Zhou Mingqian: "..." He replied to him in a serious tone.
Yu An: "I definitely can't make that many dumplings. We'll all make them together. I can cook the vegetables. You just need to arrange a few people to help me."
"Oh, and we also need cooking utensils," she added.
The film crew had no shortage of cooking utensils; they had a mobile kitchen truck with everything they needed.
This time, since we were filming in the suburbs, we ordered fast food. In the past, when filming in remote areas, such as deserts, grasslands, and mountains, with no villages or shops in sight, the crew had to cook for themselves.
Zhou Mingqian: "Without ingredients, what will you use to cook?"
Yu An: "I'll go buy it now, the supermarket is still open."
After thinking for a moment, Zhou Mingqian decided not to dampen her enthusiasm. He arranged a truck driver for her and asked a few people to help her carry her things.
Upon hearing that they would be enjoying delicious food tomorrow, they rushed to buy groceries.
In particular, a few girls liked to join in the fun, and a large group of them drove to the city.
The usually chatty women were gone, and the studio became much quieter.
Zhou Mingqian subconsciously looked towards the corner, where Xi Jia often sat.
Xi Jia was taking notes again.
Zhou Mingqian couldn't understand it. What was so interesting about writing all day long? What was he even writing about? Was he practicing calligraphy?
Xi Jia plugged in her earphones and listened to the recordings she had made outside. She compared each word with what she remembered.
No difference.
A message came in on her phone: [Baby, Mommy's landed! I'll come see you tomorrow. What do you want to eat? What do you need? Make a list and send it to me tonight.]
Xi Jia: [Hmm, I'll think about it carefully when I get back.]
She glanced at the time; it was almost six o'clock, and Mo Yushen still hadn't arrived. He had said at noon that she would see him in the afternoon.
【husband.】
【Yes. On its way.】
Xi Jia was relieved.
Mo Yushen didn't arrive until almost seven o'clock. He had gone home to pack a lot of things and then went to the mall, which took more than two hours.
The moment Mo Yushen entered, he instantly attracted the attention of a large group of people who were obsessed with his looks. The studio was filled with pink hearts.
It took Xi Jia more than ten minutes to notice Mo Yushen. When she looked up, she met his gentle gaze. A white shirt and black trench coat, on others, would give off a cold, distant, and ascetic vibe.
Wearing it on him felt warm to her.
She gave him a faint smile.
It felt like having an affair. Very exciting.
For a moment, her world was quiet, yet she could feel his presence.
Mo Yushen was sitting with Zhou Mingqian, and the two were talking about work.
Zhou Mingqian picked up the milk tea and took a few sips. The pearls didn't taste good, but he forced them down.
The people around him were exchanging glances, but he could only pretend not to see them.
"What are the film crew's plans for tomorrow, New Year's Eve?" Mo Yushen asked.
Zhou Mingqian: "I cook for myself, and there's a night shoot too." The model who came on as a guest star stayed with the crew until the afternoon of the third day of the Lunar New Year, and then had a flight to Fashion Week that evening.
We had to film overnight.
As they were talking, the head of the costume department came over with a few outfits. "Director Zhou, these are all the clothes we can borrow. They still don't quite match the requirements of the script."
The costumes in the script were classic pieces from a luxury brand in the 1990s. They contacted the brand's Asia director, but were still unable to borrow them.
Thirty years have passed, and it's hard to find now.
"Xi Jia," Zhou Mingqian called out.
No one answered.
Mo Yushen stood up and walked quickly over. "Busy?"
Xi Jia looked up, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes. "What is it?"
Mo Yushen: "There's a problem with the clothing. Go and take a look."
Xi Jia put away her notebook and went with him.
Zhou Mingqian watched them silently, realizing that dates could start like this. One pretended not to hear, while the other quickly called out.
Seamless.
The costume team leader unfolded the clothes and showed them to Xi Jia, saying, "These are clothes for the models, not what you requested." It was also during the Spring Festival holiday, making it difficult to borrow clothes.
Xi Jia: "My mother owns all the classic styles from this brand. She's coming to visit the set tomorrow, so I'll have her bring them with her."
The costume team leader breathed a sigh of relief. "What about accessories?" Matching sets look better and create that kind of aura.
