Looking at that slender figure, Lu Yanheng couldn't help but roll down the car window again and call out to the person.
"Minor Cold".
Wen Yuhan stopped in her tracks.
Lu Yanheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he said gently, "Since you and Pei Shaocheng are over, are you really not going to consider..."
"Yanheng." Wen Yuhan turned around, interrupting Lu Yanheng's question with her eyes.
Lu Yanheng was a smart man, and he naturally learned the other party's answer once again in this silence.
He sighed softly, then gave Wen Yuhan a weary smile and said, "Sorry, go back now."
When Wen Yuhan opened the door, she heard the car drive away.
He closed the door, leaned against it, and felt the last bit of strength he had left completely disappear.
As soon as I close my eyes, I can see Pei Shaocheng's bloodshot eyes.
Pei Shaocheng's last words to him were spoken through gritted teeth: "You'll regret this."
Will I really regret it?
Wen Yuhan chuckled to himself and took out the cigarette case he had secretly taken from Pei Shaocheng's house from his pocket.
That was a cigarette that Pei Shaocheng usually smoked. Unlike the mint flavor he liked, it was the purest tobacco.
He cracked open a cigarette and put it in his mouth, but hesitated to light it for a long time. He just breathed deeply, trying to find even the slightest trace of the other person's flavor in it.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but the faint warmth from when he touched Pei Shaocheng's cheek still lingered on his hand.
It was this hand that turned the last glimmer of hope in Pei Shaocheng's eyes to ashes.
Wen Yuhan finally took out a lighter and lit the cigarette. Amidst the swirling white smoke, he raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.
Wen Yuhan, you're a real scoundrel.
"Meow—"
The noise woke up the kitten in the room. As if it was unhappy about being disturbed from its sweet dream, it raised its voice and complained to Wen Yuhan in a childish voice.
Seeing that the other party was unmoved, the kitten actually mustered up its courage and jumped off the sofa, rolled on the ground, and exposed its round belly.
Wen Yuhan then came to her senses somewhat.
He stared blankly as the kitten toddled up to him, rubbed its tail against his trouser leg, and then struggled to climb onto him, curled up in a ball, and fell asleep again.
Suddenly, the meaningless conversation I had with Pei Shaocheng many years ago echoed in my ears again:
"When Mr. Pei becomes a big star and lives on set all the time, wouldn't I be bored to death?"
"Then you'll come with me to the film set, I'll lock you in the room, and I'll hold you while I sleep when I come back at night."
"Hmm? What about during the day?"
"You've been up all night, you probably won't be able to get out of bed during the day."
"Tsk, I think I've corrupted you."
"Oh."
"How about we get a cat once things settle down?"
"A cat? Why not a dog?"
"But I already have a dog."
"Wen Yuhan, you... sigh, never mind."
"Good girl."
...
The ash fell to the ground, and the last cigarette was completely burned out.
...
A note from the author:
High-energy warning! Pei Gou is about to enter phase 2.0 - Excitement--
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 30
After that, Wen Yuhan was sick on and off for a long time.
The leaves of the sycamore tree outside the window turned golden after several storms, and after who knows how many nights, the last leaf finally fell, leaving only bare branches. Finally, with the north wind, a thick layer of snow covered them.
During this time, Wen Yuhan met with Cheng Liang and Feng Yuan a few more times to adjust the script, but she never saw Pei Shaocheng again.
I only heard that his stage play with Yi Li was a great success. As a newcomer, Yi Li's first stage performance after returning to China was with Pei Shaocheng. With his outstanding image and ability, he quickly gained a high reputation in the industry.
Furthermore, some media outlets have revealed that Yi Li comes from a prestigious family. His father is a wealthy businessman overseas, and his mother was one of the most popular opera singers in the early days. This extraordinary family background adds another layer of prestige to Yi Li.
Wen Yuhan remembered receiving a ticket from Yi Li on the night of the performance, but he was running a fever at the time and thought of giving it to Xiao Yang. However, Xiao Yang insisted on staying by Wen Yuhan's side to take care of him and refused to go no matter what. The ticket is still under the coffee table in the living room to this day.
Time passed day by day. When Wen Yuhan squinted as a ray of sunlight scorched him again, and finally regained his senses, he had already gotten off the plane and was sitting in the car heading to the film studio.
The contract with Zhong Hao stipulated that, considering the overall filming schedule, Wen Yuhan would join the production team to work on the final draft of the script after the second draft. This included communication and adjustments with the director and production department, participation in script readings, and assisting actors in polishing their lines. Screenwriters are one of the most important professions in the film and television industry, yet they also have the least say. It seems that anyone can offer their opinions on the script.
In the past, Wen Yuhan undoubtedly scoffed at this state of affairs in the industry and fought against it with all his might. It wasn't until he encountered too many things and offended too many people that he gradually realized that apart from upholding his original aspirations, there was nothing else he could do. This seemed to have become a deeply ingrained industry norm.
The film crew was set up right next to the film studio. The main cast and crew stayed in a star-rated hotel, while the others stayed in nearby budget hotels. Cheng Liang had already asked Feng Yuan to let Wen Yuhan stay at the hotel so they could easily discuss the script. Feng Yuan readily agreed, since Zhong Hao had a long-standing partnership with the hotel, and it was just a matter of booking an extra room.
