Wu Xuehan came back from Yu Sui’s place, and when she opened the door, she found an extra "villa" next to the wall. It was way bigger than those DIY assembly kits bought online.
Noticing Wu Xuehan’s confusion, Tang Li smiled: "It’s a New Year’s gift I got."
"It must have been expensive," Wu Xuehan squat down by the corner and observed the villa from every angle without a dead spot: "There’s English writing underneath, did it come from abroad?"
"It seems like it was bought from a duty-free shop."
As Tang Li spoke, she had Wu Xuehan help her remove the dust cover.
With the glass no longer blocking the view, the villa seemed even more meticulously crafted.
"This reminds me of the house-playing games from my childhood."
Wu Xuehan squat back down and, propping her chin on her hands, said: "I used to buy kitchen set models from a small store for five yuan a set, and then I’d buy a Barbie and play with it for the whole summer holiday. Oh, and I needed to buy some modeling clay to cook and make dishes."
Speaking of which, she turned her head and asked Tang Li, "Was it given to you by an elder in the family?"
Tang Li responded with a question instead of an answer, "Why do you think that?"
"When I was five or six years old, during the summer vacation at my parents’ workplace, my uncle took me to buy toys when he came for lunch. He bought me a doll," Wu Xuehan analyzed, "It seems like in the eyes of adults, all girls like dolls just like all boys supposedly love toy guns. But I actually preferred playing with marbles."
Hearing this, Tang Li’s gaze returned to the "villa".
Perhaps living life for a second time, there were more shades of gray in her life, so now, facing these beautiful childhood memories, she couldn’t help but cherish them deeply.
Before going to sleep at night, Tang Li moved a chair cushion to the side of the wall.
Then, she sat cross-legged in front of the "villa".
She took out the Barbie doll and picked a nightgown to change it into. When Wu Xuehan came out of the bathroom, Tang Li also got up from the floor, climbed into bed, and placed the Barbie next to her pillow.
Bathed in the soft light, she closely examined the doll’s face and couldn’t help but touch it, her lips curving into a smile.
The next morning, Tang Li went to Qi Liang’s courtyard house.
Wu Xuehan, who found out that Qi Liang had also invited her, didn’t quite believe it until she was sitting in the nanny car, still tugging on Tang Li’s sleeve asking, "Ah Li, did you hear it wrong?"
"If you don’t believe it, it’s still not too late to go back to the dorm now,"
Yu Sui ominously added from behind.
Upon hearing this, Wu Xuehan firmly embraced Tang Li, "Ah Li didn’t send me away, and you, little assistant, don’t interrupt our conversation."
Tang Li shifted her gaze from the script, turned her head towards Wu Xuehan, and seeing her anxious face explained, "I’m not quite sure myself. Director Qi just mentioned there’s a role that seems suitable for you. He’s not the type to joke around. Since he said there’s one, there must be."
Wu Xuehan’s face turned red, "I’ve never acted before, I’m afraid I won’t be good at it."
"There’s always a first time for everything."
Setting the script aside, Tang Li continued to encourage her, "Even if you’ve taken professional courses now, being on set is another scenario. If Director Qi has taken interest in you, and if there’s anything you don’t understand that I know, I won’t hesitate to teach you."
Wu Xuehan slightly pursed her lips and leaned her head on Tang Li’s shoulder, dependently saying, "Ah Li, you’re really nice. I should just go be your assistant in Diannan, instead. A rich girl like Yu Sui definitely won’t be able to handle the environment at Mihesha River. Unlike me, I’ve been enduring hardships since childhood and definitely won’t hold you back."