Chapter 65

A week later, Jiang Sisi and the editing team emerged from the little black room, everyone sporting dark circles under their eyes.

Jiang Sisi held several rough sample cuts and gathered the directing team again, diving into another small black room.

What followed was endless discussion.

Once the directing team had circled the scenes that still needed reshoots, the crew was caught off guard and plunged back into chaos from their brief idle period.

Several actors who had already wrapped were summoned back for supplemental shots, filming until they were dizzy and disoriented.

Leng Xiang received the notice that tomorrow was a clear day, and she needed to arrive at the set at four-thirty in the morning to reshoot that one scene from before the New Year.

Leng Xiang sat on the hotel bed flipping through the script when Pei Shuang said, “Tomorrow’s scene should be your last one, right?”

Leng Xiang paused her flipping. “Yeah, it’s the final one.”

Tomorrow’s scene was the toughest nut for her to crack, but it was indeed her last scene in the Luxury Goods crew.

Pei Shuang still had a few wedding scenes to supplement, and after Leng Xiang finished shooting in the morning, they would shoot hers next, allowing her to wrap as well.

The entire Luxury Goods crew wouldn’t take more than a week to fully wrap.

The three-month filming schedule had passed just like that.

Time flew by.

…

The next day at four-thirty in the morning, the outdoor set was still being set up, but the indoor set was ready.

Before shooting this running scene, Leng Xiang had to supplement an indoor scene first.

Su Qing and Su Ming’s relationship was progressing smoothly. After her date, Su Qing returned to the apartment she shared with Jiang Chuan, tossed her bag at the entryway, and called out, “I’m back.”

Jiang Chuan walked out from the kitchen, smiling warmly. “Have you eaten?”

Su Qing: “Yeah, Su Ming took me to eat at South Street.”

Su Qing changed her shoes and walked in. “Guess how much we spent?”

Jiang Chuan: “How much?”

Su Qing: “It was on the house! Their shop had this event where if you hit exactly ten seconds in the game, you don’t have to pay. You know Su Ming’s hands—they’re like the hand of God—and we got it for free.”

Jiang Chuan smiled. “That’s great.”

Su Qing casually asked, “Have you eaten?”

Jiang Chuan: “Not yet.”

Su Qing turned to look at her. “Why haven’t you eaten?”

Jiang Chuan smiled faintly. “I was waiting for you to come back.”

Su Qing suddenly had a bad premonition.

Jiang Chuan stood up and walked over to her. “I have some news to tell you.”

Su Qing looked up at her. “What?”

Jiang Chuan said, “I’m getting married.”

Su Qing stared at her in a daze. “You’re… getting married?”

She was completely flustered, her words tumbling out incoherently. “What… when did this happen?”

“So sudden?”

“Who are you marrying?”

“When did it start…?”

Jiang Chuan sat beside Su Qing and placed her hand over Su Qing’s right hand.

Su Qing’s hand was trembling.

Su Qing: “You’ve never mentioned this to me.”

Su Qing forced a smile. “That’s good news. Why didn’t you tell me before?”

Jiang Chuan looked at her quietly. “The day you first came back from your date with Su Ming, I went on a blind date too. It was arranged by relatives on my mom’s side.”

“I got lucky. The first one was pretty reliable.”

“So I’m getting married.”

Su Qing tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Well… congratulations.”

Jiang Chuan said, “He’s eager on his side, so I might hold the wedding next month. Will you be my bridesmaid then?”

Su Qing moved her lips.

Jiang Chuan pressed her hand and stared into her eyes. “We’ve lived together for eight years. We’re each other’s best friends. You have to say yes, okay?”

Su Qing: “…Okay.”

…

Jiang Sisi held the megaphone and shouted, “Cut.”

With that scene wrapped, the entire crew hurriedly shifted to the outdoor church.

At five in the morning, the sun had just risen, casting a faint white glow over the distant sky.

