Wen City Central Hospital was an old Republican-era hospital that had remained open to this day. The buildings within leaned toward the garden-villa style popular at the time. Lush greenery filled the grounds, with winding paths, small pavilions, and terraces scattered throughout. Behind the inpatient building was the hospital’s back garden, spreading outward around a curved lake. Countless varieties of flowers and plants grew there. A small bridge crossed the lake; the water below was clean and clear. Beneath overlapping lotus leaves, the surface rippled gently, and now and then a koi would flash by.
The first scene for the Wen City Central Hospital unit of Hong Xiu was filmed by the curved lake. After Mu Wan finished and confirmed the take didn’t need reshooting, she went to the pavilion by the water.
Wen City lay south of Xia City and was inland, so it was even hotter and more stifling than Xia City. Even the stone bench in the pavilion was scorching. Mu Wan leaned back against a pillar, holding a portable mini fan in one hand while chatting with Lin Wei on her phone in the other.
At noon, under the blazing sun, the actors in the pavilion all looked listless. Mu Wan, however, was bright-eyed and energized.
[Lin Da Niao]: What? Daoist Liu is in Wen City, too, and you’re in the same hospital?
Mu Wan typed with one hand and confirmed.
[Mu Wan]: Mm. He came to a research conference.
Earlier, when she ran into Liu Qianxiu at the emergency building, he had just arrived from Xia City and was about to go straight into the conference. They didn’t talk much. Before entering the emergency building, Liu Qianxiu told Mu Wan that the cats at home were being looked after so that she could relax.
Only then did Mu Wan snap out of her surprise and happiness about him being in Wen City and remember her cats.
At first, it had been the cats that brought them into contact. Now, without realizing it, Mu Wan was more worried about Liu Qianxiu than the cats.
But she couldn’t really think of it that way. The reason she didn’t worry was precisely that Liu Qianxiu was so reliable. When it came to the cats, she didn’t have to fuss. He would handle everything properly.
Right now, Mu Wan had only joy and excitement. Even if Liu Qianxiu coming here didn’t guarantee anything else, as long as both of them were in the hospital, they would definitely see each other every day.
As long as she could see him once a day, Mu Wan would be satisfied.
Lin Wei was not.
[Lin Da Niao]: I don’t buy it! Yesterday you asked, and he said he was waiting on arrangements. Today, the arrangements suddenly landed on him! That was him arranging it himself, wasn’t it? He clearly came here for you! Why would he come looking for you? Because he’s interested in you, obviously!
Lin Wei used exclamation marks to show how sure she was.
Lin Wei’s guess made Mu Wan waver a little. She thought about it, about to reply, when Lin Wei sent another message.
[Lin Da Niao]: If you’re not sure whether he likes you, seduce him!
[Mu Wan]: …
[Lin Da Niao]: Stop boxing yourself in. Body and soul are one. If he has no interest in your body, he definitely has no interest in you. If he is interested in your body, then you take it a step further!
Mu Wan read her friend’s “advice” and raised her brows slightly. The mini fan brushed past her ear, a cool breeze stealing away a little heat. She typed and sent:
[Mu Wan]: Stop giving me trash ideas. It’s not like I’d mind sleeping with him. I like him. If he likes me too, I’d definitely be willing. But what if he doesn’t like me? Then this is sexual harassment. What if he avoids me afterward?
After she sent it, Lin Wei’s chat still showed “typing…” when someone called Mu Wan’s name. She pushed off the pillar and looked over. It was Assistant Director Ma.
A production had many assistant directors. Assistant Director Ma was the one in charge of supporting role scenes. He was thin, not tall, with a small mustache and an artsy vibe.
“Director Zhang just sent word down,” Assistant Director Ma said. “He wants you to come to dinner tonight on the fifth floor at Ying Ke Xuan.”
Ying Ke Xuan was one of Wen City Hotel’s private dining rooms. Yesterday, Director Zhang Chengze hadn’t arrived. Today had been the opening ceremony, then shooting all day. Only at night did he finally have time to gather the cast.
But small supporting actors like Mu Wan normally ate with the assistant directors. If Zhang Chengze singled her out, there was obviously a special reason.
Assistant Director Ma knew Mu Wan, too. She was pretty, had a great figure, and her acting was decent, but she had no ambition. In an industry where everyone fought tooth and nail to climb to the top of the pyramid, she preferred squatting at the bottom, content to be just one brick down there.