Xi Jia: "No problem." Ms. Xi loves collecting jewelry.
This solved the clothing team leader's urgent problem. After expressing her gratitude, the clothing team leader went back to her work.
Zhou Mingqian was even more puzzled. Thirty years ago, those who could afford such luxurious clothes were not ordinary wealthy people. Given her good family background, what was she after by following Mo Yushen without any official status or relationship?
Is Tu Moyu good-looking?
Zhou Mingqian glanced at Mo Yushen; he was just average-looking.
Chapter Forty-Two
On the morning of New Year's Eve, Xi Jia got up at 5:30.
Filming started at 7:30 today, and we need to wrap up before noon so she can get up to review her notes and read through the script for today's shoot.
The alarm rang twice, and Xi Jia quickly turned it off, afraid of waking Mo Yushen.
Mo Yushen was already awake. "I'll sleep a little longer."
Xi Jia lingered for another five minutes, inhaling his unique, refreshing scent in his arms.
"Honey, your scent is different from others. I can recognize you even with my eyes half-closed."
Mo Yushen remained silent. A classic case of blatant lying.
The first time at the mountain hotel, didn't she just treat him as a one-night stand?
She saw him clearly then, and they even shared a bed all night, yet there was no trace of his presence in the blankets.
"Don't believe me?" Xi Jia looked up.
Instead of answering, Mo Yushen asked, "Different from others? Who are the others?"
Xi Jia: "My dad, my second brother, and my eldest brother. I haven't hugged any other men, so I don't know." As she spoke, she stretched.
If we don't get up now, there won't be enough time.
Mo Yushen couldn't sleep alone in bed, so he got up to keep her company.
Xi Jia drew back the curtains to check the weather. Looking outside, she exclaimed excitedly, "Honey, it's snowing! Come and see!"
She drew back all the curtains.
The resort buildings were all covered in a layer of snow; the trees, the roads—everything in sight was a vast expanse of white.
Overnight, it became a world of ice and snow.
The snow hasn't stopped yet; it's falling heavily.
Mo Yushen asked her, "Will you come down and build a snowman with me?" She was so excited; she must like playing in the snow.
Xi Jia didn't care about building a snowman; she ran to the bedside, picked up her phone, and made a call.
On the other end of the line, Zhou Mingqian was fast asleep when he was woken up by the urgent ringing of the phone. He had finished all his work at 3 a.m. last night.
It was only a little past five o'clock, and he had slept for less than three hours.
Everyone on the set knew that Zhou Mingqian was grumpy in the morning, but Xi Jia didn't.
"Xi Jia, what are you doing! Do you even know what time it is!"
Xi Jia turned on the speakerphone, and the roar startled Mo Yushen.
Mo Yushen really wanted to take the phone and say to Zhou Mingqian, "I am Mo Yushen."
That'll scare him to death.
Xi Jia hasn't had time to catch up on Zhou Mingqian's notes yet. For her, Zhou Mingqian is currently her idol and a director she admires and likes.
She ignored his shouting and said in a relatively calm voice, "Director Zhou, it's snowing outside, there's snow, and it's still snowing. It's not even dawn yet, which is exactly the scene we want."
Zhou Mingqian was stunned. He thought he was dreaming. When did Xi Jia become so gentle?
"Director Zhou?"
Xi Jia thought Zhou Mingqian had responded, and that she hadn't heard him, so she called out again.
Zhou Mingqian: "I know." He was much more awake lately. He sat up and asked, "Why are you up so early?" After asking, he realized that he might be sick.
Why go through all that trouble?
Xi Jia: "Looking at the script." She didn't mention reviewing her notes.
Zhou Mingqian hung up the phone. He understood this woman less and less.
He walked to the window, pulled back the curtains, and there it was—the scene he had been looking for.
Forecasts aren't that accurate either.
The heavy snow arrived ahead of schedule.
He called Yu An and asked her to inform everyone to gather at the photography studio at 6:30.
Xi Jia received a message in the group chat that filming would start at 6:30. She quickly washed up, combing her hair while catching up on her notes.
At 6:15, Zhou Mingqian got dressed, boiled water in the kettle, and poured it into a hot water bottle. Yu An had gone to the supermarket to buy groceries last night and bought him a hot water bottle as well.