Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

"Click!"

With the image frozen, today's shooting mission came to a close.

Bai Li stood up from his chair, script rolled up in his hand, and clapped his hands:

"That's it for the day, time to go home."

"Yay! Finally off work!"

Several energetic young women cheered happily and couldn't wait to run to the changing room.

Xie Lingmo and Li Mengmeng went home in the afternoon.

But unexpectedly, Su Mei arrived.

She sat in a chair with her wavy hair flowing down her back, her fox-like eyes glaring at Wang Wei.

"Wei, let's go back~"

Wang Wei froze in his tracks.

He turned his head and looked at Bai Li, his eyelids twitching wildly.

He didn't want to go home. Last night's sixth battle had left his legs weak, and if he went back today, he was afraid he wouldn't see the sun rise tomorrow.

"Brother Li."

Wang Wei lowered his voice and clasped his hands together:

"Help me. Just tell them you have a meeting tonight and want me to stay and work overtime..."

Bai Li glanced at Su Mei not far away, then at Wang Wei, who was about to cry.

"Go back with her."

Bai Li patted his brother on the shoulder, "Mengmeng and Lingmo have prepared dinner at home. Everyone needs to go back to eat, so there's no time for a meeting."

Wang Wei's face fell.

Su Mei had already walked up to Wang Wei. "What are you talking about? Come back with me quickly, I made you some nourishing soup today~"

After saying that, she took Wang Wei's arm and walked towards the door.

Wang Wei could only look back at Bai Li every few steps, his expression like that of someone going to the execution ground.

"Big brother, we're all changed!"

Several young women then emerged from the changing room.

Lin Xiaoshuang and Zhang Qian were the fastest; the two of them took Bai Li's arms.

"Big brother, let's go home too~"

Bai Li led Chen Tingting and the others downstairs.

The Coaster waited by the roadside.

The group opened the car door and climbed into the back seat.

The partition rises, the privacy glass fogs up, and the interior of the car becomes a completely enclosed space.

"I've had a busy day."

Bai Li loosened the top two buttons of her shirt:

"After we get home and have dinner, how about I take you guys to a karaoke bar to belt out a few songs and relax?"

He had expected the suggestion to elicit excitement from the girls.

After all, these girls are always up to something and have lots of energy.

As a result, the carriage fell completely silent.

"Goodbye, elder brother."

Zhang Qian had her eyes closed, her blue hair plastered to her cheeks:

"Get some rest tonight."

Li Jiaxin leaned against the car window and echoed:

"Yeah, I'm so tired, I don't want to go anywhere."

Lin Xiaoshuang simply rested her head on Chen Tingting's shoulder and closed her eyes to rest.

Bai Li was somewhat puzzled.

Just two days ago, I shared my vibrant life force with them, and all their bodily functions are at their peak, so there is no problem of physical exhaustion.

"That shouldn't be the case." Bai Li looked them over:

"With your physical abilities, you actually get tired?"

Zhang Qian opened one eye and sighed.

"I haven't felt tired these past few days."

Zhang Qian rubbed her temples:

"But working non-stop for several days in a row, staring at the camera and rehearsing lines every day... it was really mentally exhausting."

Bai Li chuckled to himself:

"Didn't you guys say before that as long as you do what you love, you're enjoying life every day?"

The young women rolled their eyes in unison.

Chen Tingting sat up straight, her tone resentful:

"But even the most enjoyable job can become tedious and tiring after a while."

"Yeah, right." Zhang Qian pouted. "It's not like one thigh has a penis and the other has a pen, so you can just squeeze it together at work and feel good all day."

Bai Li was speechless for a long time after hearing these remarks.

A few low laughs came from inside the carriage, and the tired atmosphere eased a little.

"Just hang in there a little longer."

Bai Li tapped on the barrier in front of him:

"It's already the end of May, and June is just around the corner."

"Once this part is filmed and post-production is completed, it should be finished in July."

"We'll give everyone a long holiday then, so they can go wherever they want."

Hearing that there would be a long holiday, the girls finally perked up a bit.

The car drove smoothly into the Heavenly Palace on the Cloud Top.

The group opened the car door and entered the villa.

The hall was filled with the aroma of food, and the tables were laden with steaming dishes.

Li Mengmeng and Xie Lingmo sat at the table.

Seeing Bai Li enter, Li Mengmeng jumped off the chair and hopped over in her slippers.

"Brother Bai Li, you're finally back!"

