I was criticized on a dating reality show, but I retaliated and became an internet sensation.

Lin Man felt as if she had been granted a pardon, and quickly walked to the side with her head down.

Qu Xuan walked out from in front of the camera and, as she passed by Shu Zi, whispered, "I'll remember this favor."

Shu Zi waved her hand, her tone relaxed:

"Helping you is helping myself; we still have to rehearse our lines later."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the next filming location.

After Shu Zi and Qu Xuan finished filming their scene together, Lin Man returned to the camera.

However, the situation did not improve much. Director Fei frowned and made her go through it three more times. Finally, on the tenth take, he reluctantly shouted "Cut!"

Everyone on set secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After Qu Xuan finished work, she was tidying up her things when Lin Man walked over, her tone apologetic:

"Sister Qu Xuan, I'm sorry for holding you back today. I made you film so many takes with me."

Qu Xuan glanced at her and said calmly, "It's okay, everyone has their off days. You'll be fine tomorrow."

Lin Man nodded, then turned to Shu Zi beside her, a sweet smile on her face:

"Thank you again, Teacher Shu, for putting in a good word for me."

Shu Zi smiled slightly at her: "It's nothing, don't mention it."

Lin Man smiled and nodded, then turned and left.

The smile on her face faded the moment she turned around.

Shu Zi was completely unaware of what was happening. She turned to Qu Xuan and said, "Let's go back and rest."

Qu Xuan responded, and the two walked side by side out of the film set.

Shu Zi and Qu Xuan had a simple dinner in the RV, and while eating, they went over the script for tomorrow.

After we finished eating, it was completely dark, and the night shoot began immediately.

Fortunately, the scenes that night weren't too difficult, and we got them done in a few takes.

After finishing work and returning to the hotel in the evening, Shu Zi took a shower, changed into her pajamas, snuggled into bed, and made a video call to Gu Yan.

The call was answered quickly; the background showed the living room sofa.

Shu Zi lay on the pillow, looking at him: "What are you doing~ When are you leaving tomorrow?"

"I'll be leaving soon."

Gu Yan leaned back on the sofa, his gaze fixed on her still-damp face on the screen.

"Advance?"

"Okay." He looked at her. "Go early and come back early."

Shu Zi was taken aback for a moment, then realized, "You were waiting for my video call?"

Gu Yan smiled and said, "Mm."

Shu Zi smiled too, her heart softening, but she didn't say anything more, only waving at the screen:

"Okay, go ahead then. Let me know when you get there safely. I'm going to sleep now, I'm exhausted today."

Gu Yan nodded: "Okay, I'll let you know when I arrive."

Shu Zi hummed in agreement, then added, "Be careful."

"Know."

The two stared at each other for two seconds across the screen before Shu Zi hung up the video call.

She put her phone on the bedside table, turned over, a smile still on her lips, closed her eyes, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

***

As the days went by, the two of them were so busy that they barely had time to breathe.

Gu Yan was in a different time zone while abroad, and Shu Zi's schedule was packed every day on set. After finishing work and returning to the hotel, she was often so tired that she didn't even want to move her fingers. She would take a shower and fall asleep immediately.

The messages gradually changed from daily videos to a few text messages, and then from a few text messages to a short "Arrived" and "Finished work" message in the morning and evening, as brief as clocking in.

Shu Zi herself also noticed the change.

The character of Shen Ji is too heavy. That kind of personality that swallows all the pain is like a thin layer of dust that has been unconsciously settled on her after playing the role for a long time.

She started not wanting to talk after work, sitting alone in the RV, staring out the window for longer and longer periods of time.

Fang Zhizi asked her several times if she was feeling unwell, and she shook her head and said she was fine, just a little tired.

Qu Xuan also noticed it.

One day, after filming a very emotional scene, Shu-Tzu sat alone on a chair in the corner, head down and silent.

Qu Xuan walked over, stood next to her for a moment, and then said, "Want to have dinner together tonight?"

Shu Zi looked up, paused for a moment, and then forced a smile: "I'm a little tired today, let's do it another day."

Qu Xuan looked at her for a few seconds, then didn't press the matter, only saying, "Then get some rest."

She turned and took two steps, then turned back. "Shuzi, it's just a play, but you are you. Don't lose yourself."

Shu Zi paused for a moment, nodded, but didn't say anything.

As the weather gradually turned colder, Shu Zi's condition did not improve. On the contrary, as the filming progressed, a sense of gloom settled over her.

She became silent, no longer joking with Fang Zhizi after work, and no longer initiating messages to Gu Yan.

I occasionally pick up my phone for a quick glance, then put it down again, unsure of what to say.

Gu Yan's messages came every day, one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening, brief but punctual.

Sometimes she would reply with an "um," sometimes with an "okay," but more often than not, she would stare at the screen for a long time before finally locking the screen and placing the phone face down on the table.

He would occasionally video call her, but she usually made excuses about being busy with work and didn't answer.

She was afraid he would worry if he saw her like this.

That noon, Shu Zi had just finished lunch and was sitting in the RV staring blankly at the script when her phone suddenly vibrated.

She looked down and saw it was a video call from Gu Yan. After hesitating for a moment, she answered it anyway.

Gu Yan's face appeared on the screen, with a hotel room in the background, dimly lit.

Shu Zi paused for a moment and glanced at the time.

It's noon here, so it must be early morning there.

"What time is it where you are?" she asked, her voice a little hoarse.

"Around 4 a.m.

Gu Yan leaned against the headboard, watching her through the screen, his gaze meticulous, as if trying to see her clearly from beginning to end:

"I just finished work and wanted to see you."

Shu Zi didn't speak, but just looked down at his face on the screen, and her eyes suddenly felt a little sore.

She didn't hang up; instead, she rested her phone against the water glass beside her and quietly watched him.

Gu Yan didn't press her to tell him why she wasn't talking. He simply lowered his voice and started talking about trivial things, just like he usually did when he was putting her to sleep at home.

His voice was low, like a thin blanket, flowing slowly and gently, filling the quiet air in the RV.

Shu Zi didn't say anything, but she didn't look away either. She just stared at him on the screen and listened to him rambling on about trivial things.

The heavy feeling in my heart seemed to be gently supported by something.