"So how many days are you planning to stay?"
"It should be a week, right?" Chu Yi thought for a moment and said, "But we might come back earlier."
"All right."
After finalizing the arrangements with both parties, Chu Yi booked his plane ticket and started packing his suitcase a few days later.
Xiao Gao gave her the weather forecast for Beicheng online and told her what clothes to bring. In the past two days, the two of them had decided on what to go, what to do, and what to eat. Everything was ready, and they were just waiting for the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Therefore, what was originally a troublesome task turned into a pleasant game.
The first-year students are already looking forward to it.
The day of departure was a Monday, and the plane ticket was booked for around 9 a.m., which was about the same time as Qiao Anchen's work start time. He originally wanted to see her off, but Chu Yi refused.
Why bother asking for leave when a taxi can solve the problem?
Early in the morning, as soon as the alarm clock rang, Chu Yi woke up, broke free from Qiao Anchen's embrace, and groggily climbed out of bed using both hands and feet.
After washing up and getting ready to leave, Qiao Anchen was still in his pajamas. He heated up some milk for her in the kitchen and made her a simple breakfast, which he packed in a bag.
"Eat while waiting for your flight, don't board on an empty stomach." Chu Yi goes to bed late, so he usually can't eat anything at this time, but he gets hungry again quickly after a few hours. Qiao Anchen knew this.
"Mmm." Chu Yi nodded in agreement and looked at him: "You'll be going to work soon, right? Go change your clothes."
"It's alright, I'll see you to the door."
Qiao Anchen pulled out her suitcase, and Chu Yi opened the door and went out. She received a text message on her phone that the driver of the booked car was already waiting downstairs, so she immediately went to press the elevator button.
The red number displayed on the panel next to him was still on the first floor. It would take about two minutes for the elevator to come up. Qiao Anchen stood in front of Chu Yi and gave her some words of advice out of concern.
"Be careful when you're alone. Give me a call when you arrive, and let me know when you see your friend Xiao Gao."
"Okay." Chu Yi nodded obediently, her face fair and delicate. Qiao Anchen looked at her, hesitated for a moment, and then his gaze involuntarily drifted to the elevator. When he saw that the elevator was on floor eleven, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Chu Yi saw it too, and as she tightened her suitcase and was about to say goodbye, Qiao Anchen suddenly leaned over and touched her lips.
"Wife, I love you," he said quickly, as if he had completed some kind of mission.
Chu Yi stood there, stunned: "...???"
The author has something to say: The kid is completely bewildered.
42. Chapter 42
The two stared at each other intently, and in a flash, a familiar scene suddenly flashed through Chu Yi's mind.
The latest episode of the celebrity couple reality show that she has been following aired a few days ago. In it, one of the wives recalled that she would kiss her partner to express her love when she went on a long trip.
Chu Yi was deeply impressed because they had been married for decades and were still able to maintain this intimacy.
She greatly envied this kind of love.
A thought suddenly opened up, and Chu Yi immediately connected it to Qiao Anchen's unusual behavior over the past few days.
I text her and video chat with her every day, sharing little things about myself.
—That's what the husband did on the show.
While in Bali, even though I was eating perfectly fine, I immediately became alert and rushed to peel shrimp whenever I saw her about to do so.
—One wife on the show said that she usually doesn't bother eating shrimp if her husband doesn't peel them for her.
A surprise that was prepared unexpectedly, especially that rather extravagant drone.
—This was used by a husband when he proposed to his wife.
He learned to take photos of her, awkwardly called her "wife," and kissed her while she slept on his way to work... Everything that made Chu Yi feel strange seemed to be a familiar scene.
The long-standing question in my heart has finally found an answer.
Chu Yi reacted, staring at Qiao Anchen in disbelief. After a moment of stunned silence, she stammered uncertainly, "You didn't... learn that from that variety show, did you...?"
Qiao Anchen's expression changed drastically, a hint of embarrassment and awkwardness flashing across his face. He avoided her gaze and met her eyes. Just then, the elevator doors in front of them opened.
He breathed a sigh of relief and immediately pushed Chu Yi inside.
"The elevator is here, you should get going."
"Hey, no, you have to explain this to me clearly—" Chu Yi reached out to grab his sleeve, but Qiao Anchen broke free from her grasp and hurriedly instructed her.
Be careful on your way.
Seeing his behavior, everything was already self-evident. Chu Yi thought about it and decided to give up. She watched helplessly as the elevator doors closed and Qiao Anchen's anxious face disappeared from her sight.
The taxi was parked at the entrance of the residential area. After checking the license plate number, Chu Yi got in with her suitcase. The car drove normally, and she sat in the back seat, staring blankly out the window.
Everything that had happened during this time replayed in her mind, every clumsy move and awkward performance of Qiao Anchen. The scenery outside the glass changed rapidly, and Chu Yi, with her hand to her lips, inexplicably laughed out loud.
