Whoosh, she went past him, still in her skirt, looking as though she could take flight any moment.
Was it that she didn’t see him, or was she pretending not to?
Qiao Xi hadn’t expected Shen Dang to still be at home at this hour; she had already run to the entryway, "Something’s come up. I need to go out."
She dared not look at Shen Dang.
It would be so awkward if he remembered anything.
Qiao Xi was truly frightened.
Why did such things have to happen to a couple about to divorce and in a fake marriage?!
Seeing her intense reaction, Shen Dang clicked his tongue lightly, "I’m free. I’ll take you."
Qiao Xi’s face was hidden behind a mask, her expressions unseen, only her cold and clear phoenix eyes were visible.
The woman who had softened under him last night seemed to exist only in a dream.
Qiao Xi bent down to change her shoes, "Really, there’s no need. I can go by myself. How can I trouble Boss Shen to be a driver?"
Shen Dang thought to himself that it wasn’t the first time he had driven her.
Was there a difference between once and countless times?
"It’s no trouble. I said I’d take you, and I will," his deep voice carried a hint of finality.
Why was he so stubborn?
Qiao Xi looked up at him.
Their gazes collided, and touching his somewhat scrutinizing look, Qiao Xi quickly shifted her gaze away.
Her voice was cool, "Don’t you have to work today?"
"It’s Saturday. I’d fear death by overwork if I worked every day."
Shen Dang licked his back teeth and scoffed inwardly. Was she trying to avoid him?
She hadn’t really noticed what day of the week it was.
Shen Dang’s voice, somewhat cold, reminded her, "Aren’t you in a hurry? Do you still have time to dawdle here?"
Caught off guard, Qiao Xi almost forgot her urgent task, but she really didn’t want to be in the same space as him.
Qiao Xi had never encountered something so awkward.
With one hand propped against the shoe cabinet, Shen Dang lazily smiled, "Are you scared of me, Teacher Qiao?"
Her aversion to him was all too apparent.
Shen Dang raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with a bit of amusement.
Did what he did last night start to take effect?
Boss Shen’s short remark momentarily blanked Qiao Xi’s mind.
She forced a smile, bold yet calm, "What nonsense are you talking about, Boss Shen? You must have had too much to drink last night."
Once she said it, Qiao Xi wished she could gag herself. Why did she always bring up what should not be mentioned?
Annoyed with herself, Qiao Xi quickly spoke before Shen Dang could, the words tumbling out, "Since Boss Shen insists on taking me, then trouble Boss Shen to drive me to Director Mo Qing’s studio, thank you."
That pulled the distance between them apart suddenly.
But can some things truly be pretended as if they never happened?
Shen Dang seemed to snort, going along with her words, "Yes, I insist on taking you. Let’s go."
"What are you doing at Mo Qing’s place?"
In the car, Shen Dang asked casually, as if it was just small talk and he wasn’t particularly interested in the answer.
"Taking a few new actors to audition."
Shen Dang’s lips curled into a slight smile, "So Teacher Qiao is bringing newcomers now?"
Qiao Xi gritted her teeth, her smile polite but strained, "Can’t I bring newcomers?"
"I didn’t say you couldn’t. I’m actually complimenting you."
Qiao Xi rolled her eyes in frustration, "Really? I don’t feel like you’re complimenting me."
Didn’t she believe him?
Did he do something wrong somewhere?
He was truly complimenting her.
"I didn’t expect Teacher Qiao to think that way."
Shen Dang glanced at her, "Does Teacher Qiao lack confidence in herself?"
Qiao Xi couldn’t be bothered responding, her gaze listlessly falling, "Please focus on driving, Boss Shen. And hurry."
"How fast do you want?"
His tone was ambiguous.
Qiao Xi just felt annoyed by him.
"... As fast as possible, of course!"
Shen Dang nodded, his voice carrying a trace of indulgence, "Alright, I’ll indulge you. Faster, then."
Was this man even normal?
Qiao Xi gave him a cold glance, then lowered her head to check her phone.
She thought she was going to be late, but Boss Shen drove fast enough that when she arrived, it was still a few minutes before ten.
Before getting out of the car, Qiao Xi looked up at him, "I don’t know how long I’ll be..."
Shen Dang nodded graciously, "Hmm, I’ll wait here for you."
Qiao Xi had intended to let him leave first, "No need, Boss Shen, go ahead. You’re busy."
Shen Dang’s attitude was strange indeed.
She couldn’t guess what this rotten man was up to.
Shen Dang appeared nonchalant yet in control, "Boss Shen is not busy, the only thing Boss Shen needs to tend to is waiting for you to come home."
He’s seriously ill!!!
Zhou Junqi, Zhi Fei, and Wei Xue were all waiting for Qiao Xi. Seeing her arrive late, they each secretly sighed with relief.
They were worried Qiao Xi might stand them up, signaling a terrible embarrassment for them. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet
Better late than never.
Zhou Junqi offered a smile, "Teacher Qiao..."
Qiao Xi cut him off, "Let’s save it until we meet Director Mo. We’re running out of time."
Together, they went upstairs.
Mo Qing, not wasting words, instructed his assistant as soon as he saw them, "Hand out the scripts to those three."
"Qiao Xi, come here, and let’s see how well your actors perform," Mo Qing gestured with a lift of his chin.
"Alright," Qiao Xi sat down next to Director Mo.
Zhou Junqi was somewhat confused as he accepted the script from the assistant.
He had starred as the male lead in several productions, yet here he was, required to audition at Mo Qing’s?
Mo Qing allowed them no time to react, "Zhi Fei, Wei Xue, Zhou Junqi, I give you five minutes to memorize the lines. Decide among yourselves who goes first. Don’t waste my time."
Hearing ’five minutes,’ Zhi Fei and Wei Xue grew anxious.
They were new actors without any experience.
Both had debuted in a girl group not long before and were a bit nervous having heard of Mo Qing’s reputation.
Mo Qing didn’t care about their plight, chatting with Qiao Xi while the trio read the script.
His normal speaking volume seemed loud in the quiet audition room, distracting the newcomers.
"Why are you still wearing a mask?" Mo Qing looked at Qiao Xi with dissatisfaction.
His lead actress was acting strangely today, keeping on her mask even indoors.
Qiao Xi, thinking about her current state, how could she face anyone? Anyone with clear eyes would know something had happened.
"My face is having an allergic reaction; I didn’t want to scare anyone, so I’m keeping the mask on."
Mo Qing frowned, "Is it serious?"
There actually wasn’t a problem.
Mo Qing nodded, showing concern, "How are you finding the script I gave you?"
Mo Qing was treating Qiao Xi like a junior. There was still so much she needed to learn.
Qiao Xi’s eyes curved, "I’ve been closely following it. This script is really good, thrilling and perfectly interconnected. I wonder who the screenwriter is."