Chapter 54 Gradually Fading Away
The station did know how to motivate people, and a generous bonus was quickly deposited into Ling Wei's account.
With the project a great success, treating everyone to a meal is a must.
Ling Wei waved her hand and, on a Friday night, led a large group of people from the "Pursuit Order" and short drama crew out to celebrate.
Knowing her own absurd alcohol tolerance, Ling Wei cautiously substituted tea for alcohol throughout the meal.
Fortunately, the team consisted of young people who didn't have the bad habit of drinking at banquets, so the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Just as she relaxed, Zhou Han walked over with a wine glass in his hand.
Ling Wei quickly stood up to prepare for the situation, only to find that her teacup was empty.
Noticing that Yingzi's glass was half full of sparkling water, she casually poured some over and downed it in one gulp.
The moment she swallowed it, she realized the taste was off.
System: "Oops."
Immediately afterwards, Zhou Han witnessed a spectacular face-changing performance.
At first, the humble and cautious girl kept saying, "It's all thanks to everyone," "It was just good luck," and "It's all thanks to Director Zhou's good leadership..."
Later:
"Keep a low profile! I'm just an ordinary genius."
"Genius? That's just the threshold to meeting me."
"This deity has descended to the mortal realm to ensure that the entertainment industry flourishes with diverse talents!"
Fortunately, Zhou Han was the only audience member when she made these bold statements.
Because she seemed perfectly normal at first, it wasn't until her eyes started to wander near the end of the party that everyone belatedly realized that a terrible drinker had snuck in.
Therefore, the task of taking her home naturally fell to Zhou Han, who was the last to leave.
Fortunately, her mobility is still relatively normal, but she has become unusually talkative.
"Director Zhou, is this your car?"
"Sigh, why can't there be one more rich person like me in this world?"
"Director Zhou has been very kind to me, shouldn't I kowtow to him?"
"No! I also owe Director Zhou a debt of gratitude for his encouragement! Little Zhou, you should kowtow to me too!"
“Then… shall we kowtow to each other? Right here!” She pointed to the green belt downstairs from the rented apartment, her interest piqued.
Zhou Han looked in the direction she pointed and happened to see an unleashed Teddy bear completing its scent marking, then proudly following an elderly person taking a walk.
Zhou Han: "...You live here?"
Ling Wei nodded: "Yeah! It's close to my workplace!"
Zhou Han unconsciously softened his voice: "Is your family... having a hard time?"
Ling Wei shook her head vigorously, her hair flying everywhere: "No! All the family's debts have been paid off this year!"
As she spoke, she laughed, her eyes crinkling: "There's still a long way to go, and the future will be full of good days!"
Seeing her completely relaxed smile, Zhou Han's heart softened for some reason.
He couldn't resist, so he reached out and pressed his hand against her forehead, gently shaking it.
Ling Wei immediately covered her mouth: "Ugh—"
Zhou Han quickly withdrew his hand, somewhat flustered: "I'm so sorry, are you alright?"
Ling Wei raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes due to a physiological reaction, and looked at him accusingly with wet eyes.
Zhou Han felt a flush rise to his ears from her gaze and subconsciously took a half-step back.
Ling Wei yawned widely and waved her hand, "I'm going upstairs first."
Zhou Han opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he only gave a gentle smile: "Okay, go ahead. When you get home... let me know."
"Okay, see you next week."
Zhou Han replied in a low voice, "See you next week."
He told himself he couldn't rush things, especially... while the other person was still drunk.
Not long after, Ling Wei appeared on the balcony and waved vigorously at him.
Zhou Han raised his hand in response, and after watching her arrive home safely, he turned and got into the understated yet expensive car, which drove into the night.
Ling Wei returned home, washed away her fatigue, and felt the effects of the alcohol wear off.
Just as I was about to lie down, I felt like I'd forgotten something.
My phone vibrated at the right moment, and the screen lit up. It was a message from Lu Yan.
