Eight o’clock in the evening, on set.
The scene being filmed tonight was Yu Shujia and Chi Ye’s first date after getting together.
They were painting plaster dolls at the night market behind the school.
Qiao Shu wore a light green Japanese-style dress paired with a small bag of the same color. Her delicate, petite face was lightly made up, the makeup covering the red teardrop mole beneath the corner of her eye.
The weather was cold, so she had draped a down jacket over her shoulders. While her upper body was warm, her lower half was freezing to death.
Qiao Shu casually glanced around but didn’t see Jiang Tu. She turned her gaze and noticed Ou Yaya seemed to be looking for someone too.
Suddenly, a low-key black Cayenne pulled into a parking spot by the roadside. The first to step out was Fang Zheng.
Jiang Tu followed, his long legs carrying him out of the car. He wore a black down jacket, paired with washed blue jeans and branded sneakers—an outfit that made him look sunny and handsome.
Qiao Shu was momentarily stunned. What a coincidence? Jiang Tu’s down jacket was the same model as hers, even the color was identical.
This jacket wasn’t cheap. She had been wearing it for two years, never willing to replace it—mostly because she couldn’t afford to.
It took a long moment before Qiao Shu finally withdrew her gaze, turning to look at Ou Yaya, whose eyes were filled with delight.
Qiao Shu understood—she really was here to chase a celebrity.
“Sorry for being late.”
A low, magnetic voice reached her ears. Qiao Shu snapped back to attention and saw Jiang Tu standing not far from her.
“It’s fine, you’re not late.” Liu Zhongran raised his wrist to check the time. The crew was still setting up the scene.
“While the set isn’t ready yet, you two can run through the scene. Let’s try to get it in one take.”
Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu spoke simultaneously, “Alright.”
Qiao Shu was slightly taken aback. She lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Tu, only to find him looking back at her. Their gazes met.
Qiao Shu hurriedly averted her eyes, turning to Ou Yaya instead. “Yaya, give me the script.”
Ou Yaya remained unmoved, her gaze fixed on Jiang Tu as she unabashedly stared at him, lost in admiration.
Qiao Shu called again, “Yaya?”
Ou Yaya let out an “ah,” a flicker of impatience flashing in her eyes as she looked up at Qiao Shu.
“The script.”
Suppressing her impatience, Ou Yaya took the script from her bag and handed it to Qiao Shu, then immediately turned her attention back to Jiang Tu.
Qiao Shu felt utterly embarrassed. How mortifying.
Jiang Tu’s expression remained indifferent, his eyes holding an inscrutable emotion. He glanced at Fang Zheng.
Fang Zheng quickly handed over the script.
The first scene was Chi Ye and Yu Shujia walking out of the school gate, side by side on the sidewalk.
Qiao Shu flipped through the script, recalling the scene. “Mr. Jiang, do we really need to rehearse the walking part?”
Jiang Tu was flipping through his own script, his voice magnetic and deep. “Are you sure? You have quite a few lines.”
Qiao Shu: “…” Absolutely sure.
She didn’t have that many lines, okay.
Jiang Tu closed his script and handed it to Fang Zheng, then looked up at Qiao Shu. “My suggestion is to walk through it once.”
“Alright.” Qiao Shu had no other choice.
Afterward, the two walked side by side on the dimly lit sidewalk as Qiao Shu began to get into character.
“Qiao Shu.”
Qiao Shu stiffened slightly. It was the first time she had heard Jiang Tu call her by her full name. On set, he always addressed her as “Ms. Qiao.”
“Tomorrow is my dad’s birthday.”
Qiao Shu suddenly understood. Jiang Tu had suggested rehearsing the scene as an opportunity to bring this up with her.
She glanced at him sideways. “What are your plans? Should we take time off to go back and celebrate your dad’s birthday?”
Jiang Tu’s brows furrowed slightly. Your dad?
After a moment, he said, “He’s your dad too.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Alright, he’s her father too. Since she and Jiang Tu are married, she should follow Jiang Tu and call him Dad.
“I’ll head back after filming the afternoon scenes.”
