On her first official day at work, Le Yiqiu had nothing much to do.
Screenwriters generally didn’t need to stick with the crew. If they did join them, there was usually nothing for them to handle anyway.
That is, unless the director or an actor offered usable suggestions. Otherwise, she could sit around all day without a single task.
And so she spent the entire day sitting behind Zheng Zhi, watching the monitor alongside him.
Lin Xianing was the lead actress, and most of the scenes revolved around her.
Watching Lin Xianing perform from such close range, Le Yiqiu couldn’t bring herself to blink.
There was something enjoyable about seeing her act. She could learn while indulging in the sight—what a fantastic job.
Others might have thought she was simply dedicated to her work, but Zheng Zhi knew better. In his mind, a little figure pumped its fist in excitement: Now we’re shipping it!
…
During lunch break, Le Yiqiu hopped on her electric scooter for a quick spin around the area. When she returned, she clutched her script and knocked on the door of Lin Xianing’s nanny van.
Chen Tao opened the door and saw her. Her expression soured instantly.
“Teacher Le, is something the matter?”
Chen Tao understood that the two of them didn’t want their relationship publicized on set. She also knew Le Yiqiu was there as the screenwriter. Inwardly, she sighed: Finally, she’s not just lounging at home anymore.
But then she found it amusing. What did it matter to her how others lived their lives?
Chen Tao kept her expression neutral. Le Yiqiu waved the script in her hand. “I’m here to discuss it with Teacher Lin.”
“What about the other two teachers?”
There were three people on the script team. Surely discussions about the script shouldn’t fall to just one of them.
Le Yiqiu was speechless for a moment, but inspiration struck. “They’ve already gone over it with Teacher Lin. I just got here and haven’t had the chance yet.”
Chen Tao pondered for a beat before saying gravely, “Teacher Lin needs to rest.”
She wasn’t lying. Lin Xianing had already lain down, preparing for a nap. For the sake of her afternoon performance, she needed proper rest.
They could return to the hotel at midday—the trip would take longer there, and sleeping in a real bed would be far more comfortable.
But the round trip would eat up thirty minutes, which Lin Xianing considered a waste of time. So she chose to rest right there on set.
The nanny van was fully equipped, so a short break posed no problem at all.
“…”
Le Yiqiu reached toward the little bag at her waist, about to speak, when Lin Xianing’s voice came from inside the van. “Let Teacher Le come in.”
Chen Tao rolled her eyes inwardly. Just as I thought.
She stepped aside to let Le Yiqiu enter, then tactfully hopped out of the van to find some shade. She had no intention of playing third wheel.
It was Le Yiqiu’s first time stepping inside the nanny van. The interior space was generous, without any sense of confinement.
There were simple seats, a bar counter for brewing coffee or tea, a bathroom for showers, and two rows of massage chairs.
The back row had been folded down to form what looked like an approximately six-foot bed—perhaps even wider—with a thin quilt draped over it.
Lin Xianing sat there atop it, looking every bit as though she were about to rest.
“Is there a problem with the script?” Lin Xianing asked, tilting her head slightly.
She had read it through. Yiyi was undeniably talented; Lin Xianing had no major revisions to suggest.
Most of the script had been refined by Yiyi. The earlier discussions with the script team hadn’t yielded much for her.
From the moment of her amnesia until now, it had been little more than twenty days for Le Yiqiu. How many days had she even spent with the script? What was there really to discuss?
Was she just putting on a show now that she’d arrived on set for the first day?
Lin Xianing’s brows furrowed faintly. She felt the need to go over the script properly with Le Yiqiu—to avoid any questions from others later. That was why she’d had her assistant let her in.
She was about to continue when she saw Le Yiqiu pull something out of her bag like she was presenting a treasure.
It was wrapped in bubble-like paper, probably for insulation or keeping it cool.
Le Yiqiu peeled away the layers one by one and revealed the contents. “Ice cream.”
Her eyes sparkled, as if she were sharing some delightful discovery.
This was the ice cream she’d loved as a child—a milk ice cream bar coated in a crunchy dark chocolate shell. It was delicious.
She’d ridden around searching for it and finally found this brand in a convenience store.
