In the Same City
Wen City Central Hospital had been built during the Republican era and had remained in operation ever since.
Much of the architecture resembled the garden villas of that period.
The hospital grounds were lush with greenery, winding paths and small pavilions scattered between the buildings.
Behind the inpatient department lay a large garden built around a curving lake.
Flowers and plants filled every corner.
A small bridge crossed the water.
Beneath it, the lake was clear enough to see into the depths. Lotus leaves spread across the surface, shifting gently with the ripples while flashes of brightly colored koi occasionally slipped beneath them.
The Wen City Hospital unit of Red Embroidery filmed its first scene beside the lake.
Once Mu Wan finished and confirmed that no retake was needed, she headed for a nearby pavilion.
Wen City lay south of Xia City.
Being inland, it was even hotter and more humid.
Even the stone benches beneath the pavilion had been heated by the sun.
Mu Wan leaned against one of the pillars, holding a small portable fan in one hand and her phone in the other.
She was chatting with Lin Wei.
The midday sun blazed overhead.
Most of the actors taking shelter in the pavilion looked drained and listless.
Mu Wan, however, was practically glowing.
Lin Big Bird: What? Daoist Liu came to Wen City too? And he’s at the same hospital as you?
Mu Wan typed one-handed.
Wooden Bowl: Mm. He’s here for a research conference.
When Mu Wan had run into Liu Qianxiu outside the emergency building earlier, he had only just arrived from Xia City and was about to attend the conference.
They had barely had time to speak.
Before going inside, however, Liu Qianxiu had told her that someone was taking care of the cats at home and that she did not need to worry.
Only then had Mu Wan recovered enough from the surprise and happiness of seeing him to remember the kittens.
The cats had been the reason she and Liu Qianxiu gradually began spending time together.
And now she had somehow started caring more about Liu Qianxiu than about the cats themselves.
Then again, that was not entirely fair.
She did not worry about the kittens because Liu Qianxiu was someone she trusted.
If they were in his care, there was nothing for her to worry about.
At the moment, Mu Wan was simply happy.
Liu Qianxiu being in Wen City did not guarantee anything.
But they were in the same hospital.
Surely that meant she would get to see him every day.
For Mu Wan, seeing him once a day would already be enough.
Lin Wei was nowhere near as easily satisfied.
Lin Big Bird: I don’t believe it! Yesterday he said it depended on the hospital’s arrangements, and today suddenly they arranged for him to come? He arranged it himself, didn’t he? He obviously came to see you! Why else would he come? He definitely likes you!
The barrage of exclamation marks made Lin Wei’s certainty perfectly clear.
Mu Wan hesitated.
For a moment, even she wondered whether Lin Wei might be right.
Before she could reply, another message appeared.
Lin Big Bird: If you’re not sure whether he likes you, seduce him!
Mu Wan stared at the screen.
Wooden Bowl: ...
Lin Wei continued immediately.
Lin Big Bird: Stop tying yourself up with all these rules. Mind and body aren’t completely separate. If he has zero physical interest in you, then he probably isn’t interested. If he does, then you can take the next step.
Mu Wan raised one eyebrow almost imperceptibly.
The portable fan sent a cool breeze over her ear, carrying away a little of the heat.
She typed.
Wooden Bowl: Stop giving me terrible ideas. I don’t mind sleeping with him. I already like him. If he liked me too, of course I’d be willing. But what if he doesn’t? Then I’d basically be sexually harassing him. What if he starts avoiding me afterward?
The moment she sent the message, Lin Wei’s status showed that she was typing.
Before a reply arrived, someone called Mu Wan’s name.
She straightened.
Assistant Director Ma was walking toward her.
A production had several assistant directors.
Ma was mainly responsible for filming scenes involving the supporting cast.
He was thin and short, with a small mustache that gave him a distinctly artistic appearance.
“Director Zhang just sent word,” he said. “You’re joining dinner tonight at Yingke Pavilion on the fifth floor.”
Yingke Pavilion was one of the private dining rooms inside Wen City Hotel.
Director Zhang Chengze had not arrived the previous day.
Today had begun with the opening ceremony and continued with filming, so evening was his first real opportunity to gather some of the cast.
Normally, a minor supporting actress like Mu Wan would eat with the assistant directors and the other supporting actors.
If Zhang Chengze had specifically asked for her, there was probably another reason.
Assistant Director Ma knew Mu Wan well enough.
She was beautiful.
She had an excellent figure.
Her acting was perfectly respectable.
Her only real problem was that she had no ambition.
Everyone else in the entertainment industry fought desperately to climb toward the top of the pyramid.
Mu Wan seemed perfectly happy sitting at the bottom, content to be one of the bricks holding everything else up.
“All right. Thank you, Director Ma.”
Mu Wan smiled politely.
The small fan buzzed in her hand.
Her plans for the evening had just been disrupted.
As soon as Assistant Director Ma left, Mu Wan checked her phone.
Lin Wei had replied.
Lin Big Bird: Then pretend you’re drunk and test him. If he doesn’t like you, just pretend to fall asleep and say the next morning that you don’t remember anything. If he does like you, sleep with him first and figure out the rest later. I’m telling you, the more restrained the man, the wilder he’ll be once he finally loses control!
Mu Wan’s ears, which had only just cooled, turned red again.
She pinched one earlobe.
Hot.
She aimed the fan directly at her face.
Unfortunately, that did nothing to stop her mind from supplying an increasingly vivid image of Liu Qianxiu.
His face.
His body.
— To be continued in Part 2 —
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Ehh, I don't approved of seducing him
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