Qiao Shu braced against the biting cold wind. “Won’t it be noticed if we both take leave together?”
Jiang Tu glanced at her casually, his tone lazy and indifferent. “You’re overthinking it.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
“Add me on WeChat to stay in touch.” Jiang Tu took out his phone, unlocked it, opened WeChat, and displayed his QR code name card.
Qiao Shu patted her pockets and looked awkwardly at the QR code in front of her. “Sorry, I didn’t bring my phone.”
Jiang Tu: “…”
“Wait here while I go get it.” Qiao Shu turned and ran back—she had left her phone behind because it was too heavy.
Watching the girl’s retreating figure, Jiang Tu chuckled softly. The Qiao Shu now was different from the one who went to the civil affairs bureau to get their marriage certificate that day; she seemed more lively.
Before long, Qiao Shu returned with her phone and walked toward Jiang Tu. “Mr. Jiang, let me scan you.”
Jiang Tu pulled up his QR code name card again.
With a “beep,” Jiang Tu’s personal WeChat appeared on the screen, with the nickname “JT.”
Qiao Shu’s finger paused slightly—were those the initials of his name? She tapped the “Add to Contacts” button.
He accepted immediately on the other end.
Jiang Tu’s profile picture was a landscape photo. Qiao Shu’s lips twitched slightly—it didn’t seem like his style.
【JT】: I’ve accepted your friend request. Now we can start chatting.
“Buzz…”
Qiao Shu’s phone vibrated. She glanced down and saw that Jiang Tu had sent her a string of numbers.
“My phone number. You can call me if anything comes up.” Jiang Tu put away his phone.
Qiao Shu stiffened slightly and nodded. “Okay.”
“Are you cold?” Jiang Tu asked her.
The girl in front of him was bundled in a bulky down jacket. Though the jacket was long, it couldn’t cover her calves.
“A little.” Qiao Shu clenched her teeth. How could she not be cold with bare legs in this four- or five-degree weather?
Actually, she had considered wearing thermal leggings but decided against it. Since they were filming a summer scene, she was afraid it would look out of place.
“Still want to try?”
Qiao Shu was momentarily speechless. “What do you think?”
Jiang Tu’s eyes curved slightly. “I’m fine either way.”
Qiao Shu: “…”
Both fell silent, unaware that the scene had just been captured by a paparazzo hiding in a corner.
“Let’s not try. The set should be ready by now.”
“Okay.” Jiang Tu agreed.
The girl walked ahead of him. Beneath her down jacket, her fair calves gleamed strikingly white under the dim yellow streetlights.
“Action!”
Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu walked side by side on the sidewalk. Qiao Shu waited for Jiang Tu to deliver his lines, her emotions fully prepared.
“Shujia, where do you want to go?”
“Chi Ye, let’s just stroll around the campus. There’s a curfew at night, so don’t go too far.”
“Okay,” Chi Ye stopped and raised his hand to ruffle Qiao Shu’s soft hair. “Whatever you say.”
Chi Ye’s voice was almost too gentle. Yu Shujia’s cheeks warmed. “Don’t mess up my hairstyle.”
“Okay.” Chi Ye chuckled softly.
Suddenly, Chi Ye took the girl’s small hand in his. The cold touch made him pause unexpectedly.
Yu Shujia’s cheeks visibly flushed red. The man’s large hand enveloped hers, warm and comforting.
“Chi Ye.”
“Hmm, what’s wrong?” Chi Ye responded.
“You’re holding my hand too tightly. My palm is sweating.” Qiao Shu delivered the line against her true feelings.
In reality, there was no sweat—on the contrary, it felt very warm.
“Then I’ll loosen my grip a little.”
As they walked, they reached a night market stall area by the roadside, selling sweet soups, barbecue, and hand-held pancakes…
“Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?”
Yu Shujia glanced over the row of food stalls and chose one with fewer customers. “Hand-pulled pancakes.”
“Alright,” Chi Ye said, leading Yu Shujia toward the pancake stall. “Boss, two hand-pulled pancakes, please.”
The pancake vendor smiled and replied, “Coming right up!”