Li Mengmeng grabbed Bai Li's arm and nuzzled her head against him.

She pointed at Xie Lingmo:

"The little pink-haired girl had to leave, but she's been waiting for you and insisted on seeing you one last time before she left."

Bai Li stopped and looked at Xie Lingmo.

Xie Lingmo was indeed not wearing pajamas, but a black T-shirt and ripped jeans.

She stood up, walked to Bai Li, her eyes a little red.

"What's wrong?" Bai Li asked Xie Lingmo, "Are you leaving so suddenly?"

Xie Lingmo lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.

"My dad told me to go back."

Her voice was muffled, tinged with reluctance:

"The project that Uncle Zhao gave us has completed its preliminary preparations and is about to officially start construction."

She looked up at Bai Li with a pitiful expression:

"My dad said they're short-handed over there and he can't handle it all by himself, so he asked me to go back quickly and lend a hand, to keep an eye on things for him."

This is the important matter.

Bai Li cupped her face and kissed her forehead.

"Let's go back."

Bai Li's voice is gentle:

"The project is important; don't let your dad handle it all by himself."

Xie Lingmo felt a lump in her throat, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"We need to focus on finishing the last few scenes here."

Bai Li helped her tuck the stray pink hair behind her ear:

"Once this busy period is over, everyone should take a good vacation. I'll come see you as soon as I have time."

Xie Lingmo bit her lower lip and didn't reply.

She glanced at Li Mengmeng beside her, then at Chen Tingting and the others who were walking towards the restaurant.

"That……"

Xie Lingmo spoke, her voice very soft:

"So... what's our relationship now?"

Bai Li raised an eyebrow, looking at the stubborn pink-haired girl in front of him.

"What kind of relationship do you think it is?" Bai Li asked back, teasing her on purpose.

Xie Lingmo got anxious and reached out to pinch his waist.

"You scumbag!"

Xie Lingmo said angrily:

"You used to lie to me, saying it was normal for good friends to look at each other's legs, touch each other's legs, and kiss and hug!"

She became increasingly aggrieved as she spoke, tears welling up in her eyes:

"Ruyue told me everything later! She said you were lying to me, that those things are not things a good friend would do..."

Bai Li did not dodge her hand; instead, she looked at her with great interest.

"Oh?" Bai Li leaned closer. "Ruyue said, what are those?"

Xie Lingmo raised her neck, completely abandoning her ladylike reserve, and shouted out loud:

"Those are things only couples do! Since you did them to me, you have to take responsibility!"

The words echoed in the spacious hall.

Li Mengmeng covered her mouth and chuckled.

Bai Li looked at Xie Lingmo's flushed face, stretched out his arms, and pulled her into his embrace.

His strong chest pressed against her cheek.

Xie Lingmo struggled for a moment, then went limp in Bai Li's arms.

"You have to take responsibility." Bai Li tightened his grip. "You can't escape it."

Xie Lingmo got the answer she wanted, and her tense body relaxed.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around Bai Li's waist, buried her face in the crook of his neck, and rubbed against him forcefully.

The unique scent emanating from Bai Li enveloped her, bringing her an unprecedented sense of peace.

"Bai Li." Xie Lingmo's voice came through the fabric, muffled.

"Um."

Xie Lingmo tightened her grip on his clothes.

"I used to always want to die."

Her voice carried the bitterness of memories.

Those days when I relied on antidepressants to stay alive were dark and hopeless, without a glimmer of light.

"But now..."

Xie Lingmo lifted her head from Bai Li's embrace.

Those beautiful eyes reflected the dazzling lights of the hall, and also Bai Li's face.

"I want to say, it's so good to be born."

"It's so good to be alive."

A tear slid down her cheek, and a radiant smile bloomed on her lips.

"Because of this, I was able to meet you."

After saying this, Xie Lingmo did not give Bai Li time to respond.

She tiptoed, closed her eyes, and kissed Bai Li's lips.

It was an awkward yet passionate kiss.

Bai Li cradled the back of her head and deepened the kiss.

a long time.

The two separated.

Xie Lingmo was panting heavily, her face as red as if it were dripping blood.

She took a step back, pulled her baseball cap up over her head, and lowered the brim to cover her face.

"Bye-Bye!"

She turned around and ran out the door without looking back.

A loud rumbling sound came from outside the door.

The engine roared through the night, and the motorcycle, like lightning, shot into the vast darkness, quickly disappearing from sight.