As she passed by a set for a modern drama, Mu Wan stopped. She looked up at the woman sitting under the sunshade, drinking iced water. Mu Wan pursed her lips and walked in.
Mi Yu was the first to notice Mu Wan. She wore sunglasses and a sun hat, and despite being under the sunshade, she didn’t think it would block UV rays. As an actress, her face was her brand, and she couldn’t afford to get tan or age. She took extra care with her sun protection, which made her stand out from Mu Wan, who was walking in a tank top and shorts in the sun.
But Mi Yu still looked good. She was tall and slender, with fair, delicate skin. She had just washed her face, and her eyes shone like they were freshly cleaned. When she saw Mu Wan approaching, she smiled, her lips as sweet as honey.
“Yu Jie, Sir,” Mu Wan greeted Mi Yu and then looked at Li Nan, who was marking a script.
Mu Wan was a laid-back actress. Since signing with the company, she had little interaction with the other stars. She only attended company events and didn’t really get close to her fellow actors. It was the same with her manager, Li Nan, who mostly communicated with her via WeChat, notifying her when filming was underway. Though Mu Wan played mostly supporting roles, she was still quite active and earned a fair amount.
She only came to see Li Nan today to confirm a few things. The conversation was brief.
Li Nan looked up from his script. Before Mu Wan could speak, he informed her of some news.
“The production just notified me that the scenes you were supposed to shoot tomorrow and the day after have been cut. You don’t need to go to the set for the next two days.”
Mu Wan wasn’t surprised. She thought for a moment and then replied, “So, I don’t have any more commitments this week?”
After hearing her words, Li Nan realized something, but hadn’t considered it further. Mu Wan, as a supporting actress, wasn’t in anyone’s way. She wasn’t overshadowing anyone either, so there was no reason for anyone to target her. Mu Wan also wasn’t the type to stir up trouble. She knew how to handle relationships well, and despite Mi Yu’s difficult reputation, Mu Wan had been able to get along with her just fine.
“Well, you can rest this week, think of it as a break.” Li Nan said in an official tone. “Don’t worry about it. You’re with our company, so we’ll definitely find you more resources.”
Mu Wan had come to confirm this. She only listened to half of Li Nan’s words and didn’t pay much attention to the rest. The filming crew was currently shooting a scene where the female lead was pushed into the water. Mu Wan had done that kind of scene many times—being submerged in cold water and shivering, only to be asked to do it again because the lead actor didn’t do it properly.
Coming back to her thoughts, Mu Wan smiled and said, “Okay, thank you, Sir.”
Li Nan didn’t say much more. Mu Wan turned to leave. Before she left, she said goodbye to both him and Mi Yu. Just as she was about to leave, Mi Yu, still sipping her iced water, spoke up.
“Did you meet some rivals?” Mi Yu asked.
Mi Yu had also been filming early this morning, and when she saw Mu Wan walking towards another set, she guessed that Mu Wan had likely waited there all morning before being told her scenes had been cut.
Mi Yu had been through similar experiences when she was a small-time actress. After years in the industry, she had learned the game—the familiar patterns that played out time and time again.
Not just Mu Wan, Li Nan also looked at Mi Yu. Mu Wan observed Mi Yu’s expression, silently waiting for her to continue speaking.
“Three days of scenes being cut? That many coincidences?” Mi Yu murmured to herself, but loud enough for Mu Wan to hear. “In this industry, people need to know their place. We’re all slaves to the capital. If you have no connections, others can squash you like an ant. You can have integrity, but you have to eat first.”
Mi Yu’s words were sharp and pragmatic, reflecting the harsh realities of the industry.
Mu Wan listened, smiling faintly. “I understand. Thank you, Yu Jie.”
It was only eleven o’clock. The filming base was still buzzing with actors in costumes rushing off to different sets. The place was busy, and Mu Wan felt strangely out of place in the quiet.
She had no enemies, not even with Mu Qing. She had always thought that, to the Mu family, she was just like discarded clay. Once they’d thrown her away, they wouldn’t care how she survived.
But it wasn’t that simple. Even though Mu Qing had discarded clay, Mu Qing still had to step on it to flaunt her superiority.
Under the blazing sun and the humid, oppressive heat, Mu Wan didn’t stay under the sun for long. She flagged down a taxi and made a phone call.
“Hello, Liu Qianxiu. I finished filming. Can I come over for lunch?”
After taking a taxi to Liu Qianxiu’s house, Mu Wan stood at the door and rang the bell. Soon, the door opened, and the man wearing long robes stood there quietly, looking at her.
“Aren’t you working?” Mu Wan asked, sizing Liu Qianxiu up and smiling.
His clothes were loose, and after being with him for a while, she understood that he wore well-tailored clothes at work but preferred comfortable, easygoing outfits at home—like a carefree Taoist.
Seeing her take off her shoes, Liu Qianxiu closed the door and said, “I just got back.”
The house’s air conditioning made the heat outside feel less oppressive. Mu Wan changed into her slippers and entered. As she did, the three kittens waddled out of the cat room.
“You haven’t fed them yet,” Liu Qianxiu said.
Mu Wan, now more relaxed, walked to the cat room and sat down, pulling the three kittens into her lap. “You go make lunch, I’ll feed them.”
Her face was flushed with heat, hidden beneath her fair skin, but her smile was warm. Holding the three kittens, her slim shoulders tilted slightly, her legs tucked under her—she looked like a cat herself.
Liu Qianxiu stood and watched her, not leaving. His gaze fell on her, watching as her fair fingers were gently covered with the kittens’ fur. “I’m sending them to my friend’s tomorrow.”
Mu Wan froze for a moment, looking up at him. Her long lashes fluttered as she blinked, asking, “Didn’t you just get them back?”
“Mm.” Liu Qianxiu nodded. “I’m going to Qingyuan Temple on Wednesday afternoon, back next Monday.”
Her arms loosened, and the kittens rolled out of her lap. She wrapped her legs around them, making a circle to keep them in place.
Their meows were soft and sweet, but Mu Wan remained still, like a lone island in the sea, watching them quietly. She truly felt lonely. With the next few days off and Liu Qianxiu leaving for his trip, she wasn’t sure where to go.
A faint scent of incense drifted in the living room, blending with the soft sounds of the kittens. It was peaceful.
She stood up but didn’t rise fully—squatting down instead. She extended a pale finger, gently teasing Zhong Fen as it walked by. After a while, she spoke.
“How will they miss you if you’re gone for so long?”
After speaking, she looked up at Liu Qianxiu, her eyes dimmed with a faint glow. Then she lowered her head, continuing to circle her finger on Zhong Fen’s head, adding softly.
“What about me? How will you miss me?”
Her voice was soft, like a cat’s paws brushing the carpet, delicate and barely audible.
Liu Qianxiu’s gaze lingered on her, his eyes falling on her exposed neck, fair and long, with some stray hairs scattered atop it, soft and fuzzy.
His lips pressed together, and he spoke in a low voice.
“Is there anything else?”
She paused, her finger stopping its motion. Looking up at Liu Qianxiu, her shoulders relaxed, and the soft fur of the kittens brushed against her fingertips.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she gathered her courage. Since Liu Qianxiu had asked, she might as well ask. The question had been building up, but would he answer?
Her eyes sparkled as she stared at Liu Qianxiu, taking a deep breath and asking.
“Can I go with you?”
“Mm.” Liu Qianxiu responded lightly, watching her eyes widen in surprise. “You can.”
The author has something to say:Liu Daochang: They miss me and I don't know what to do, but if you miss me, just go with me.
Thanks for the chapter! Stay safe!
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