“Okay, thank you, Director Ma,” Mu Wan said with a polite smile.
The fan buzzed in her hand. Her plans were thrown off. After the assistant director left, Mu Wan checked her phone. Lin Wei had just replied.
[Lin Da Niao]: You can pretend you’re drunk and test him. If he doesn’t like you, you pretend to sleep, and the next day, say you don’t remember anything. If he likes you, sleep with him first and talk later. Girl, let me tell you, the more restrained the man, the wilder he is in bed!
Mu Wan’s earlobes, which had just cooled down, flushed red again. She pinched one. It was burning hot. She aimed the mini fan at her face, but the image of the man’s face and body only grew clearer in her mind.
Mu Wan took a deep breath, blew herself cool once, then exited WeChat and opened her SMS screen.
Mu Wan: Doctor Liu, where are you staying? I’m at Wen City Hotel.
After sending it, Mu Wan remembered that he was probably in a meeting and wouldn’t have time to reply. She tapped the screen, thought it over, and sent another message.
Mu Wan: I film in Wen City a lot, I’m pretty familiar with it. I know a restaurant with good home-style dishes. When you have time, let’s eat together.
She had just sent it when the assistant director called her to shoot. Mu Wan answered and pocketed her phone, heading over. Before she reached set, her phone chimed.
She stopped at once, pulled it out, and saw the reply on the screen.
Daoist Liu: The hospital arranged for us to stay at the Wen City Hotel.
So it really was “hospital arrangements” again. Mu Wan’s eyes curved with a smile. The next message arrived immediately.
Daoist Liu: Okay. When?
Mu Wan: Tomorrow. I have a dinner engagement tonight.
Daoist Liu: Okay.
After setting the plan, Mu Wan felt happy again. In the past, when she filmed out of town, aside from a few familiar faces in the crew, she never had friends in the same city. Now she did, and it was the person she liked.
If nothing unexpected happened, she wouldn’t see Liu Qianxiu until tomorrow. Mu Wan couldn’t hold herself back. In between takes, she went to the emergency building several times. There were plenty of busy doctors, but no Liu Qianxiu. The research conference must be intense. She couldn’t even “accidentally” run into him.
That night, after finishing filming, Assistant Director Ma took Mu Wan to Ying Ke Xuan.
The first scene for the Wen City Central Hospital unit of Hong Xiu was filmed by the curved lake. After Mu Wan finished and confirmed the take didn’t need reshooting, she went to the pavilion by the water.
Wen City lay south of Xia City and was inland, so it was even hotter and more stifling than Xia City. Even the stone bench in the pavilion was scorching. Mu Wan leaned back against a pillar, holding a portable mini fan in one hand while chatting with Lin Wei on her phone in the other.
At noon, under the blazing sun, the actors in the pavilion all looked listless. Mu Wan, however, was bright-eyed and energized.
[Lin Da Niao]: What? Daoist Liu is in Wen City, too, and you’re in the same hospital?
Mu Wan typed with one hand and confirmed.
[Mu Wan]: Mm. He came to a research conference.
Earlier, when she ran into Liu Qianxiu at the emergency building, he had just arrived from Xia City and was about to go straight into the conference. They didn’t talk much. Before entering the emergency building, Liu Qianxiu told Mu Wan that the cats at home were being looked after so that she could relax.
Only then did Mu Wan snap out of her surprise and happiness about him being in Wen City and remember her cats.
At first, it had been the cats that brought them into contact. Now, without realizing it, Mu Wan was more worried about Liu Qianxiu than the cats.
But she couldn’t really think of it that way. The reason she didn’t worry was precisely that Liu Qianxiu was so reliable. When it came to the cats, she didn’t have to fuss. He would handle everything properly.
Right now, Mu Wan had only joy and excitement. Even if Liu Qianxiu coming here didn’t guarantee anything else, as long as both of them were in the hospital, they would definitely see each other every day.
As long as she could see him once a day, Mu Wan would be satisfied.
Lin Wei was not.
[Lin Da Niao]: I don’t buy it! Yesterday you asked, and he said he was waiting on arrangements. Today, the arrangements suddenly landed on him! That was him arranging it himself, wasn’t it? He clearly came here for you! Why would he come looking for you? Because he’s interested in you, obviously!
