Scalding Hot, Tingly Itch
Not even an apology, just that bone-dry single line. What does she take her for?
She expects me to just jump when she says jump? Where’s my pride?
Xu Mengzhou rolled her eyes in unceremonious disdain.
It carried zero bite toward Ruan Li behind the screen, but it scared the fourth lead actress…who had just botched her movement…so badly that she bit her lip until it turned white.
Perhaps remembering her makeup, the girl quickly let go, clutched her prop sword, and bowed deeply at a strict ninety-degree angle. “I’m sorry! I—I will definitely practice harder!”
She looked young, barely in her early twenties, with a round, lively, adorable face that fit her role as the junior disciple to a tee.
Seeing how visibly nervous she was…stuttering so hard she looked ready to faint if anyone so much as raised their voice…Xu Mengzhou felt a flicker of exasperation.
What kind of image did I even have on set before this?
She cast a quick glance around. Everyone else was the same, heads hung low, waiting for her to speak. Xu Mengzhou genuinely wanted to ask: Are you all really that terrified of me?
“Your fundamentals are too weak,” she said flatly. “A mid-air roll requires core engagement. Go back and practice that.”
“Let’s move on to the next scene.”
With those four words letting her off the hook, the stiff, frozen atmosphere finally melted away. The stagehands scrambled to pack up the props and reset the set with remarkable efficiency.
Xu Mengzhou was left somewhat speechless. I don’t eat people alive. What on earth did the pre-amnesia me do to scare these people so badly?
Taking advantage of the break, the associate director leaned in. Framed by square glasses, her eyes were filled with warm concern, the fine lines at the corners rippling like gentle waves over water. Her voice was just as soft: “Director Xu, how is your body feeling? Any discomfort?”
During her stay in the hospital, Xu Mengzhou had frequently video-called her assistant, Xiao Yang, and reviewed background materials, memorizing everyone’s face and role beforehand.
She replied with complete composure, “Nothing major. Just the usual ‘a hundred days for broken bones and torn muscles.’ It’ll be another two months before the cast comes off.”
“You’ll have to work a bit harder during this time. Let’s finish all the studio shots first, and we’ll handle the location shoots once I’ve recovered.”
Addressing someone who was a complete stranger…and old enough to be called an aunt…Xu Mengzhou spoke smoothly without a single hitch, casually falling into her habit of issuing orders.
The associate director smiled kindly. “It’s all part of my job, nothing to call hard work. What do you think of the footage we shot earlier? Does anything need a re-take?”
“Add a couple of close-ups…”
When it came to filming, Xu Mengzhou seemed instinctively wired for it. Her mind naturally understood what to do and how to use visual language for maximum effect. Professional jargon spilled from her lips effortlessly, one technical term after another.
No one could tell this was a person suffering from amnesia.
Still, with her around, filming efficiency plummeted.
When expectations were this high, speed was out of the question.
Xu Mengzhou spent the entire day on set. By the time it was time to pack up, she felt a lingering sense of satisfaction. She thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere where everyone quietly listened to her instructions, relishing the chance to play boss.
She had been a little bewildered when she first arrived, but within half a day, she surrendered entirely, sinking into her old self without a fight.
Once the head director officially wrapped up the day, the set finally burst into lively chatter. Everyone packed up their assigned equipment, queuing up at the exit to grab a cup of fresh watermelon juice before heading home happily.
Tian Shuhao, the fourth lead, was a fresh graduate with zero diva attitude. She actively helped out alongside her assigned assistant, carrying the discarded costumes back to the props department.
Nearby, a few staff members were packing up quickly while chatting away.
Before Tian Shuhao even reached them, she heard one of them mention wanting to grab skewers and barbecue that night. Another’s eyes lit up immediately, gushing about a newly opened night market…maligned with spicy crayfish and garlic butter scallops.
A small circle of people around them perked up their ears.
Tian Shuhao felt her mouth water too, and she went over to ask for the address.
