“Mm. I’ll come right over.”
Mu Wan only caught the last line, but it was enough—he was leaving immediately.
She didn’t sit down. She looked at Liu Qianxiu. “Are you going out? I’ll go too.”
“No.” Liu Qianxiu ended the call and looked at her, lips pressing into a line. “You stay here. Eat first, then go.”
On the table were breakfast and one glass of orange juice. Liu Qianxiu must have known he’d be leaving, because there was only one portion.
Mu Wan’s lashes trembled. She stared at his back—
And followed him anyway.
Sunlight lay soft and warm in the living room. In the cat room, the three newly fed kittens called out, tiny voices loud and full. Liu Qianxiu turned to Mu Wan.
She stood there in the light, alone, her gaze fixed on him as if she’d decided not to blink until he promised something.
His movement paused.
He confirmed, “The movie is at seven-thirty?”
Mu Wan snapped back to herself and smiled, nodding. “Yes. Even if you’re late, it’s okay.”
“I know.” Liu Qianxiu said, then opened the door and left.
Mu Wan watched him go, and it felt like the warmth in the apartment went with him—drained clean, leaving everything cool and empty.
Just like her own place.
She finished the sandwich, tidied the kitchen, and didn’t stay long. She left too.
Morning meetings. Afternoon surgery. And then another surgery. Eight hours in one stretch.
When it finally ended, Liu Qianxiu’s fingers curled slightly, stiff and numb. After anesthesia was stopped and his assistant helped him out of the surgical gown, he sat on the lounge bench and squeezed his palm in silence.
Xiao Tan had been waiting for the surgery to finish. When he heard Liu Qianxiu was in the lounge, he went straight there.
Liu Qianxiu sat upright even on a bench, lashes lowered, expression calm. Only the exhaustion showed in his eyes. Eight hours would wear down anyone.
“Your hands can’t hold a steering wheel now, can they?” Xiao Tan looked at his nearly numb fingers. “I’ll drive you home.”
Liu Qianxiu glanced at him, relaxed his palm, and flexed his long fingers once. “No. What time is it?”
Xiao Tan checked his watch. “Seven-thirty.”
At the time, something shifted in Liu Qianxiu’s gaze. He stood without a word and began taking off the white coat.
Without it, he wore a pale coffee shirt and off-white trousers. Tall and lean, he made simple linen look expensive. His sleeves were rolled, showing smooth wrist bones and faint, raised veins against his cool-white skin—beautiful in a way that was almost too clean.
Liu Qianxiu always felt light and restrained, yet meticulous in every detail: face, temperament, everything. No wonder women liked him.
Thinking of that, Xiao Tan asked casually, “That Miss Mu… why hasn’t she been coming to see you lately?”
Liu Qianxiu shut his locker, buckled his watch, and said calmly, “I’m going to see her.”
“What—” Xiao Tan’s brows shot up. “Wait, you two are…?”
Liu Qianxiu clearly didn’t want to explain. He cut it off cleanly. “I’m taking leave on Wednesday afternoon. I’ll be back next Monday.”
Xiao Tan understood and didn’t press. He shifted topics smoothly. “Going to Qingyuan Temple?”
“Mm.” Liu Qianxiu answered and walked out.
Eight p.m. was peak time at the cinema.
When Liu Qianxiu arrived, the lobby was crowded—people weaving through each other, all waiting to go in. His eyes swept across the crowd—
And found Mu Wan seated in the rest area.
Her hair was braided into a fishtail over her left shoulder, with soft wisps at her hairline that made her look fuzzy and gentle. She wore a tiny floral camisole. Her shoulders were thin and straight, collarbones clean and delicate. Her arms rested on the chair back, chin propped on them. Under white shorts, her legs stretched long and pale, relaxed like a cat sprawled in sunlight.
Her eyes skimmed the entrance again and again, as a kitten curled behind a chair, waiting for the one person who would definitely come and bring her home.
When her gaze passed through the crowd again, it froze.
It landed on him.
Her eyes lit up.
She sprang up like a puppy spotting a treat and ran toward him, bouncing through the crowd.
“You’re here.” Mu Wan stopped beside him and looked up. Her eyes were full of starlight.
“Mm.” Liu Qianxiu lowered his eyes to her. “Sorry. I’m late.”
“Not late.” Mu Wan shook her head, smiling. “My scenes don’t show up until later anyway. Come on.”
They entered the theater. Mu Wan chose a seat in the middle of the back row—wide view, perfect angle. After she sat, she glanced at Liu Qianxiu. His eyes were already on the screen, focused.
City of Prayer was a modern romance comedy.
Mu Wan played the male lead’s high school first love—his “white moonlight.” Her scenes wouldn’t appear until later, when the main couple’s feelings deepened, and the male lead began remembering.
Mu Wan had read the script. She knew the outline. A good director could elevate even a simple plot.
But this director was average. It was… fine. Just a story, told.
Mu Wan watched for a while, then turned her head to look at Liu Qianxiu.
The screen changed. Light and shadow flickered.
Beside her, Liu Qianxiu leaned back with his eyes closed.
The screen’s light cut his features deep. At the center of his brow, Mu Wan could see fatigue.
Her teeth slowed on the popcorn.
Even her heartbeat quieted.
He’d fallen asleep.
He’d told her he had surgery tonight, might be late. At the entrance, she’d only been happy he came. She hadn’t looked closely enough. He must have been exhausted.
Mu Wan’s brow knitted, a small ache spreading in her chest.
Then the screen brightened suddenly.
The theater audience collectively released a soft gasp.
Liu Qianxiu opened his eyes.
He looked up at the screen—
Where a woman in a white dress stood beneath cherry blossoms, smiling, clean, and beautiful.
Popcorn scent spread on Mu Wan’s tongue. She looked at the sharp line of his profile and whispered, “Why did you wake up?”
Liu Qianxiu turned his head slightly and met her eyes. She held the big tub of popcorn in her lap, leaning back, gazing up at him. As the screen dimmed again, shadows draped over her face like a veil.
He answered quietly, “Mm.”
Then he faced the screen again—where Mu Wan’s image glowed.
“I woke up,” he said, voice low and steady, “to watch you.”
The author has something to say:
Liu Daochang: I came here just to see you.
o.O Isn't she worried about being seen with a guy at a premiere and the (bad) press that could come from it?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter and stay safe!
I don't think she had enough fame for their to be media about her. She's only a supporting actress and hasn't been described as well known at all.
DeleteThank you so very much for the chapters aswell!!
I am unable to read articles online very often, but I’m glad I did today. This is very well written and your points are well-expressed. Please, don’t ever stop writing. Locksmith near me
ReplyDelete