He could almost still recall the confused and disbelieving look on Qiao Anchen's face when the two of them watched the show together, and how Chu Yi earnestly lied to him.
They say that all normal marriages are like this.
Qiao Anchen didn't stay long before returning to his room.
However, unexpectedly, after the two of them argued, he secretly watched every episode of the show and tried to imitate their interactions little by little.
Chu Yi stared out the window, laughing, when tears started flowing and her vision gradually blurred.
She lowered her head, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, feeling a pang of sadness, but then, remembering something, she suddenly smiled.
The driver in front secretly glanced at her, watching her cry and laugh intermittently, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. In the end, he focused on the road and drove cautiously, becoming extremely vigilant.
When they finally arrived at the airport, the driver breathed a sigh of relief as he watched her get out of the car and close the door.
After completing the formalities, there was still some time before takeoff. Chu Yi sat in the waiting area and took out the breakfast that Qiao Anchen had prepared for her.
A simple milk and sandwich, still warm.
I don't know why, but I miss him so much.
Chu Yi ate while listening to the beeping sound of waiting.
After a while, the call was answered, and Qiao Anchen's familiar voice came from the other end, sounding calm and normal.
"Hello, Chu Yi?"
"Have you arrived at the airport?"
"Hmm, where are you?"
"Just arrived at the procuratorate, preparing for work."
"Oh." Chu Yi took a bite of her sandwich, thought for a moment, and a sly smile appeared on her face as she deliberately asked him.
"You still haven't answered my question from today?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Qiao Anchen said, "Chu Yi, I have to go to work now, so I'll talk to you later. Be careful on your own."
"I..." Before Chu Yi could even speak, the call was unilaterally ended. She looked at her phone screen and blinked.
Okay.
Then let's wait for her to come back.
After getting off the plane, Chu Yi took a taxi directly to the place where he had arranged to meet the film company.
Two people came from the other side, a female boss and a project manager, and the two sides had a pleasant conversation.
Their initial intention in wanting to meet Chu Yi was to discuss the script adaptation with her, and also to talk about the creative inspiration and the stories behind the creation of this work.
When it comes to casting, they mean they plan to find some of the most popular young male actors in China right now, whose looks and popularity are quite suitable.
The female lead's character is a bit special; there doesn't seem to be a suitable female celebrity in the industry right now. If possible, I wouldn't mind finding a newcomer.
The actors announced were all celebrities that Chu Yi liked very much, so she immediately asked herself if she could visit the set.
"Of course, we warmly welcome you."
And so, the meal went well, and the contract was signed smoothly. Chu Yi declined their offer to have someone take her out for the next few days, saying that she had already made plans with friends.
Xiao Gao was already waiting for her in a coffee shop.
It was already afternoon when the first day of the Lunar New Year was over, and for some reason, I felt a little nervous.
Although the two are already very familiar with each other online, sharing everything big and small, they are like close old friends.
In reality, we don't even know what the other person looks like.
Following the location Xiao Gao sent her, Chu Yi looked around the coffee shop by the door and saw a short-haired girl wearing a light yellow sweatshirt by the window.
It felt as if something had gently tapped my heart. Although it was a completely unfamiliar face, a sense of familiarity and closeness welled up from the bottom of my heart, as if we had known each other for many years.
Chu Yi walked over, tapped lightly on her desk with his fingers, and smiled.
"Hello, Xiao Gao, I'm Xiao Chu."
...
After sitting down, the two looked at each other awkwardly for a few seconds before bursting into laughter at the same time.
“You’re pretty much what I imagined,” Chu Yi said. He’s a tomboy inside and out.
"You too." The girl opposite her looked her over and nodded repeatedly, her fair, oval face exuding a dashing air.
"She's my favorite kind of cute girl."
They couldn't help but laugh again. Chu Yi picked up the lemonade in front of him, took a sip, and cleared his throat.
"Okay, congratulations to Xiao Gao and Xiao Chu on their successful meeting in Beicheng."
"Cheers!" The two raised their glasses together.
After the initial awkwardness, once the conversation started, they found the feeling of chatting online again, except this time they switched from online to offline, and the pink pig head avatar on the other end of the line became a lively, energetic person.
In just a few moments, when they walked out of the coffee shop, the two were already holding hands, like inseparable sisters.
Xiao Gao took Chu Yi out for an afternoon of fun. After visiting two attractions, they went to a famous snack street, ate to their hearts' content, and finally checked out a well-known bar.
It was late at night when I came out. Not far from the bar entrance was a large lake with weeping willows along the shore. A street musician was singing against the wall, and there were still many people strolling and playing around. The lights were as bright as day.
Unlike the nights in Lancheng, which is a bustling, vibrant world, this is a peaceful, remote little town.
Chu Yi had just come out of a bustling bar, but after the excitement, he inexplicably missed the tranquility of the past.