A hotpot meal lasted nearly two hours, water was added again and again, bubbling strongly, then the water level lowered, and then Zhou Yun continued to add water. It was almost 9 PM when Zhou Yun finally turned off the stove and stood up to start cleaning up the table.
One must also stay up late for the New Year.
Zhou Yun got herself a bottle of sparkling wine to drink alone.
After all, there was no work tomorrow, and she could let herself sleep in bed till she naturally woke up.
Her mobile phone buzzed now and then.
They were blessings from WeChat friends she had added over the past half a year.
They were not sent in bulk; each one was carefully edited.
Zhou Yun replied to each one.
After she had replied to almost all the messages, Zhou Yun suddenly felt something was missing.
But she couldn’t figure out what it was exactly.
It took her a while before Zhou Yun realized what she kept feeling was missing.
Song Chi hadn’t sent her a message yet.
Zhou Yun checked the time, and it was already 10 PM.
Could Song Chi still be shooting on set?
Zhou Yun hesitated whether to call Song Chi, fearing he might be filming.
What’s there to hesitate about? If he’s filming, even if the call goes through, he won’t be able to answer it.
If he can answer, that would mean he’s not filming.
So Zhou Yun made a call to Song Chi.
Song Chi didn’t answer.
It seemed he really was shooting.
The production team must be pushing for progress. They started filming in September last year and had been shooting till now, nearing February, which makes almost six months. For a TV series like "Heart Inquiry," which isn’t particularly large in scope, that’s a lot of time spent.
Both Zhou Yun and Su Yan had finished their parts, but Song Chi, who had the most scenes, hadn’t yet.
The entire January was dedicated to shooting his scenes, the pressure suddenly all on him. But according to him, he enjoyed this focused state of filming, completely immersed in the creation of a character, which he found thrilling.
Zhou Yun thought if it was her, shooting daily under the strict demands of Director Kang from morning to night and mostly her own scenes without relief, she might age prematurely with clumps of hair falling out.
Zhou Yun still in the phase of a newcomer, careful and meticulous.
As it approached midnight, Song Chi suddenly sent a message, asking: What’s up? Just shooting.
Zhou Yun typed: Today is New Year’s Eve.
Song Chi: Yeah, we are hoping to finish by the 10th, so everyone can rush home for the festival.
Zhou Yun: Tough work, keep it up!
Silence again from Song Chi’s side, probably went back to shooting.
Zhou Yun could only reluctantly put her phone aside and continue to watch the New Year’s Gala.
About twenty minutes later, her phone buzzed.
Song Chi had finished shooting the scene and messaged Zhou Yun: Just shot another scene, haven’t you slept yet? Watching the New Year’s Gala?
Zhou Yun: Not midnight yet, staying up.
Song Chi sent a smiley face, saying: I thought only my parents’ generation still keeps vigil on New Year’s Eve.
Zhou Yun: How long are you shooting tonight? Not pulling an all-nighter, right?
Song Chi: Not sure, might be, everyone is eager to finish and head home, I need to cooperate.
Zhou Yun: Have your assistant prepare some energizing supplements for you.
Song Chi: Supplements? Do you think I’m an old man in his seventies or eighties?
Zhou Yun: Let me tell you, don’t underestimate, taking care of health should start when you’re young.
Song Chi: Then you tell me, what have you fostered?
Zhou Yun: I generally sleep super early when I’m free.
Song Chi: Your serious tone, I don’t even know how to tease you.
After those characters were sent, silence again from Song Chi.
Zhou Yun put down her phone, and as she looked up, she suddenly heard the TV hosts speaking the New Year’s congratulations, preparing for the countdown.
Historically, by this moment, the sound of fireworks should have been heard in the distance.
But her current location was in Shanghai, a city, a bustling corner of the city, therefore, all was peacefully quiet outside.
When the hosts along with the first chime of the New Year were giving their salutations, Zhou Yun softly said to herself: Happy New Year.
Simultaneously, her phone vibrated.
Zhou Yun excitedly watched as the screen lit up, seeing that name.
"No, Director Kang said to take a half-hour break." In Song Chi’s phone, the distant sound of fireworks could faintly be heard.