It was already evening when they arrived at the hotel. Wen Yuhan and Xiao Yang's room was on the 21st floor, and they could overlook the entire film studio through the window.
After Xiao Yang had put his luggage away, he looked up and saw Wen Yuhan standing by the window in the sunset.
He held a cigarette between his fingers, quietly gazing out the window. Following his gaze, Xiao Yang saw a dilapidated, low-rise three-story building a few streets away from the hotel. Wen Yuhan's eyes were fixed on this building.
"What is the teacher looking at?" Xiao Yang asked as he walked up to Wen Yuhan.
Wen Yuhan's expression was serene, but a hint of nostalgia seemed to linger in his eyes as he softly said:
“I used to live there. It only cost 40 yuan a night back then.” He flicked the ash from his cigarette. “Back then, this area was all wasteland. You could see quite a few graves in the distance from the clothes-drying platform of the small building. There was a mala tang (spicy hot pot) restaurant downstairs. It wasn’t very clean, but the food was good. I don’t know if it’s still there now…”
"It really wasn't easy," Xiao Yang said with emotion.
"That's right."
Wen Yuhan smiled and replied, then looked at the three-story building again.
A gust of wind blew by, lifting the old bed sheets hanging on the top floor of the small building, along with Wen Yuhan's gradually lengthening memories...
On that stormy night, the wind howled through the sheets on the platform, and the clothes racks hanging on the ropes moved erratically, piling up to one side with the wind.
A muffled clap of thunder drowned out the trembling sound from the shadows. In the ensuing panic, the hand that was tightly gripping the sheet was pried open by another hand and pinned to the wall above.
Beer cans were scattered in the corner, and the violent shaking caused the nearest bottle to fall over and roll around a few times, making a clattering sound and foaming with white beer foam.
"Is it comfortable...? Hmm? Make a sound... Teacher Wen..."
A passionate kiss gently covered the reddened corners of her eyes, licking away the tears that had been forced out. But the action in progress showed no sign of stopping. The sound of raindrops hitting the foil in the water tank grew louder and louder until the climax that had reached its peak broke apart again...
When the clear moonlight pierced through the clouds and illuminated the place again, the two were already leaning against the wall side by side.
Pei Shaocheng lit a cigarette with his mouth dangling from his lips, while Wen Yuhan curled up one leg, clutching a beer can, his breathing still not fully calmed from the earlier frenzy.
He tilted his head back and finished the last sip of beer, then crushed the beer can. After a moment, he chuckled softly, with a hint of hoarse languor.
"What are you laughing at?" Pei Shaocheng asked him, turning his head to the side.
Wen Yuhan gestured with his chin toward the cluster of graves not far away: "Everyone's watching... This is fucking insane."
Pei Shaocheng smiled and said in a low voice, "But you actually like it very much."
Wen Yuhan smiled and shook her head, but did not deny it. Looking at the unfinished building standing in the darkness, she said, "You will be living there soon."
Pei Shaocheng, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, followed Wen Yuhan's gaze toward the building.
"As long as I'm with you, even if I spend my whole life playing minor roles and living in this shabby little building, I'm willing."
“I don’t want to,” Wen Yuhan interrupted Pei Shaocheng. “You will go much further.”
...
"Teacher Wen?" Xiao Yang's voice brought Wen Yuhan back to her senses. "I heard from the hotel staff that the bar on the first floor has a great atmosphere and there are live singers performing at night. Do you want to go check it out?"
Wen Yuhan paused for a moment, then sighed and chuckled, "Go have fun by yourself. I want to rest early. I'll be busy starting tomorrow."
He stubbed out his cigarette and planned to take a shower first.
Xiao Yang hesitated for a moment, then called out to Wen Yuhan again, "Teacher Wen, let's go together, it won't be too late."
Wen Yuhan turned to look at Xiao Yang and caught a hint of worry in his eyes.
Xiao Yang continued, "I think you can relax a bit, teacher. You've been sick for so long and have been staying at home all day. That's not good for your mood."
"Hmm? Am I in a bad mood?" Wen Yuhan pretended to think and rested her chin on her hand, teasingly drawing out her words, "Now that you mention it... could it be that I'm going through early menopause?"
Xiao Yang sighed helplessly, "Sigh, teacher..."
Wen Yuhan chuckled to himself, patting Xiao Yang's shoulder affectionately: "I know you're considerate. Let me change my clothes, and you can change yours too."
"Um!"
Xiao Yang finally felt a little relieved. Ever since Wen Yuhan fell ill, he had often looked absent-minded, and his sleep had become worse than before.
Several times he woke up in the middle of the night, anxiously searching for cigarettes and smashing things around the room. Afterwards, he would joke as if nothing had happened, claiming that he was just having a nightmare. But Xiao Yang was still worried about his mental state and even wanted to persuade Wen Yuhan to see a psychologist.
Seeing that Wen Yuhan finally didn't refuse him this time, Xiao Yang decided that he had to let her relax.
...
A note from the author:
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 31