"The goddess, isn't the drama you're in called 'I Just Want to Be With You'? It's about to be released soon, right? I really want to watch a goddess's romantic TV series."
Happiness etched on Shu Yi's face momentarily faded upon hearing this. She had almost forgotten that this drama had finished editing for a while and was set to air during the winter vacation.
"Yes, soon."
"Wow, I'm thrilled. I'm definitely going to follow it. I heard it's very sweet. A goddess should have sweet love."
After spouting these words, the waitress ran out joyfully, her steps now significantly lighter.
The room fell into silence for a while. Qi Ji did not know about Shu Yi and Chang Zhiyuan, but Shen Yin did. During this time, Shu Yi had not been staying at Ziyue Manor.
Often, she was unreachable by phone - "The phone you dialed is switched off."
Chang Zhiyuan frequently asked Xu Xiuhe for any news of Shu Yi. Xu Xiuhe in turn asked Shen Yin for any information.
Shen Yin genuinely didn't know. Shu Yi seemed to vanish into thin air recently — untraceable unless she wanted to reach out.
Her phone was switched off, and she never replied to messages.
"Shu Yi, have you been on set again lately? You've been barely visible in our group chat. It’s almost always Shen Yin and I chatting," asked Qi Ji.
"I was feeling down, so I went back to Old Town to stay with my parents for a while," replied Shu Yi, clearly not in good spirits.
During that period, as she lay abed at night, she frequently dreamed of Chang Zhiyuan. The pain was unbearable, as the dreams brought back shared moments on set, or him making her a lunar charm, or his visit to Tibetan City.
The feeling was agonizing. She turned off her phone and spent her days engrossed in TV series, as if she had severed all connection from the outside world. She hadn't dared step out of the house since she returned.
Her parents didn't dare question what had happened.
She knew clearly that she had fallen for Chang Zhiyuan. Late at night, she'd sit blankly in bed, doing nothing for long periods.
During the day, while binging on series, she'd laugh at the sweet romance sequences on TV and cry endlessly at the tragedies.
Nobody knew about any of this.
"Do you feel better now?" asked Qi Ji.
Shu Yi had been asking herself the same question these past few days. Was she feeling better? It seemed like she wasn't.
"He's contacted Xiuhe several times, asking him to find out from me where you are," said Shen Yin, as she began serving the cooked hotpot dishes.
"Shu Yi, what happened between you and Chang Zhiyuan?" Qi Ji asked, utterly puzzled. All she did was get pregnant, yet she felt like she'd been thrown out of the loop for a century.
"Nothing major really, his parents just talked to me, said we aren't suitable for each other," replied Shu Yi.
"When did this happen?" asked Qi Ji, taken aback.
"Not long after I returned from Tibetan City."
"How is he now?" inquired Shu Yi.
"Healing takes time, a hundred days for fractured bones to mend. Xu Xiuhe told me he's been using a wheelchair these days."
"A wheelchair?" Qi Ji asked again, clearly shocked.
"Chang Zhiyuan fell from the stairs and broke his leg."
"Up next, I can't escape it anymore, so annoying, in two days' time, I'll be busy with the promotional activities for the new series." Shu Yi supporting her own forehead, picked up a piece of black chicken roll with her chopsticks. When she was in a bad mood, even good food tasted bland.
"'I Just Want to Be With You'? Is Chang Zhiyuan the leading man?"
Qi Ji asked.
Shu Yi nodded.
They were sure to release a photo of the male and female leads, as well as some behind-the-scenes footage. Shu Yi, looking back now at the series they both performed in, it just feels off every way she looked at it.
If only she could break her contract with the company. But doing so would cost so much money.
"Don't think too much, enjoy the present, take one step at a time. When the boat gets to the bridge, it will straighten itself out naturally. The only way to relieve worries is through hot pot."
Qi Ji reached out to clamp a lot of meat for Shu Yi.
When they were returning home in the evening, Shen Yin and Zhengzheng were picked up by their driver, Qi Ji was also picked up by Xue Jingrui, Shu Yi, alone, drove back to the old city district.
"Shu Yi, you're back, did you have fun?" As soon as Shu Yi entered, Shu's Mother asked.
"It was okay."
"You should go out more, look at you, always locking yourself up at home, it must be so suffocating."
"I got it, mom, I will return to my place tomorrow."
When Shen Yin got home, Xu Xiuhe had not yet returned, which was slightly unusual. Normally, Xu Xiuhe would be home by six or seven o’clock. It was now already 9 pm.
Zhengzheng was yawning.
Shen Yin pulled out her phone, as expected there was a text message from Xu Xiuhe stating he was working overtime and to not wait for him tonight.
Their villa had heating, so Shen Yin removed Zhengzheng's coat and her own as soon as she got home.
"Mommy, I'm sleepy."
The little one covered his mouth and yawned. Shen Yin handed a cup to Zhengzheng, asking him to drink some water.
"First shower, after the shower, can Zhengzheng then go to sleep?"
"Okay."
After Shen Yin gave Zhengzheng a bath, she carried him to her own bed.
By the time Shen Yin had finished freshening up, it was nearly 10 pm, she couldn't help but worry – at this point, he should be home by now.
Shen Yin dialed Xu Xiuhe's number.
Two seconds later, the call was answered.
"Hello, wifey, you're still up?"
"Waiting for you. You're still working late?"
"Yes, a project is keeping me a bit busy, I might have to work late for a few days. You can go to sleep first, no need to wait for me."
"Okay, be careful when you drive back home."
After hanging up the phone, Shen Yin laid down, went to sleep, and slept lightly.
She even had a dream, the dream was so realistic. In the dream, there was a middle-aged man, unable to surface in a body of water.
Shen Yin suddenly opened her eyes.
Water, a person, who can't get to the surface.
This was very familiar. Could it be Zhengzheng's dream?
She didn't recognize the man, she didn’t see his face; the water seemed to be a huge swimming pool.
He was struggling at first, but then she woke up. The man in the dream was just a silhouette, lone and helpless in the water.
An unexpected cold sweat broke out on Shen Yin; the dream she had was eerily the same dream she and Zhengzheng had before. In any past dreams, she had the ability to see who the protagonist was, who was in danger, but this time around, all she saw was a man unable to resurface in the water.
Unable to fall back to sleep, Shen Yin picked up her phone - it was precisely midnight.
Slowly, Shen Yin got up and entered Zhengzheng's room. Xu Yunzheng was sound asleep when she eased herself onto the bed next to him.
Approximately half an hour had passed, and sleep had yet to claim her when the bedroom door was pushed open.
There was no one in her room; the bedcovers were still tossed aside. The sight of the open door to Zhengzheng's room led Xu Xiuhe to wander in.
Without uttering a word, he consciously lightened his footsteps, making his way to the bedside.
"You're back?"
Shen Yin turned around, sitting up.
"Mmm, I'm back. Why are you still awake?" Xu Xiuhe inquired.
"Had a dream and couldn't go back to sleep."
"A dream?"
