"It depends on the situation and the person involved. Some things can be forgiven while others cannot," Qin Wei said with her head tilted as she looked at her.
"So, Sun Tiantian isn't really forty-six? Is that her secret?"
Qiao Sixiao's expression flickered with complexity as she parked the car at a scenic overlook and said to her, "I was just curious about your answer. Who knew you'd take it seriously? Don't go spreading rumors later. If you don't hear it from Sun Tiantian herself, her company will sue you for slander in a heartbeat."
"Ugh! You're the one who brought it up!"
Qin Wei wasn't too bothered by it. She undid her seatbelt, found the seat adjustment buttons, and fully reclined both the driver's and passenger's seats.
Listening to music, feeling the breeze of the AC, lying flat and looking at the stars through the sunroof, she felt like she was camping in the car.
"I..."
"Qiao Sixiao, be quiet. Don't disrupt my enjoyment of life..."
Qin Wei had no desire to hear her speak right now. Lying in the car with her eyes growing heavier by the second, she soon fell asleep.
The sounds of "Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor" flowed soothingly from the speakers, the last thing she remembered before falling asleep.
It was the soundest sleep she'd had since joining the crew...
Upon waking, Qin Wei found herself still in the car, but the seats were back upright and her seatbelt was fastened. Little Qiao was sitting beside her, silently driving.
Qin Wei touched the corner of her mouth, good, she hadn't drooled...
"I wiped your drool away with a wet wipe," Qiao Sixiao said, brushing a hand through her hair.
"We really lost our minds. Went out for a drive and ended up sleeping in the car for eight hours. Looks like I was about to be worked to death recently. My assistant called my phone dead trying to reach me and I didn't even hear it."
Having just woken up, hearing this made her wide awake in an instant. Looking at the already risen sun over the sea and checking the time—
"Whoa, nine o'clock."
Qin Wei charged her phone and barely managed to turn it on. As expected, there were a slew of missed calls that morning.
Qin Wei looked at the schedule:
"I had two scenes this morning, the first at eight. What about you, Teacher Qiao?"
"My earliest was nine."
Qiao Sixiao frowned.
"But going back now, it'll be noon at the earliest."
They'd both skived off work.
...
By the time they reached Qin Wei's hotel, it was already 10:30am. They'd notified their teams on the way over, who were now waiting downstairs.
"Don't panic, I got us time off," Qiao Sixiao said. After parking, she handed Qin Wei the car keys and left with her own team in their van.
Though she'd called to inform everyone at the first opportunity, thinking of her colleagues and the crew waiting for her all morning, Qin Wei felt awful and knew she had to apologize. Bowing to her colleagues, she said:
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I wasted everyone's time and made you all worry."
The team: "No, no, no. Our job is to serve you. We don't mind waiting."
Everyone was extremely gracious, warm as a spring breeze.
Li Liang consoled her:
"Sis, I figured you didn't come back last night, so I was prepared to get you time off. The crew had time to adjust so there was no real loss. You can go back to your room now, sleep a bit, shower, after being out all night you must be exhausted?"
Qin Wei had already stepped into the company van but got back out at this:
"You believe me if I said I really was just out for a drive last night, right?"
Li Liang nodded vigorously, eyes full of sincerity:
"I believe it! Of course I believe it! Who...hasn't gone out for a long drive when they're happy, ah, right?"
The other team members also nodded in agreement:
"Ah yes, yes!"
Qin Wei relaxed, thinking she'd have to explain herself again. As long as they believed her, it was fine.
"Li Liang, take the keys and feel free to drive it anytime."
Qin Wei handed the Cadillac keys to Li Liang and got into the company van heading to set.
She now had her first Cadillac in life.
Though not a gift from Teacher Qiao, who'd said she wouldn't be using it for a while and to take it for a spin. But Qin Wei didn't dare drive it herself and figured having a driver would be best.
Luckily Li Liang could drive.
...
Arriving on set, everything was business as usual. In the crew, unless it was a major director major production, the leads being late wasn't uncommon. Those less famous than her dared to be late or leave early, so her properly asking for time off was very proper, no one complained because of it.
But to make up for her mistake, she still had Li Zhuo buy drinks and food for the crew.
In the makeup room, Xiao Yan gossiped while doing her makeup:
"You weren't here this morning, but that Guo surname actor didn't show up either. Though he just straight up skipped work. My friend told me last night he left the crew to go clubbing in the city and still hasn't come back. I guess we won't be seeing him for a while."
Qin Wei yawned and picked up where she'd left off:
"If it were me, I'd quit. How awkward would it be to come back after the scolding he got yesterday."
Xiao Yan had been there yesterday too, no need to elaborate on what went down.
Oddly, no one had mentioned it online. Not only was it not trending, but many previous trending topics had also been deleted. Looks like even the gossip rags didn't dare escalate this, family ugliness shouldn't be aired.
Doing her hair, Xiao Yan continued:
"Dignity and principles can't be exchanged for money. Maybe being shameless and unprincipled does allow you to climb higher. If our goose abandoned those things, maybe she'd have developed faster? But it's because you're still you that I'm willing to follow you."
"Let me give you two pieces of good news. First, before going to the grasslands, your scenes with Guo will be shot separately, you two will avoid seeing each other as much as possible. Second, the male lead Su Yang started in Group A today! Hahahaha he's so handsome!"
Seeing her makeup artist, who'd been in the industry for years and seen countless beauties and hunks, now smitten like this, it was a first for Qin Wei.
"Just alright, is he that handsome?"
Qin Wei had seen his videos, and looked again after hearing Sun Tiantian praise his looks, he was good-looking, but still just good-looking!
Hearing his name, Xiao Yan continued gushing:
"I arrived early to prep so was there before everyone else. I waited and waited but you didn't come. So I wandered around set and guess what, a Mercedes V260 pulled up. The door opened and a youth in ancient costume stepped out. A jade gentleman beyond compare, a peerless talent in the mortal realm, raising a toast, glancing skyward with eyes like autumn waters, as elegant as a jade tree in the wind...the ideal lover, unparalleled in the world, nothing can compare...
All beautiful phrases describe him, I don't care!
Too bad you weren't here this morning. You missed how cool he was getting out of the car. So handsome yet so polite! After getting out he smiled subtly and nodded at the staff around him. Walked with flair too. In summary, extremely handsome!
The moment he glanced this way, I felt completely enlightened! Let me put it this way, he didn't have to say anything then, hand me a knife and tell me to kill myself, I'd have gladly done it! That's how handsome!"
Qin Wei stopped her, turning to look at her as she tried to correct her:
"Your values are concerning! Saying that publicly will get you canceled!"
Xiao Yan still smitten:
"It's just a metaphor~grasp the essence! Su Yang is truly so good-looking. Seeing him melted my heart. Qin Wei, marry him on the spot!"
Qin Wei: "?"
