooting it. And ever since she was eight, her stepfather had looked at her with that same disgusting look.

Though he had never succeeded, every escape had felt like clawing her way out of hell. Even now, years later, nightmares still haunted her.

"I..."

Xiaoyuan clenched her damp palms, wanting to tell Wei Zhuang about her childhood—something she hadn't even shared with her brother. But the words stuck in her throat. "Frances, I..."

"Don't be afraid." The woman's lips met hers, tender and patient, a soothing balm.

Xiaoyuan grew dizzy under her kisses, her heart sinking deep into honey, swimming in the slow, lingering press of Wei Zhuang's mouth until she was nearly drowning.

The movie was turned off. Xiaoyuan was lifted into her arms, carried all the way to the bed, and Wei Zhuang's kisses never ceased. Trembling under their weight, Xiaoyuan felt every past fear and terror dissolve into the warmth of her touch.

The woman's lips roamed over her neck, collarbone, back, then circled to the front, repeatedly caressing and kissing, moving continuously downward, the rhythm gradually quickening. She had never been caressed so lingeringly and gently before. She felt her whole body grow warm, her body and soul belonging entirely to the woman above her.

"Frances..." Xiaoyuan's fingers tangled in the woman's soft long hair as she murmured her name, craving this int!macy. "Zhuang~ Kiss me more..."

The slightly feverish warmth trailed down her skin with damp traces, moving gradually lower. Xiaoyuan whimpered urgently, her toes curling, then suddenly realized what the woman intended to do. She startled and tried to squirm away. "No...don't..."

"Don't kiss there..."

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT