CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 65: LONGSTANDING AFFECTION (4)

The promotional event lasted three hours. Backstage, Zhou Huaiyi and Jiang Wei were interviewed by the media again. Once all the interviews were done, Zhou Huaiyi barely had time to change clothes before rushing to the airport with the group to catch a flight to Shanghai for the next day’s promotion.

Day after day, until the day before the movie premiere, Zhou Huaiyi spent most of her time on the road. Her daily sleep was less than four hours. The winter wind was cold, and after a week of irregular rest, Zhou Huaiyi inevitably fell ill.

Yanchuan

November 10th, 9:00 AM, 15 hours until the premiere of the movie "Ten Miles of Spring Breeze". Zhou Huaiyi was wrapped in a thick quilt, only her head was exposed, shivering.

She held a tissue to her nose, let out a long "hmm" and produced another snot.

Xiang Qichen brought in ginger tea. Seeing her looking so haggard from illness made him feel both distressed and guilty.

He handed her the ginger tea, leaned over, and placed the back of his hand on her forehead with a frown: "You’re a bit feverish."

Zhou Huaiyi took a sip of the ginger tea and coughed twice in a muffled voice: "I’ll sweat it out."

Xiang Qichen, looking slightly serious, picked up his phone from the bedside table, preparing to make a call.

Zhou Huaiyi sensed something and glanced at him: "What are you up to?"

Xiang Qichen: "I’m telling Sister Yan to cancel the afternoon event."

Upon hearing this, she quickly put down her cup and snatched the phone from Xiang Qichen’s hand, speaking in surprise: "Are you crazy? It’s just a minor cold. If you cancel events so casually, it’ll cost money and give others a chance to smear you!"

Xiang Qichen stared at her deeply, wanting to speak but unable to get the words out.

"I’ve taken medicine and feel much better." She adjusted the quilt, pushed him with her hand, "But you, you need to pack your things. My dad booked a flight for me at 3:30 PM, and you have to go back for me!"

Xiang Qichen was taken aback, almost forgetting about it.

"I’m really fine!" Zhou Huaiyi, seeing him stand there unmoving, simply got out of bed and pushed him out the door, "Go pack your luggage. I’ll help you with makeup later, then you’ll go back happily and beautifully to meet my dad!"

Xiang Qichen half-heartedly turned his head to look at her, finally compromising and going to the wardrobe.

——

At 5:30 PM, Xiang Qichen arrived on time at W City’s international airport.

Zhou Huaiyi had mentioned her dad would come to pick her up, so no sooner had he gotten off the plane, Father Zhou’s call came through.

Old Zhou: "Zhou Huaiyi, have you gotten off the plane yet?"

Xiang Qichen responded calmly: "Yes, just got off the plane."

Old Zhou: "Dad’s at the arrivals gate, you can see me as soon as you come out."

Xiang Qichen: "Okay."

Xiang Qichen could recognize Father Zhou’s appearance. Besides an incidental video call, Zhou Huaiyi later showed him photos many times, with the typical peace-sign smile in every single one.

That face, you could say, was deeply etched in his heart. :)

He retrieved his luggage and walked out slowly, his heart full of anxiety. As he approached the arrivals gate, Xiang Qichen almost immediately spotted Father Zhou in the crowd.

Father Zhou had a buzz cut, tall and slim, with long, straight legs. He looked kind and younger than Xiang had imagined.

Old Zhou also spotted him from a distance and waved.

Xiang Qichen quickened his pace, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. When he reached Father Zhou, he opened his mouth, but the lines he’d prepared vanished, leaving his mind blank.

This inexplicable feeling of nervousness like meeting a future father-in-law, what’s going on...

He swallowed, awkwardly raised his hand, and nodded slightly: "Hello..."

"???" Old Zhou frowned in confusion, giving a light tap to her head, "Went to college and came back a fool."

With that, Old Zhou casually pulled her suitcase and headed straight for the parking lot.

Xiang Qichen: "..."

From the airport to Zhou Huaiyi’s home in Wuxun was about a two-hour drive on the highway. On the road, Old Zhou maintained his usual driving silence, focusing on the traffic.

This made Xiang Qichen breathe a sigh of relief.

Before getting in the car, he worried that sitting in the front would draw Father Zhou’s attention and he might slip up, so he deliberately sat in the back. At the time, Old Zhou had given him an odd look but said nothing, getting into the driver’s seat.

The car sped along the highway, and as Xiang Qichen watched the scenery flash by, he thought of Zhou Huaiyi’s sick appearance from the morning and anxiously sent her a WeChat message: [Are you feeling better?]

*

It wasn’t until an hour later that Zhou Huaiyi replied to Xiang Qichen’s WeChat. By then, he was already on the highway inside Wuxun, and in less than half an hour, he would be home.

[Zhou Luobu: Much better, are you at my house yet?]

[Xiang: Should be soon, just got to Wuxun’s highway toll booth. Did the event just end?]

[Zhou Luobu: Hmm, just ended. Has my dad said anything to you?]

[Xiang: No]

[Zhou Luobu: There’s a premiere tomorrow too. Sister Yan said, after the premiere, I can rest for two days! ^_^]

[Xiang: You’ve worked hard]

[Zhou Luobu: Not hard at all! Hehehe]

[Xiang: Take some medicine and get some sleep]

[Zhou Luobu: Got it! Bye, idol!]

Xiang Qichen’s lips curved into a smile, silently amused.