As Jiang Chuan’s bridesmaid, Su Qing attended Jiang Chuan’s wedding. Afterward, Su Qing and Jiang Chuan had a fight.

Longtime best friends—their bond shattered completely at the moment of the other’s marriage.

Su Qing ran out, while Jiang Chuan stayed put, arm linked with her husband’s, unmoving.

For Jiang Chuan’s wedding scene in the church, Leng Xiang had already completed her parts. All that remained was that endless running scene.

All the cameras were in standby mode, the drone ready, five or six lenses trained on her.

Leng Xiang stood at the church entrance in her bridesmaid dress.

Everyone watched her.

The assistant director joked toward her, “Leng Xiang, want to warm up first?”

Jiang Sisi swatted him with a slap. “Shut up, you fatso. Don’t distract her.”

Leng Xiang gazed at the distant horizon.

A thin mist veiled a golden-red outline; even the fog was warped by the morning sun. The first rays fell on her profile.

Leng Xiang began to run, and all the cameras followed.

At first, she wore high heels, but she kicked them off and ran barefoot on the icy road.

The flat, straight highway, the distant horizon, the morning sunrise, the hazy mist.

All these images flickered vaguely in Leng Xiang’s mind. Suddenly, there was no one around—only her, running endlessly.

She didn’t know where the finish line was.

She didn’t know where her salvation lay.

Su Qing felt like she had been dreaming. When she woke, Jiang Chuan was still living with her; they could live together forever. Jiang Chuan hadn’t married, and she had never met Su Ming.

She recalled the fight she’d had with Jiang Chuan.

Jiang Chuan’s lips were thin; when pursed, they formed a straight line.

“Over these eight years, the day you came back from your date wasn’t the first time someone tried to set me up on a blind date.”

“We’re the same age. Your mom nags you to get married, and mine does the same, countless times, saying I’m not getting any younger and should find someone to marry. I’ve always refused, saying people these days value marriage freedom, and I can support myself.”

“But that day, watching you come back and describe what a great guy Su Ming was, I suddenly felt like I had no meaning by your side anymore.”

Jiang Chuan gave a self-mocking smile.

“You’ll marry a man you love, have kids with him, live with him, and move out of our little place.”

“If you didn’t get it, I could wait until you did. But from that day, I knew clearly—I’d wait forever in vain.”

“Su Qing, I wish you happiness.”

Su Qing lifted her eyes to the distant sun.

The golden-red sunrise traced a line in her vision, too blinding. She kept her eyes wide open until mist filled them.

She had to see it clearly.

Why did I only realize now that I like her?

I had so many chances to tell her I love her.

She’d been watching me all this time, through all those long years—only her.

We’ve loved each other for so many years. Why only now do I understand? She’d always been silently watching me.

But I ruined it all.

I’m the sinner.

Su Qing gasped for air, stumbled, and knelt on the ground.

She looked up and saw a church ahead.

On the distant horizon stood a small church, quiet and steadfast.

Su Qing stood, stumbling step by step toward the church.

The church door was ajar. Su Qing pushed it open to an empty interior, rows of pews covered in dust.

Sunlight pierced through cracks in the ceiling, spilling mottled halos on the floor.

The statue of Jesus hung high above, gazing down at her.

Su Qing knelt, tears falling.

A pastor emerged from the side.

Su Qing looked up at the approaching figure.

The pastor wore solemn robes, a large hood concealing her head and face.

The pastor approached and stood before her, saying warmly, “My child, what pain are you enduring?”

Su Qing said, “I did something wrong. I fell in love with my best friend.”

The pastor said, “Does she love you?”

Su Qing bowed her head, tears streaming down. “She loves me. She loves me.”

“But she left me because I’m stupid and oblivious, hesitant and in denial, fooling myself to the end.”

“I’m a sinner. I destroyed everything.”

Leng Xiang looked up at the pastor and saw Jiang Sisi’s eyes.

Those eyes held no sorrow or joy, calmly regarding her like all living beings in the world.

She was the pastor.

Tears slid down Leng Xiang’s cheeks. She knelt forward on her knees, clutching the pastor’s robe tightly.

She confessed in this small church.

She murmured repeatedly, “I’m a sinner.”

Jiang Sisi bent down and held her tightly.

The camera pulled back infinitely as the entire set fell silent.

The assistant director watched the monitor.

Jiang Sisi stood under the camera lens, removed the hood covering her head and face, grabbed a megaphone from nearby, and shouted, “Lead actress Leng Xiang—wrapped!”

The set erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

The scriptwriter clutched tissues, wiping her eyes and sobbing. “She acted it so well—boo hoo hoo, I’m losing it! I’m gonna cry to death!!”

The makeup artist wiped tears nearby too. “Your script is great too. How’d you suddenly think to add this scene? It’s genius, absolute perfection.”

The assistant director watched Leng Xiang and Jiang Sisi, still locked in a tight embrace even after the cut. “Yeah, and this is the first time Jiang Sisi’s cameo’d in her own movie. Even just showing her eyes—who knows if the audience will spot it.”

With that, the key scenes of Luxury Goods were basically complete. Only some wrap-up work remained, and the crew could head back to the city.

Unknowingly, Luxury Goods was finished filming.

The assistant director organized the crew to pack props and move for the final indoor wrap-up shots.

In the small, rundown church, Leng Xiang still clung to Jiang Sisi, unwilling to let go.

She knelt on the ground as Jiang Sisi bent over her, patting her back.

Jiang Sisi asked, “How do you feel?”

Leng Xiang wiped her eyes, rubbing the corners red.

She looked utterly drained. Ever since resuming filming after the New Year holiday, whenever she entered a scene on set, she sank into it completely.

Or rather, Su Qing’s emotions had imbued her with a profound melancholy.

Leng Xiang shook her head honestly. “Not great.”

Jiang Sisi said, “That’s acting for you. To bring a character to life, you have to roast your soul on the fire. You’ll get used to it.”

“Once you’re home, take a few days off, sleep it out, and you’ll adjust.”

Leng Xiang looked at Jiang Sisi.

Jiang Sisi still wore the pastor’s robe, its hem wrinkled from Leng Xiang’s grip.

She quickly let go but, still kneeling, lost her balance and tilted sideways, about to fall.

Jiang Sisi reached out to steady her. They ended up very close, breaths mingling, close enough to see the fine hairs on each other’s lips.

Leng Xiang’s breath hitched, and she turned her face away.

She could pour her heart out to Black Pool Boss on WeChat, but face-to-face with Jiang Sisi herself, she didn’t know what to say.

Jiang Sisi helped Leng Xiang up and handed her socks and shoes.

Only then did Leng Xiang feel the pain in her soles. She’d run barefoot for so long on the ground without shoes or socks. It was still early after New Year—freezing cold. Her feet were numb from the chill, and the soles scraped with countless small cuts.

Jiang Sisi said, “Have Tan Ya carry you back to the hotel. Soak your feet and treat the wounds.”

Leng Xiang looked at her and blurted out, “You carry me.”

Jiang Sisi: “…”

Leng Xiang hadn’t thought before speaking. Now realizing, she wanted to cover her face and flee.

What did I just say? What?

Acting all spoiled and asking for a piggyback—what’s wrong with me?

Leng Xiang kept a straight face as she looked at Jiang Sisi, a faint blush quietly creeping up to her ears.

Jiang Sisi let out a “pfft” and burst into laughter.

Embarrassed and angry, Leng Xiang wanted to hit her.

Jiang Sisi turned her back and squatted down. “Get on.”

Leng Xiang hadn’t expected Jiang Sisi to be so straightforward. She stood there stunned.

When she didn’t move for a long time, Jiang Sisi turned her head to look at her. “Get on. Didn’t you want me to carry you back?”

She thought for a moment and added, “Or I could carry you back in my arms. I can manage it. You pick.”

Leng Xiang: “…”

What was this feeling of having dug a pit for herself?