CH 28

Yu Zhou couldn’t stop thinking about what Peng Xiangzhi said – she hasn’t figured out how to love yet.

When it came to eating, only the four of them gathered. Peng Xiangzhi found it strange that Su Chang had recently taken such an active interest in food and drink.

However, the person didn’t gain any weight, so she could indulge herself without restraint.

How annoying!

When it came to eating and drinking, gossip naturally followed. Peng Xiangzhi busily tapped her phone to reply to messages on WeChat, sometimes furrowing her brows, sometimes chuckling and clapping her hands, sometimes pursing her lips, her expressions incredibly rich.

Suddenly, she withdrew from her chair before thrusting her phone screen towards Su Chang, saying, “Take a look at this, she’s been talking to me for quite a while. Scroll up, it’s hilarious.”

Su Chang, too lazy to scroll, didn’t make a move.

“She told me she’s in big trouble, and I got so worried I almost called her. Turns out, she’s having a problem with her ‘bed work.'”

“Hahaha,” Peng Xiangzhi wanted to laugh out loud, but tried to suppress her laughter as the lounge was very quiet. “She said they’ve been together for years, tried all sorts of positions, but their interest is dying, so she felt they’re facing a crisis in their relationship. She came to me for advice. How would I know? I don’t even have a bed for her to ‘die’ in.”

“She also asked me to ask around in my circle of friends and to ask you. I nearly died laughing. I said, ‘Are you asking me to ask Su Chang? The one who’s as wooden and indifferent as a log?'”

“No, that’s not right. You don’t even compare to a log – rubbing logs can start a fire.”

“I told her that if Su Chang knew the answer, I’d eat this table.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhou choked on a sip of orange juice; she grabbed a tissue to wipe up the mess.

Su Chang sat upright in her seat, glanced at Yu Zhou and then slowly lowered her gaze to her hands playing with the phone.

She spun the phone between her fingers before lightly pinching it, her index finger pressed against its side, lightly tapping on the table.

“Tap.” The sound wasn’t loud, but it seemed as if the tap echoed in Yu Zhou’s ears.

It turned out that when Peng Xiangzhi said “Su Chang hasn’t figured it out” it wasn’t a casual dismissal. In the eyes of her friends, or the circle they ran in, Su Chang really was seen as someone without passions or desires, uninterested in romantic relationships.

Su Chang lifted her phone, resting one corner on her arm, her wrist upright with her bluish veins slightly protruding.

Yu Zhou blurted out, “Stop playing with it.”

The sudden silence was palpable. Peng Xiangzhi and Xiang Wan turned to look at her, and Su Chang also raised her eyes, gazing at her.

Yu Zhou took another sip of orange juice, trying to find an excuse, “My mom said that playing with a phone too much isn’t good.”

“Huh?” Peng Xiangzhi blinked as she looked at Su Chang, “Her phone screen is off, she isn’t playing.”

Su Chang hesitated for a moment before putting her phone back into her hand, “I won’t play anymore.”

Huh? What was that about? Peng Xiangzhi sniffed with suspicion.

Su Chang lowered her head as she smoothed out the hair behind her ears.

Actually, she got along well with Yu Zhou. But just now, when Peng Xiangzhi mentioned it, she became a little unsure whether Yu Zhou’s “I can’t find the feeling I had when I first fell for you” included the compatibility on bed, or if it was just something she assumed herself.

However, she had no position to ask more.

They recorded until very late that day; it was past midnight when they finished. They weren’t sure if this was due to Yu Zhou asking for a retake or the unexpected delay caused by Xiang Wan.

But the actors were all very dedicated; even though they were too tired to keep their eyes open, they still delivered quality performances.

Only after the last emotional line faded into silence did Zhou Ling say while patting her shoulder, “I’m exhausted.”

“I’m leaving first, Pengpeng. I really can’t hold on any longer.” She didn’t bother with any more pleasantries as she grabbed her bag before rushing to the restroom.

Dian Dian usually waited for her close friends to finish work together. She went around the studio, seeing that the lights in the neighboring room were still on, she decided to wait for a while longer.

Su Chang, supporting her waist, walked out, while Peng Xiangzhi, yawning continuously and tearful-eyed clung to Su Chang, complaining that she was too old to stay up late any longer.

Xiang Wan, on the other hand, seemed full of energy – so much so that Yu Zhou, infected by her yawns, wondered if she might not be an ancient person.

Wasn’t it said that ancient people got up at dawn and went to bed at sunset?

Yu Zhou rubbed her face, following Peng Xiangzhi and the others out. When they entered the elevator, Yu Zhou pressed the button for the first floor.

Su Chang glanced at her.

Yu Zhou didn’t say anything.

Su Chang waited for a few seconds before asking, “Do you have any other plans?”

Yu Zhou knew that what Su Chang actually wanted to ask was if she needed a ride, but Su Chang had always been like this – she would jump around two or three questions instead of asking directly.

Yu Zhou sniffled, exhausted beyond measure, saying, “No need. You don’t have to ride me home.”

Seeing Su Chang not responding, she added, “I just worried that Miss Su might be tired.”

She thought about it for a moment that saying “worried that you might be tired” would be too much, so she changed “you” to “Miss Su”.

Her tactfulness, of course, couldn’t stand against Su Chang’s understanding of her. Su Chang slightly curved her lips, saying, “Not tired at all.”

Yu Zhou’s concern warmed her heart.

This time her smile was charming, perhaps because of her fatigue, her happiness shone unmistakably on her face, even as her voice had gone hoarse.

Just like the countless whispers late at night.

Leaving Yu Zhou in a trance.

It wasn’t until sitting in the car that Xiang Wan’s drowsiness washed over her, so she leaned her head against Yu Zhou while falling asleep.

As Peng Xiangzhi exited the car from the passenger seat, Su Chang looked at Yu Zhou in the rearview mirror, and the peacefully sleeping Xiang Wan cradled in the crook of her neck.

She suddenly had an absurd thought – Yu Zhou said Xiang Wan had traveled through time. For a moment, she felt an inexplicable urge to believe it.

Appearing out of the blue, as enigmatic as ever.

But the idea only wavered for a second before disappearing completely as she flicked on the turn signal.

“How long has she been staying at your place?” Su Chang asked.

Yu Zhou lowered her voice, replying, “A little over a month.”

“When is she going back?”

“I don’t know.”

Su Chang’s question slightly crossed the line, but perhaps it was because she was too sleepy to beat around the bush. Yu Zhou was sleepy too, responding frankly.

“So she’s…just staying like that?”

Yu Zhou stared at the flickering neon lights outside the window, with Xiang Wan’s warm breath on her neck.

“Not forever.” she said.

Not wanting to continue the topic, she asked Su Chang, “We’re not recording tomorrow or the day after, right?”

“Yes, there’s a red weather warning for a major downpour.” she replied.

“Really?” Yu Zhou was taken aback, unconsciously taking out her phone to check. Indeed, she had received a notification about the storm, but she hadn’t noticed it before.

She asked in a slightly anxious tone, “In a major torrential downpour, will there be thunder and lightning?”

“Not sure.” Su Chang glanced at the traffic in the side mirror.

There probably would be. Yu Zhou glanced at Xiang Wan, who was sleeping soundly.