The divorce comeback system arrived right after I was born.

The rehearsal was very simple.

I went through the process twice, from the waiting area to the stage entrance, then to my position on the main stage, the lighting transition points, and the handover route with Taylor.

Taylor's team, on the other hand, had a lot on their plate. Jeffrey was constantly talking to the security team on his walkie-talkie.

Chen Zhi sat in a folding chair backstage the whole time, crossing his legs and scrolling through his phone.

Pei Ningxue sent me a WeChat message: "The signed document is on your desk. Sign it, take a picture, and send it to me before tomorrow."

Chen Zhi replied with an "okay".

Then another message came: "Where are you now?"

Chen Zhi typed: [Watching the project.]

Pei Ningxue: [Oh.]

Just one word, and Chen Zhi felt a chill emanating from his phone screen.

He quickly locked the screen and stuffed his phone into his pocket.

The rehearsal on stage was almost over. The director shouted into the walkie-talkie, "Alright, alright, thank you all for your hard work." Lin Wanwan ran down the steps on the side of the stage, looking around as if she was looking for her boyfriend.

Su Man waited at the entrance of the passage, holding Lin Wanwan's down jacket and backpack.

"Wanwan, you'll be getting your makeup done at 9:30 tomorrow morning. Get some rest tonight."

Su Man handed the items over, glancing at Chen Zhi.

Chen Zhi stood up and walked over.

Su Manchong nodded to him, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the parking lot.

He took a couple of steps, then stopped, turned back, and added, "Don't stay out too late."

These words were spoken with restraint, but the meaning was clear: I don't care what you two are up to, just don't let my artist go on stage with dark circles under his eyes tomorrow.

Chen Zhichong gave her an OK sign.

Su Man shook her head and left.

The hotel is not far from the Broadcasting Building; it only takes about ten minutes by taxi.

Lin Wanwan started chattering away in the car.

"You know what? Taylor taught me a lot of techniques during the rehearsal just now, the kind I couldn't learn in school."

"Um."

"She also said that my vocal range is wider than she expected, and that we could try pushing up half a key in the chorus so that the two of our voices would have a stronger sense of layering."

"Um."

"Are you even listening?!"

"I'm listening." Chen Zhi turned to look at her. "You and Taylor Swift seem to be having a good chat?"

"I'm so happy!" Lin Wanwan clenched her hands together, still in the afterglow of excitement. "She's such a nice person, so approachable. She even praised my vocal placement, saying my chest voice is very powerful."

"Alright, alright, I don't understand."

Lin Wanwan pouted, but her eyes sparkled.

The taxi stopped in front of the hotel. Chen Zhixian got out and went around to the other side to open the door for Lin Wanwan.

Lin Wanwan jumped down and naturally took his arm.

The hotel receptionist recognized Lin Wanwan and glanced at her a couple of times, but professionally remained silent.

There were only the two of them in the elevator.

Lin Wanwan leaned on his shoulder, her earlier excitement and liveliness gone, replaced by a clingy, affectionate demeanor.

"Chen Zhi".

"Um?"

"I was really sad when you said you couldn't come."

Chen Zhi did not respond.

"The people backstage looked down on me, and the makeup artist didn't want to do my makeup properly. Zhou Chengyu came and threatened me to join his studio."

Lin Wanwan's voice was muffled.

"At that time, I thought, 'If only you were here.'"

The elevator has arrived.

Chen Zhi pulled her out and swiped the card to open the door.

The room was a standard business king room, not particularly luxurious, but clean and tidy. Lin Wanwan tossed her bag onto the sofa and casually draped her down jacket over the back of a chair.

Chen Zhi turned around and closed the door.

As soon as Lin Wanwan turned around, she was pulled into someone's arms.

"Have you missed me?"

These three words were spoken close to her ear, the warm breath brushing against her earlobe, and Lin Wanwan's neck instantly turned red.

I think about it every day.

Her voice was as soft as melted cotton candy.

"How much do you want to?" Chen Zhi tightened his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Why haven't you shown any sign of it?"

Lin Wanwan lifted her face from his embrace.

Then, standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to his and offered him a sweet kiss.

Chen Zhi was stunned for half a second.

Lin Wanwan gripped the front of his hoodie, leaned against him, and pressed her soft lips against his, leaving a sweet taste between them.

Chen Zhi cupped the back of her head with his hand, deepening the kiss.

I don't know how much time has passed.

The two separated, panting, with a thin, shimmering thread connecting them.

Lin Wanwan clung limply to him, her legs unable to support her weight.

Chen Zhi supported her waist and led her to sit down on the edge of the bed.

"I've helped you so much, how do you plan to thank me?"

Lin Wanwan hadn't recovered from what she was feeling earlier; her face was flushed, and she was breathing heavily.

"Didn't I just thank you?"

"You kissed me because you missed me, what does that have to do with thanking me?"

Lin Wanwan bit her lower lip and thought for two seconds, then realized that it seemed to make some sense.

"Then...how would you like me to thank you?"

Chen Zhi leaned close to her ear.

They whispered something.

Lin Wanwan's eyes widened suddenly.

"Huh?" Her whole face turned red. "Isn't this... this isn't a good idea?"

Chen Zhi leaned back against the headboard, his brows furrowed in pain.

"Do you know how painful it was for me when we kissed just now? Really."

He spoke with a serious expression, as if he were experiencing some unbearable torture.

Lin Wanwan's gaze drifted down subconsciously, then quickly shifted away, her ears turning red.

"How about...how about I help you?" she whispered.

Chen Zhisong released her, moved aside, and sighed.

"never mind."

His tone was clearly one of disappointment.

"I'll figure something out myself."

Lin Wanwan was stunned.

As she watched Chen Zhizhen get up and walk towards the bathroom, a sudden, inexplicable feeling of grievance welled up inside her.

"But I have to sing tomorrow..." She tugged at his sleeve, her voice trembling slightly, "You really can't do that, your throat will..."

"I know." Chen Zhi stopped and looked back at her. "That's why I said it's fine, you don't need to worry about it."

He spoke calmly, but Lin Wanwan could tell he was in pain.

She bit her lip, twisting her fingers around the bedsheet, agonizing for a long time.

"Well, well, I'll help you with anything except that."

Chen Zhi's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really, really."

Chen Zhi handed the phone to her.

)i(