At the end of December, Yu Xia finally finished filming the documentary and returned to Hai City.

Without exposure for a whole month, the buzz about her online gradually subsided, and there were no paparazzi following her on her way back.

This was a good thing; after winning an award, countless people were waiting to dig up dirt on her. High visibility equaled high risk, and this was the best state to be in.

She could even think of visiting the film set whenever she wanted.

He Ci had expected that she would visit the set. Being someone who would soften when Xie Qingci played the pity card, he didn’t have high hopes, just wished she would take at least half a day at home to relax and not be so impatient.

As it turned out, she spent that half day picking out clothes.

He Ci was speechless at her.

"What are you doing? You’re visiting the set low key, not going to a fashion show. Can changing outfits really dazzle Xie Qingci?"

Yu Xia stood in front of the mirror holding up an outfit, saying, "You don’t get it. When boyfriends and girlfriends go out, who doesn’t want to dress nicely? It’s best if he is stunned at first sight, amazed as if a celestial being has descended. Plus, don’t you always say that female celebrities should always pay attention to their appearance?"

"Yes, yes, a celestial being descending. You take your time to descend, then, and hopefully, Xie Qingci will really be dazzled."

Anyway, he was ready to head to the office and continue enjoying everyone’s compliments. After a month of not hearing it, just imagining walking around and being praised everywhere later made him so excited his heart trembled.

He left, and Mei stayed with Yu Xia to help pick out outfits, even more excited than Yu Xia herself.

"This pink one is pure and lovely, walking on a snowy street, meeting around a corner, it’ll surely captivate him, making his heart race and daze him."

Mei had already accurately grasped Xie Qingci’s preferences. Just from last time when Yu Xia was sick, his behavior made it clear to anyone that he loved the soft and cute style.

But Yu Xia decisively waved her hand to refuse.

"It’s not snowing there, besides, this pink leopard looks a bit childish." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Mei didn’t get discouraged, instead picked out a youthful winter outfit.

"This one, black and white is timeless. The hoodie inside is youthful, paired with a sleek sports down jacket and long socks, neat and tidy, taking him back to your university days, imagining those shy hand-holding moments along the campus paths!"

Yu Xia still lacked interest, her hand kept shuffling through the clothes rack.

"If it were a day on a university date, this would be nice, but I’m going to visit the set. He might be wearing some ugly jacket waiting around, it wouldn’t match at all. What’s more important is picking something I like. Ah, this one looks good."

She picked out a black fitted knit top.

The front had a row of white buttons, with the top one left undone, forming an inverted small triangle.

Mei glanced at the outfit, then at her figure, easily imagining how sexy she’d look in it.

"Then this is it, to dazzle Xie Qingci, guaranteed to make him stare at you, lost."

This was like her shipped couple delivering a spicy sweet moment right in front of her! She had to witness firsthand how Xie Qingci would react!

All packed up, Mei eagerly followed her downstairs, got in the car, and set off.

Yu Xia hadn’t told Xie Qingci in advance about her set visit, and on the way, she was thinking about what Xie Qingci might be doing, what version of him she’d see upon arrival.

They hadn’t seen each other for a month, and even occasional video calls were just to look at his face. She didn’t know how much he had changed, though people said his character in the film was quite charming.

As she thought about it, she took out a few photos from her bag.

They were pictures of some wild animals and beautiful plants, taken by her. There was also one of her holding a phone showing a refined picture of Xie Qingci beside a cute lynx.

This could prove that she really had introduced him to her animal friends.

She looked at the photo, feeling a bit amused.

The scene from when she took it—He Ci’s nostrils flared in speechlessness, and the shooting crew laughing to the point of bending over—was still vivid in her mind.

Putting the photos back in her pocket, she gazed at the road outside the car window, smiling as she anticipated reaching her destination.

...

The crew was busy setting up a crime scene background. Because it was rather complex, the work had been ongoing since morning for several hours, and the actors were waiting nearby.

This was already the third location change, at an almost abandoned steel factory on the outskirts.

Xie Qingci hadn’t put on makeup and was not idly waiting with the other actors, but had found a corner to do clap push-ups under the guidance of a trainer.

As he descended, he used his core strength to clap quickly as he pushed up, then returned his hands to the ground, repeating the descent.

In the cold weather, he wore only a thin gray shirt, his hands wrapped in bandages. The muscles on his shoulders and arms subtly rose when he bent down, like small hills on a plain, exuding an aura of virility.

Any action, done precisely and sustained for some time, can be exhausting.

He had already done dozens of these moves, his entire body sweating, with a sheen of perspiration from his neck to his collarbone. Anyone nearby could feel the heat radiating from him, enough to create vapor in the cold air.

Many on set sneakily watched him.

Young, healthy, fit, good-looking—naturally drew attention.

Still a few reps short of the target, Xie Qingci shut out the surrounding noise and focused, continuing his push-up count.

Suddenly, someone outside shouted, "Xie Qingci! Yu Xia’s come to see you!"

Initially, the person was far away, and the voice was soft; he didn’t quite catch it.

Then, the message spread, like a relay race, with excitement passing it on until it reached him.

"Your girlfriend’s here! Aren’t you going out to see her?"

Just two reps short of finishing, even as the trainer was encouraging him, "Come on, you’re almost there," he suddenly got up, took the assistant’s towel, and headed out.

He didn’t even notice the trainer anymore.

After just a few steps, Yu Xia, who had been courteously greeting everyone, walked in and they locked eyes.

Xie Qingci held his breath.

She wore a black knitted top with some subtle design, fitted jeans with black thigh-high boots, the whole outfit perfectly outlining her curves from bust to waist.

The long coat outside was caught by the wind, lifting one corner, her straight legs showing a perfect hip line.

A body to be admired.

After finishing her greetings, Yu Xia walked up to him.

"Why are you still sweating? Aren’t you cold?"

The others weren’t too close, but most had their attention somewhat directed towards them, casting glances while pretending to focus on their task.

Xie Qingci swallowed his throat, shook his head, then asked her, "Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?"

"To surprise you?" She fluttered her eyelashes, touched his towel with her finger, "Wipe off the sweat, put on your clothes."

After speaking, her tapping finger suddenly moved to poke his pecs.

"Wow."

Xie Qingci closed his eyes for a moment.

"How about I take a leave, not shoot today."