CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 39: THE NEW ASSISTANT (PART 3)

Back at the hotel in the evening, Xiang Qichen used Zhou Huaiyi’s ID card to book a room at the front desk, as usual, on the same floor.

The first thing Zhou Huaiyi did when she returned to her room was to take a shower, because she had agreed with Xiang Qichen to come to her room at nine to study the script in depth.

Looking at the reflection of the idol’s toned body in the mirror, Zhou Huaiyi couldn’t help but smile mischievously with cat-like lips.

Studying in depth...

It sounds a bit...(?_?)

The doorbell suddenly rang twice, pulling Zhou Huaiyi back to reality. She hurriedly put on a T-shirt and opened the bathroom door.

Xiang Qichen glanced around, making sure no one was passing on either end of the corridor before stepping into the room.

Zhou Huaiyi closed the door properly, followed him a few steps in, and asked in a deep, mellow voice, "Are you staying next to me?"

"Diagonally opposite." Xiang Qichen sat on the bed that already belonged to him, picked up the script and flipped through it a couple of times, "How are things going these past two days? Are you able to adapt?"

Zhou Huaiyi sat at the other end of the bed and answered honestly, "The emotional scenes always feel off, emotions not in place, but for the others, I can appropriately bring in my own feelings."

Feeling quite embarrassed, she admitted, "These past two days, I’ve probably brought you some negative attention... Always having NGs and delaying the schedule."

Hearing this, Xiang Qichen raised an eyebrow and comforted with a smile, "Actually, to be honest, the fact that you could hold on till this scene today is already quite good. After all, Director Zhang is a meticulous person who pursues perfection. In my expectations, I didn’t even anticipate you’d pass two scenes."

Zhou Huaiyi gratefully smiled back at him, looking quite obedient, "Thank you, idol."

Xiang Qichen gave a light cough to remind her, "Too girly."

Zhou Huaiyi quickly put down her legs and corrected her posture.

Two notification sounds from WeChat vibrated. Zhou Huaiyi glanced at Xiang Qichen, who was engrossed in reading the script, and reached for her phone to swipe it open. It was from Kang Xuan—

［Old Kang: Exhausted, exhausted, exhausted.］

［Old Kang: Want to go home and raise pigs.］

［Zhou Luobu: These days, who can even afford to raise pigs...］

［Old Kang: Why have you been so silent these past two days, what are you busy with］

Zhou Huaiyi: Busy shooting a movie ah T^T

［Zhou Luobu: Too many trivial matters at school these days...］

［Old Kang: People trivial as a fart managing trivial matters, what kind of trivial results can there be?］

［Zhou Luobu: ...Are you launching a personal attack on me?］

［Old Kang: Think carefully about how you’ll make up for my regrets from the Yanchuan trip! You rotten carrot!］

Zhou Huaiyi: "......"

Going home for winter break... Zhou Huaiyi would have to come up with something again...

,

The next morning, Zhou Huaiyi was drowsily asleep, only to be disturbed by the incessant ringing of the doorbell, which was getting on her nerves.

She irritably kicked the quilt and sat up but hadn’t yet gotten out of bed when she caught sight of someone lying beside her from the corner of her eye. Medium-long hair messy, the outerwear neat and clean, the face familiar, clear, and fair.

Oh, she remembered now. They had talked about the script with Xiang Qichen until past two in the morning, then fell asleep as soon as they hit the bed due to fatigue.

The doorbell sounded once more, this time waking Xiang Qichen as well. He stretched his back lazily, yawning.

In the next moment, Yang Li’s bright voice came from outside the door—

"Qi Chen, are you up yet? Qi Chen?"

Xiang Qichen froze, then suddenly stood up, tidying his clothes and hair.

Zhou Huaiyi shook off her remaining sleepiness in an instant.

If Yang Li saw them like this now, it would be difficult to explain, even if they tried with all their might.

"Qi Chen?"

The knocking became more frequent. Not caring about anything else, Zhou Huaiyi raised her voice and replied, "Yes, yes, I’m up."

Yang Li relaxed, and added, "Okay, I’ll go then and call Zhou Huaiyi."

Zhou Huaiyi was startled, dashed to the door, and pulled it open, just in time to see Yang Li turning to head for Xiang Qichen’s room. Instinctively she called out, "Yang Li!"

Yang Li turned to see her, smiling, and came back, "What’s up?"

Zhou Huaiyi’s eyes flickered for a moment, she said, "Well... Zhou Huaiyi is already up. She... came to my room earlier to wake me up."

With that said, Zhou Huaiyi turned slightly, gesturing inside the room.

Yang Li, looking puzzled, wrinkled his nose and stepped inside.

The curtains in the room were wide open, with sunlight pouring over the carpet. Xiang Qichen, with Zhou Huaiyi’s face, was pretending to neatly make the bed.

Yang Li was taken aback by the sight, quite surprised, "You actually got up this early."

Xiang Qichen pressed his lips into a smile, remaining calm and composed, "It’s a habit."