“Shushu, you want to go to the night market too?” her assistant teased with a laugh. “Now’s the best time to go. Once the drama airs, it’ll be hard to go out like this without getting swarmed.”
Tian Shuhao thought so too.
That was why, after ordering a portion of grilled oysters, she picked up two bottles of chilled soda and handed one to her assistant.
The fine bubbles shattered against the ice, and as the liquid rolled over her tongue, its fizz was undiminished…like dozens of tiny dancers tapping away inside her mouth.
Tian Shuhao gasped in delight, her round, expressive eyes twinkling as she leaned close to bump her assistant’s arm. “You’ve been in the industry longer than me… I have something I want to ask you.”
Lowering her voice, she swallowed nervously before the words even left her mouth. “Does our Director Xu… have a partner?”
The assistant was taken aback at first, then quickly turned serious. “Never heard any news about it, so probably not. But Shushu, don’t you dare do anything reckless.”
“To tell you the truth, someone actually tried to flirt with Director Xu before…a rising starlet, no less. Director Xu kicked her out on the spot, cold as ice. You know what Director Xu’s tongue is like…”
“No, no, nothing like that! She’s my idol, I was just curious…” Tian Shuhao stammered defensively.
Tian Shuhao took a small sip of her drink. Through the semi-transparent, thick glass bottle, her face was softly blurred…a delicate wash of white and pale pink, like the tender tip of a half-ripe peach.
Had Xu Mengzhou heard their conversation, she would have nodded in firm agreement.
She indeed had zero dating history…which didn’t stop her from leapfrogging straight into having a full-fledged wife and life partner.
Beside her seat lay a giant bouquet of red roses, lush and dripping with rich color. Yet the only person around to smell their fragrance had her nose wrinkled, wishing she could exile them far away.
Tacky.
She had seen Ruan Li’s walk-in closet. That woman favored understated, elegant styles…pristine and refined like magnolias or lotus flowers. She was definitely not interested in garish red roses.
Xu Mengzhou hadn’t hesitated for a second when selecting them. Ninety-nine roses…what a classic.
It was the most quintessential couple’s bouquet according to her online search. As for whether Ruan Li actually liked it or not, that wasn’t her problem.
In fact, the thought that Ruan Li might utterly despise the roses made Xu Mengzhou feel she could endure the tacky scent a little longer.
As they drew closer to the airport, the roaring sound of taking-off and landing aircraft grew clearer.
The sedan pulled up to the VIP terminal lane. Moments later, a group of people emerged. Young and old alike, all dressed impeccably in formal suits and business attire.
Only one person stood out instantly.
A stark color-blocked suit in black and white…devoid of any other color, save for sapphire cufflinks that shimmered brilliantly, looking as if they trapped a tiny patch of the ocean and brushed the cuffs with blue.
Her dark, cascading hair was pinned with a single jade hairpin. The translucent pale green mingled with raven black, soft and misty, like ice floating in a cup of green tea.
She wore only those two accessories, yet they seemed almost invisible compared to her face. Pure, delicate, and breathtaking…it was impossible to look away.
Surrounded by the crowd like a star encircled by moons, Ruan Li maintained a faint, polite smile, chiming in with a few words every now and then to gracefully acknowledge their compliments without letting them drop to the ground.
“Everyone has worked hard during this period. Winning the bid wouldn’t have been possible without all your effort. I see quite a few dark circles out there, so I’m taking the executive call to give everyone a two-day break. Rest up…only with good health can we tackle the next stage efficiently.”
The group laughed and voiced their approval, exchanging warm thanks before heading toward their designated pickup vehicles.
Suddenly, the window of the nearest car rolled down, revealing a face with high, sharp brows and distinct, striking features. A pair of light-colored eyes flicked over…looking for all the world like a wild lion, fiercely independent and impossible to tame.
Her brows held a trace of impatience. “Finished talking? I’ve been waiting for you forever.”
