The Lo Wu Control Point was bustling with people coming and going. Zhang Tiancheng walked over to the roadside opposite the exit and leaned against his car to smoke a cigarette.
By half-past eleven, Zhang Tiancheng crossed the street and scanned the crowd.
There were too many people. He looked back and forth for over ten minutes without catching a glimpse of Zeng Li.
"Didn't she say she'd cross the border around half-past eleven?"
Just as Zhang Tiancheng was feeling puzzled, a voice called out, "Tiancheng!"
Following the loud shout to his front-left, Zhang Tiancheng saw a group of people emerging from the arrival hall, among whom Zeng Li was waving excitedly.
With a wide smile, Zhang Tiancheng hurried forward to greet her.
As soon as they closed the distance, Zeng Li flung herself into Zhang Tiancheng's arms, holding him tight.
Zhang Tiancheng had originally intended to ask Zeng Li if the journey from Beijing had been tiring, but caught in this embrace, all his questions vanished. He reached out and held her tightly in return.
They kept hugging until a teasing voice broke the moment, causing them to part.
"This is out in public, you know. Aren't you two embarrassed?"
Zhang Tiancheng looked at Qin Hailu standing nearby and asked in surprise, "Why did you come too?"
"What, you as a big director can come here to make a movie, but I can't come to act in one?" Qin Hailu said with a smile.
"Acting!"
Just as Zhang Tiancheng's surprised exclamation trailed off, Zeng Li smiled and explained, "She really is here to act. Last month, Director Chen Guo from Taiwan was at the Central Academy of Drama looking for actors, and he took one look at her and cast her."
Chen Guo—Zhang Tiancheng immediately thought of *Durian Durian*, the banned film that earned Qin Hailu the Golden Horse Awards for Best New Performer and Best Actress right upon her debut.
"Big Sister Qin, congratulations, congratulations. Once you're famous in the future, don't forget your little brother."
Zhang Tiancheng's banter brought a smile to Qin Hailu's face.
"Little Cheng, don't you worry. Once your big sister here makes it big, I'll treat you to a grand feast every day."
Zhang Tiancheng was slightly taken aback, then scolded with a smile, "Go on with you, stop giving me eunuch nicknames."
"Little Cheng sounds so catchy, haha, haha!"
Qin Hailu was a native of Northeast China with a bold and generous personality. When she laughed, she completely threw aside any regard for her image, opening her mouth wide and laughing nonstop, which repeatedly drew the gazes of passersby.
Many of the pedestrians were from Hong Kong, and one look at Qin Hailu's outfit told them she was from Mainland China. The glances turned from surprise to sheer disdain after taking in her attire.
Qin Hailu didn't care about other people's opinions, but Zeng Li couldn't stand it.
"Stop laughing."
Qin Hailu reined in her laughter, though her face remained beaming.
Looking over Zhang Tiancheng's buzz cut, Qin Hailu chuckled and teased, "Are you planning to become a monk? Still, I have to admit, this makes you look much more pleasing to the eye—has a manly aura. That previous look of yours made you look like a pretty boy."
"You're the one becoming a monk; I did this for a movie. Besides, when did I ever look like a pretty boy? Pretty boys are so thin they'd run away at a gust of wind, and I'm nothing like that."
Qin Hailu didn't dwell on the topic of pretty boys, instead smiling as she changed the subject.
"Big Director, how is your movie coming along?"
Before Zhang Tiancheng could answer, Qin Hailu launched into another teasing remark.
"I really never expected you kid to hide your background so deeply. I've known you for two years, and if Zeng Li hadn't mentioned that you were funding your movie with money from home, I'd never have known your family was so rich."
"I'm telling you, Yuan Quan, Liu Ye, and the others have already plotted it out—they're going to bleed you dry the moment you get back."
"I'm not the wealthy one here. That's my family's money, not mine."
Qin Hailu didn't bother arguing semantics with Zhang Tiancheng—wasn't family money basically your money anyway?—and asked about the film once more.
"How is the movie turning out?"
"Just finished shooting, working on post-production now."
At that moment, a young woman walked over from the group of people who had arrived together.
"Miss Qin, it's time to go. Director Chen is waiting for you."
"Got it."
Qin Hailu tossed out a casual reply, then looked back at the two of them and instructed, "Let me tell you, don't get so carried away having fun that you forget all about me. Come find me on set when you have time."