Lin Wei used exclamation marks to show how sure she was.
Lin Wei’s guess made Mu Wan waver a little. She thought about it, about to reply, when Lin Wei sent another message.
[Lin Da Niao]: If you’re not sure whether he likes you, seduce him!
[Mu Wan]: …
[Lin Da Niao]: Stop boxing yourself in. Body and soul are one. If he has no interest in your body, he definitely has no interest in you. If he is interested in your body, then you take it a step further!
Mu Wan read her friend’s “advice” and raised her brows slightly. The mini fan brushed past her ear, a cool breeze stealing away a little heat. She typed and sent:
[Mu Wan]: Stop giving me trash ideas. It’s not like I’d mind sleeping with him. I like him. If he likes me too, I’d definitely be willing. But what if he doesn’t like me? Then this is sexual harassment. What if he avoids me afterward?
After she sent it, Lin Wei’s chat still showed “typing…” when someone called Mu Wan’s name. She pushed off the pillar and looked over. It was Assistant Director Ma.
A production had many assistant directors. Assistant Director Ma was the one in charge of supporting role scenes. He was thin, not tall, with a small mustache and an artsy vibe.
“Director Zhang just sent word down,” Assistant Director Ma said. “He wants you to come to dinner tonight on the fifth floor at Ying Ke Xuan.”
Ying Ke Xuan was one of Wen City Hotel’s private dining rooms. Yesterday, Director Zhang Chengze hadn’t arrived. Today had been the opening ceremony, then shooting all day. Only at night did he finally have time to gather the cast.
But small supporting actors like Mu Wan normally ate with the assistant directors. If Zhang Chengze singled her out, there was obviously a special reason.
Assistant Director Ma knew Mu Wan, too. She was pretty, had a great figure, and her acting was decent, but she had no ambition. In an industry where everyone fought tooth and nail to climb to the top of the pyramid, she preferred squatting at the bottom, content to be just one brick down there.
“Okay, thank you, Director Ma,” Mu Wan said with a polite smile.
The fan buzzed in her hand. Her plans were thrown off. After the assistant director left, Mu Wan checked her phone. Lin Wei had just replied.
[Lin Da Niao]: You can pretend you’re drunk and test him. If he doesn’t like you, you pretend to sleep, and the next day, say you don’t remember anything. If he likes you, sleep with him first and talk later. Girl, let me tell you, the more restrained the man, the wilder he is in bed!
Mu Wan’s earlobes, which had just cooled down, flushed red again. She pinched one. It was burning hot. She aimed the mini fan at her face, but the image of the man’s face and body only grew clearer in her mind.
Mu Wan took a deep breath, blew herself cool once, then exited WeChat and opened her SMS screen.
Mu Wan: Doctor Liu, where are you staying? I’m at Wen City Hotel.
After sending it, Mu Wan remembered that he was probably in a meeting and wouldn’t have time to reply. She tapped the screen, thought it over, and sent another message.
Mu Wan: I film in Wen City a lot, I’m pretty familiar with it. I know a restaurant with good home-style dishes. When you have time, let’s eat together.
She had just sent it when the assistant director called her to shoot. Mu Wan answered and pocketed her phone, heading over. Before she reached set, her phone chimed.
She stopped at once, pulled it out, and saw the reply on the screen.
Daoist Liu: The hospital arranged for us to stay at the Wen City Hotel.
So it really was “hospital arrangements” again. Mu Wan’s eyes curved with a smile. The next message arrived immediately.
Daoist Liu: Okay. When?
Mu Wan: Tomorrow. I have a dinner engagement tonight.
Daoist Liu: Okay.
After setting the plan, Mu Wan felt happy again. In the past, when she filmed out of town, aside from a few familiar faces in the crew, she never had friends in the same city. Now she did, and it was the person she liked.
If nothing unexpected happened, she wouldn’t see Liu Qianxiu until tomorrow. Mu Wan couldn’t hold herself back. In between takes, she went to the emergency building several times. There were plenty of busy doctors, but no Liu Qianxiu. The research conference must be intense. She couldn’t even “accidentally” run into him.
That night, after finishing filming, Assistant Director Ma took Mu Wan to Ying Ke Xuan.
Ehh, I don't approved of seducing him
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