After the script reading, the two most preeminent stars, Li Feiling and Wu Linjie, left for their respective promotional shoots. Without the two stars, the rest dispersed as well after exchanging a few passing pleasantries and, for some, their contact information. As for Xia Ruyun, she ended up standing in the corner alone while holding her phone with both hands.
For some reason, nobody approached her...
She didn’t mind, though, there would be plenty of time to get close to everyone!
Reassured, she slipped out and returned with Gao Qian when the rest of the room began shuffling out. Once delivered back to the complex, she disappeared back into her apartment. As a professional time-waster, she returned to her usual slug-like lifestyle, allowing the week to disappear like any other.
Pockmarking her laziness though, were whirlwinds of activity due to anxiety where she packed and rehearsed her part. Thus, when the end of the week came, Xia Ruyun grabbed her already packed bags and suitcases, making her way to the airport without any hiccups. One flight over from Q City later, she landed in K City where the actual filming would take place.
Where am I going...
Pulling off her headphones, she looked around as the rolling of her suitcase wheels filled her ears once more. The sign to the left pointed back towards the terminals and the sign pointing forward led to airport security...
To the right it was then! Baggage claim here she came!
Once she got her baggage and loaded it onto a cart, she texted Gao Qian with a few simple words: [I’m here in the arrivals lobby, where are you?]
[Waiting for you outside, just walk out, I see you from where I am.] Gao Qian replied within seconds.
Xia Ruyun, hearing her phone buzz, looked down, read the text before raising her eyebrow.
Where?
Outside?
Shifting left and right, she used a hand to shade her eyes—despite a lack of sun inside the airport. Like a lost chicken, her eyes glazed over and she shifted on her feet. Scalp itchiness began bugging her as her ears warmed up. After seeing nothing but the wall and window, she lowered her hand and twiddled her thumbs. [Where...? I don’t see a door to the outside... or where you are.]
[Okay, don’t worry, I’m walking over now.] Gao Qian’s reply came, again within seconds.
Sending off a quick [Thank you], she rocked on her feet forward and back. The creak of the wheels against the linoleum distracted her until a certain waving manager came into view. A smile broke out on her face. Not a second later though, she facepalmed.
So that’s where the door was...
“Good, you made sure to cover your face,” Gao Qian handed Xia Ruyun a bottle of water after walking over. “Let’s get going though, we’re running slightly behind schedule.”
Replying with a faint “mn,” Xia Ruyun trudged along behind Gao Qian as faint needles of anxiety began pricking at her heart. She, however, chose to ignore the thoughts to the best of her ability by focusing on pushing her cart full of luggage forward.
Stopped at the car's trunk by Gao Qian, she stood there like an awkward penguin while watching her luggage get loaded into the back of the car. She’d tried to move forward and help only to get waved off by Gao Qian. “I can handle it, just rest, you’ve had a long day. You’ll need the energy for shooting today.”
---
As they drove trees by the side of the road zipped by like green missiles. The lane lines blended together into one streak of white. Other cars disappeared into the rearview mirror as they traversed the highway.
Zoned out through the entire ride in the car, Xia Ruyun only came back to her senses after getting dropped off by Gao Qian at the set. Left with her book bag and nothing else, she felt her stomach churn like a blender as Gao Qian drove off to the hotel to put away all the suitcases.
“Xia Ruyun, welcome,” Zhang Jingsong walked up from behind her. “We’ll begin filming soon, so just make yourself comfortable in the white tent to the left. The makeup and costume artists are over there and they’ll be with you in a second. Also, the woman wearing the red shirt is our screenwriter, please sit down and talk to her at some point when you’re free. Just tell her your name and she’ll know the rest. She just wants to talk to each cast member about their role for a bit.”
Bobbing her head up and down a couple times, Xia Ruyun stayed still as he walked off after dumping his little monologue. Only after she saw him start to talk to some other assistants did she take careful steps toward the makeup artists. After slipping her bag off her shoulder and onto a chair, she greeted the artists with a faint smile and a quiet introduction before leaving to grab some breakfast from the food area. The overnight flight she had taken over to K City had taken its toll on her.
“Goooood MORN- ahem... Good morning, Senior Li Feiling, how are you?” Wu Linjie greeted as his exuberant voice swept away the sluggish morning atmosphere. “I’m just uh... curious if you have any tips for recovering from a long flight. I want to start shooting off on a good note.”
“Well, I can’t tell that you’re tired, but still, I’ll always advise people to sleep more,” Li Feiling squinted as a playful smile tugged at her lips. Unlike her interactions with other cast members, every time she talked to him, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of awkwardness. It didn’t mean she couldn’t banter with him a little though. “We’ve been having a lovely, quiet morning so far though, wouldn’t you agree? A nice serene atmosphere before filming.”
“Of course,” Wu Linjie nodded with the self-righteousness of a priest. Catching onto Li Feiling’s banter, he continued the joke with a fun flair of his own. “What can I say though, my dazzling presence just washes away this morning gloom! I’ve galvanized the cast for a day of enthusiastic shooting.”
“Sure... dazzling,” Li Feiling smiled and rolled her eyes as a few faint laughs slipped between her lips. Before she continued though, she noticed a lone Xia Ruyun filling up a cup of warm tea in the back. After a moment of hesitation, she bid Wu Linjie good luck with his morning preparations before walking past him and sliding up next to Xia Ruyun. “Good morning, Senior Xia. What a coincidence, I wanted a cup of green tea too.”
Stunned for a half-second, Xia Ruyun shook her head. She opened and closed her mouth a couple times, working up the motivation to talk before whispering. “I’m no longer your senior, Li Feiling, just call me Xia Ruyun. In fact, I should probably be calling you senior instead...”
“How can that be?” Li Feiling smiled as a rare warm atmosphere surrounded her. “I’ll remember your influence in both the singing and acting industry forever. Every music label wanted singers like you and every TV show wanted music like yours for their opening and closing.”
“Thank you...” Xia Ruyun trailed off, fidgeting with her hands, no other words came to mind. She cracked a half-smile before shoving her steeped cup of tea into Li Feiling’s hands. “You’re called earlier than me, take this.”
With the tea handed over, she scurried off before Li Feiling could protest or continue the conversation. She didn’t need the tea anyway, she could steep another cup at the far side station...
And, well, Li Feiling really did need it more than she did...
Li Feiling, on the other hand, tapped fingers against the warm cup of tea. Obligated to drink the tea now, she took a sip while hiding the blossoming smile on her lips. Her eyebrows relaxed as she tracked Xia Ruyun in the corner of her gaze. After etching Xia Ruyun’s swaying brown hair into her memory, she blinked and turned away. Toasting a makeup artist’s cup, she brushed her hair behind her ear. “Good morning.”
To the innocuous observer, nothing seemed off, but unbeknownst to even her, a faint fondness began to take root in her heart.