I'm leaving Yaojiang tomorrow. Congratulations on the great success of your short drama! I have a gift for you. Are you... home?
She hadn't spoken to him for the past few days, and she had been holding her breath and hadn't gone to see him. Now, at this time...?
Ling Wei replied with two words: 【Yes.】
The other party replied almost instantly: 【I'm downstairs.】
She slowly got up, casually put on a trench coat, and went downstairs.
The night was cool and still. Lu Yan stood alone at the edge of the halo of light from the streetlights, his gaze fixed on a point in the void, his whole being exuding a sense of detachment.
Until Ling Wei's figure appeared at the entrance of the corridor, he turned his head, his gaze behind his glasses suddenly focused, his indifference receded like the tide, and his entire silhouette softened silently in the night.
He handed over a simple paper bag, his voice still gentle: "Congratulations. I've always...believed you could do it."
Ling Wei accepted it: "Thank you."
A silent silence spread, more clearly than the night wind, stretching between the two.
Ling Wei had no choice but to change the subject: "Will you be stationed at headquarters permanently from now on?"
Lu Yan: "Mm."
She tried to lighten her tone: "Then next time I go to northern Beijing, you must do your best to be a good host."
Lu Yan: "Okay."
She reluctantly asked again if the trip was rushed, but received the same brief response.
The conversation had completely dried up, so Ling Wei forced a flawless smile: "Then I'll go upstairs first, goodnight."
Lu Yan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he responded softly, "Mm."
Ling Wei turned around decisively.
Forget it, she thought. This guy who came to her in the middle of the night to stand in the cold wind and didn't say a word might really not be right for her.
She would think of other ways to deal with Su Yuqing.
I had only taken a few steps when my arm was pulled by a gentle force.
The man's warm hand grasped her wrist. After a moment of struggle, he asked in a low voice, "Are you angry?"
How similar that question was to one asked three years ago.
Ling Wei slowly exhaled, turned around to look at him, and frankly asked, "What if I were?"
Lu Yan looked at her: "What are you angry about?"
Ling Wei looked him straight in the eye, no longer beating around the bush: "Lu Yan, can you please stop interfering in the casting of 'The Legend of Xiao Yue'?"
Lu Yan was visibly taken aback. "The Biography of Xiao Yue?"
He seemed to quickly search his memory before connecting the name with the specific event. Then, all the clues clicked, and he finally realized, "Is it because of this?"
But he quickly realized what he meant and asked with a hint of probing, "How did you know? Did...Lu Zhao tell you?"
Ling Wei looked at him but did not respond.
He paused, his voice slightly hoarse: "You... have a very good relationship now."
Ling Wei felt inexplicably irritated. She hated this roundabout way of speaking and his habit of never getting straight to the point.
So she said, "Yes, we are now the best in the world."
"Number one in the world...the best?" Lu Yan slowly repeated these words, his eyelashes lowered, his voice so soft it almost dissipated in the wind.
Ling Wei gave him no chance to breathe, her gaze intense as she pressed, "So, what's your answer? Can you please stop interfering?"
Lu Yan was speechless: "I..."
His thoughts were instantly pulled back to Su Yuqing's choked, pleading phone call:
“Ayan, from the past until now, I’ve never asked you for anything… Please, for the sake of me paying your medical bills back then, and for the sake of me being kicked out of the house by my dad for stealing his card, please help me this once, just this once…”
The debt of gratitude is as high as a mountain. Now that we have reached this point, if he stands idly by, how is that any different from being ungrateful?
His mind raced, and just as he was about to organize his thoughts to explain, the person opposite him seemed to have suddenly exhausted all his strength and expectations.
"Um, I'm suddenly really sleepy." Ling Wei interrupted his silence, abruptly ending the conversation. She turned around, her voice tinged with weariness, "Goodnight."
She took a few steps into the building, then suddenly stopped, but didn't turn around. She just raised her hand and waved it casually.
Goodbye, Lu Yan.
"Bon Voyage."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com