Ruan Li paused slightly, only to see the person inside the car point to the seat beside her. “Brought you flowers.”
The rear door was opened. A lavish, vivid bouquet of crimson roses wrapped in soft blue paper lay quietly on the leather seat.
The rich scent of roses billowed out instantly.
The surrounding executives exchanged swift, knowing glances. In less than a second, they all excused themselves and dispersed toward their respective cars.
Only the two of them remained.
“Are you going to get in, or are you contemplating the meaning of life out there?”
Bright lights scattered like flecks of gold inside Ruan Li’s eyes. A smile suddenly bloomed across her face…like an ephemeral night-blooming cereus, delicate yet dazzling. “I didn’t expect you to come pick me up.”
She picked up the bouquet, stepped into the car, and tapped lightly on the partition glass. Taking the hint, the driver started the car smoothly.
“I didn’t expect you to take so long to walk a few hundred meters, either,” Xu Mengzhou snapped back.
And she was smiling non-stop, as if smiles were free.
“There were a few last-minute work arrangements. I didn’t pay attention to the time…sorry to make you wait.” Smelling the flowers, Ruan Li’s apology sounded surprisingly sincere.
Yet Xu Mengzhou merely raised an eyebrow and adopted a dramatic, mock-reproachful tone. “Right, of course! A busy CEO, a big boss…where would you find the time to care about a poor patient like me?”
She hadn’t forgotten that she came here to demand an explanation!
Faced with several barbed remarks in a row, Ruan Li’s smile remained unchanged. Her fingers lightly pinched a soft petal, snapping it cleanly.
The light red juice stained her fingertips, which she casually wiped away.
She smiled and said softly, “You have friends visiting you every single day. The fruit baskets they send could circle the hospital three times over. You’ve probably heard enough comforting words to grow calluses on your ears.”
Xu Mengzhou’s sarcastic retort choked in her throat.
Although… this woman actually hit the nail on the head…her hospital room had been packed with visitors every day…that was still no excuse for her complete lack of concern!
Unless…
Is Ruan Li… jealous?
Xu Mengzhou couldn’t quite tell. Ruan Li’s expression was completely airtight, offering zero clues.
So, Xu Mengzhou went straight to the point: “They are them, and you are you. Besides, you went on a business trip…didn’t you even think to bring me a gift?”
What on earth was my taste in women…? She knitted her brows, feeling a hundred and twenty percent judge-y toward her future self.
Then, another thought struck her…something was off.
Looking at Ruan Li, she didn’t seem like someone with low emotional intelligence who would forget such things.
Her lack of action could only mean one thing…she did it on purpose.
Ruan Li held the bouquet of roses, her fingers gently stroking from the center of one blossom to another. Her head was lowered in a faint smile, looking like a statue carved out of ice…entirely unreadable. Gradually, even that faint smile faded away.
When she spoke, her voice sounded like ice cubes clinking softly together…crisp, light, and without a lingering echo: “It was my fault.”
This woman’s apologies were just like her smiles…handed out freely and casually, as if they cost nothing at all.
Everyone claimed they had a great relationship. But after all, outsiders didn’t know what went on behind closed doors. Perhaps there was more to their story than met the eye.
Could they have been in the middle of a fight? Was it not jealousy, but a silent standoff?
A flurry of guesses flashed through Xu Mengzhou’s mind, momentarily putting her anger on hold.
The car pulled up to the entrance of Tingzhu Pavilion. The welcoming host greeted her as if recognizing her instantly, bowing gracefully in one fluid movement: “Ms. Xu, Ms. Ruan, good evening. Please follow me to your private room.”
Xu Mengzhou leaned in. “Do I come here to eat often?”
Her lowered voice carried her warm breath like a puff of steam against Ruan Li’s earlobe…scalding hot, with a tingly itch.
Ruan Li lowered her eyes, her gaze subtly gliding over their closely brushed arms, before a slow smile crept back onto her face.
“It’s your favorite restaurant. They serve Sichuan cuisine.”