CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 60: PALPITATIONS

After three days, the team’s filming finally wrapped up. Xiang Qichen grabbed all the filming material, picked up his bag, and left.

As soon as he stepped out, Zhang Yue’s distinctive raspy voice echoed from the corridor corner, chattering non-stop.

Having spent these past few days filming with the team, Xiang Qichen had pretty much heard all the gossip around them, all from Zhang Yue’s mouth.

From who someone from the acting department hooked up with, to how long someone from the photography department hadn’t showered. From a certain teacher and student in the management department secretly seeing each other, to someone in the art department nearly being taken advantage of while working outside. Even how a couple next door called the police after a fight yesterday, to catching a married director out with a mistress...

Basically, he had the whole world in his mouth; there wasn’t anything he didn’t know.

Xiang Qichen gave a disdainful smirk, slung his bag further away, and walked off.

Zhang Yue emerged from the corner after finishing his cigarette, seeing the figure walk away, raised his voice and shouted, "Hey Zhou Huaiyi! Remember to bring your boyfriend out to play!"

Xiang Qichen pretended not to hear, quickening his pace with long strides.

Hah...bring him out?

Not happening.

——

In the evening, Xiang Qichen drove to the airport.

Before boarding, he impulsively called Zhou Huaiyi.

According to the original plan, Xiang Qichen was supposed to return to H City the next day, because the earliest flight to S City wouldn’t arrive until 11 p.m., and then another car ride to H City would take until 1 a.m.

After three non-stop busy days, including late nights, Xiang Qichen had barely slept. Now rushing to catch flights and cars again, it wasn’t as if he wasn’t tired, but it felt like a voice inside was suddenly urging him on.

Urging him to be by her side.

"You’re coming now?" Zhou Huaiyi was surprised, "Weren’t you supposed to come tomorrow?"

Xiang Qichen was somewhat surprised by her reaction, raising an eyebrow, "You don’t want to?"

"It’s not that I don’t want..."

Zhou Huaiyi mouthed, while thinking to herself: If only I could tie you to my side...

Xiang Qichen’s mouth curved slightly, "Wait for me."

,

The simple "wait for me" made Zhou Huaiyi obediently fight her drowsiness until late at night.

To keep herself from falling asleep, Zhou Huaiyi turned on her computer and re-watched "Stir Your Heart." After countless yawns, Zhou Huaiyi glanced at the time and realized it was already 1 a.m.

Snapping out of it, she quickly sent Xiang Qichen a WeChat message: [Have you arrived?]

About a minute later—

[Xiang: Elevator]

Seeing the reply, Zhou Huaiyi tossed her phone aside, jumped off the bed, and dashed to open the door.

"Ding," a clear elevator chime came from the end of the corridor. In the deep silence of the night, the sound of footsteps rubbing on the carpet was particularly noticeable.

One step, two steps, three steps.

A familiar figure rounded the corridor, approaching from afar.

Zhou Huaiyi’s excitement was uncontrollable. She stood at the door, wanting to run to him but feeling it was too improper, so she just waved vigorously and smiled at him.

Xiang Qichen’s mouth barely curved into a smile, both surprised and delighted.

Stopping in front of her, he looked up at her, his expression as usual, "Still awake?"

Zhou Huaiyi scratched her head, shyly, "Waiting for you, hehe."

Xiang Qichen’s brow moved slightly, he took a hard disk out of his bag and handed it to her, saying, "Your footage."

Zhou Huaiyi’s eyes lit up, seemingly more excited than seeing Xiang Qichen himself. She grabbed it energetically, instantly wide awake, "Ahhhh thank you! You worked hard!"

Xiang Qichen pursed his lips, feeling a bit displeased inside.

Could it be that he was no match for a hard disk?

But his expression remained casual as he said, "You’ve got the stuff, go to sleep."

Zhou Huaiyi grinned broadly, unable to stop smiling, "You sleep, you sleep, good night."

"?"

Xiang Qichen: "You’re not sleeping?"

Zhou Huaiyi tapped the hard disk in her hand, resolutely lowering her head, "While there’s no filming tomorrow morning, I’m going to work all night!"

Xiang Qichen: "..."