It had been hugely popular back then, but now it was nearly impossible to find.
The taste hadn’t changed much. If anything, the updated version was even better.
Finding something so tasty had lifted her spirits, and she wanted nothing more than to share that joy with the person she liked. So she’d seized on a convenient excuse and hurried over.
Lin Xianing stared at the ice cream in Le Yiqiu’s hand. A memory flashed through her mind.
She paused for a moment, then rose and walked over to take it from her. “Thank you.”
“Sit,” she said, gesturing to the seat beside her.
The two of them sat down together. After a moment of silence, Lin Xianing tore open the wrapper and took a bite. Her eyes narrowed in pleasure.
It was like watching an arrogant cat savor a favorite treat, its satisfaction plain to see.
“It’s still the same flavor,” Lin Xianing murmured, almost wistfully.
Le Yiqiu chuckled inwardly. “You’ve had it before?”
Lin Xianing gazed at the ice cream in her hand, lost in thought. It wasn’t until beads of water condensed at the bite mark, threatening to melt away, that she snapped out of it.
She took another small bite from the edge, savoring the rich milky flavor in her mouth. With a contented lean back against the chair, she relaxed.
The sight of Lin Xianing like this stirred something in Le Yiqiu’s heart. Her throat went dry. Unbidden, her gaze drifted to Lin Xianing’s lips—then she quickly looked away, not daring to stare.
As if sensing her attention, Lin Xianing rested her arm on the table and propped her chin on her hand. Her eyes held a tender, almost flirtatious glint as she looked at Le Yiqiu.
“I’ve had it. You bought it for me.”
Le Yiqiu’s breath hitched.
That seductive, inviting gaze lasted only an instant. If not for the lingering dryness in her mouth, she might have dismissed it as her imagination.
Le Yiqiu drew in a deep breath, suppressing the flutter in her chest.
Her tone carried a hint of curiosity. “Why haven’t you told me about what happened before?”
Lin Xianing’s expression cooled. She tossed the remaining ice cream into the trash bin. “Didn’t you want to talk about the script?”
Le Yiqiu’s gaze flicked to the bin, but she said nothing. Still, a clear realization settled in her mind.
Lin Xianing didn’t want to discuss the past.
Right now, Lin Xianing’s face was a blank mask, her voice even. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.
Talk about the script? Le Yiqiu lowered her head. The script lay right there on the table.
But then she glanced at the folded-down seats in the back of the van and remembered that Lin Xianing needed rest. She stood, gathering her copy of the script. “We’ll talk another time.”
“Mm,” Lin Xianing replied. She knew full well that Le Yiqiu hadn’t come to discuss the script at all.
Le Yiqiu reached the van door. Just as she was about to open it, her hand paused. She turned back. “Dinner tonight?”
Lin Xianing then remembered—she’d invited her to the night market that evening.
No…?
Lin Xianing hesitated without responding.
Receiving no answer, Le Yiqiu understood at once. Tsundere humans.
“I’ll wait for you in your room tonight.”
With that, she stepped out of the van before Lin Xianing could reply.
Outside, Chen Tao noticed her descending and wondered how they could have wrapped up a script discussion so quickly—it had been less than ten minutes.
“Xiao Tao.”
Le Yiqiu greeted her with a beaming smile, clearly in high spirits.
Bewildered, Chen Tao climbed back into the van. She noticed her boss seemed to be in a good mood too.
Were they always this close? I never noticed before.
Had she fallen out of touch with young couples? Curiosity got the better of her. “Boss, did you two discuss the ‘script’—or the script?”
The emphasis made the meanings unmistakably different.
Lin Xianing’s smile faded. She shot Chen Tao a dangerous look. “Are you that idle?”
“Uh…”
Chen Tao shook her head vigorously. She’d clearly lost her mind to tease her boss like that.
“Prepare a hat, mask, and some loose clothes.”
Lin Xianing’s cool voice cut through the air. Chen Tao blinked in confusion. “Are you heading out?”
“Mm.”
Lin Xianing assented. As she rose, her foot accidentally nudged the trash bin. She glanced at the melted ice cream inside and pursed her lips with a soft sigh.
A closer look would reveal the faint regret on her face.