"Hurry up and go, don't keep Director Chen waiting. We'll go see you film if we have time," Zeng Li urged.
"I'm heading off, bye-bye, Little Cheng, haha."
Watching Qin Hailu leave with the group, Zhang Tiancheng and Zeng Li got into the car and drove away.
Back at the hotel, the two of them, having not seen each other in half a year, immediately engaged in a fierce battle.
Having been apart for six months, they both missed each other deeply. They fought five rounds before finally stopping.
With her face flushed and glowing, Zeng Li leaned limply against Zhang Tiancheng's chest, not even wanting to lift a finger.
Zhang Tiancheng stroked Zeng Li's smooth, flat abdomen and asked in a low voice, "Pear, have you figured out where you want to work after graduation?"
Zeng Li shifted her head slightly and looked up at Zhang Tiancheng.
"I'm planning to audition for the art troupe."
Just like in her previous life, Zhang Tiancheng hesitated for a moment before asking, "Don't you want to act in films?"
"I'll act. If there are roles looking for me, I'll take them; if not, I'll just stay with the art troupe. Yuan Quan and I are planning to take the art troupe exams together."
Remembering something, Zeng Li broke into a smile.
"You know Xia Yu, right?"
"I know him, and I've met him a few times. Aren't he and Yuan Quan friends?"
"Two months ago, Yuan Quan established a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with him."
"Oh."
Seeing that Zhang Tiancheng actually reacted with such a flat expression, as if he had something on his mind, Zeng Li immediately sat up.
"Is there a problem with the movie?"
Zhang Tiancheng looked up and, seeing Zeng Li's worried face, hesitated for a few seconds before deciding he might as well speak bluntly.
"No, I was just thinking about what I'm going to do if you shoot intimate scenes with male actors in the future."
"Pfft!"
Zeng Li immediately burst out laughing.
"You're still such a jealous vinegar jar, haha."
Zeng Li kept giggling, laughing so hard her shoulders shook, which made Zhang Tiancheng feel a bit embarrassed and annoyed.
"Hey, I'm talking to you about something serious. Can you stop laughing?"
"Fine, fine, I won't laugh, I won't laugh."
Zeng Li reined in her smile, reached out to stroke Zhang Tiancheng's cheek, and placated him while holding back her giggles. "There, I promise you I won't take on any intimate scenes from now on. How about that?"
Zeng Li's promise set Zhang Tiancheng's mind at ease.
Yet her tone and expression made him feel as though she was treating him like a little child.
"Do you take me for some brat?!"
"That's right, my jealous little-boy boyfriend, haha."
Zhang Tiancheng glared, immediately rolled over, and pulled Zeng Li down beneath him.
"Let me show you the power of a little brat."
"Ah, no more, no more."
...
...
...
After yet another intense round, Zeng Li's bones felt like jelly. When Zhang Tiancheng woke her up to eat, she simply didn't have the strength to get up.
Having no other choice, Zhang Tiancheng called the hotel front desk and asked room service to send food up.
Early the next morning, the two of them set out to tour Hong Kong's various tourist attractions.
The handover had taken place, though what went on behind the scenes, Zhang Tiancheng didn't know. On the surface, however, Hong Kong seemed to be entirely free of triad elements.
They spent five days wandering around, visiting every single tourist spot in Hong Kong without a single incident occurring.
As soon as their sightseeing wrapped up, a call came from the post-production crew saying the rough cut was finished.
Early the next morning, Zhang Tiancheng took Zeng Li to Edko Films to check out the rough-cut results.
Finding it matched the effect he wanted, he instructed the post-production team to proceed.
After leaving Edko Films, Zhang Tiancheng took Zeng Li to Zhang Kailin's home.
Two days prior, Zhang Wenli had called to ask why he hadn't come over to her place for dinner now that filming was all wrapped up.
At the time, he had replied that he was busy touring around with his girlfriend.
Learning that Zeng Li was here, Zhang Wenli immediately and excitedly told him to bring Zeng Li over for a meal.
Zhang Tiancheng hadn't made the decision on the spot; instead, he turned to ask for Zeng Li's opinion.
Though meeting Zhang Tiancheng's aunt made her a bit shy, Zeng Li agreed anyway.
They had agreed to go for dinner after finishing their tour of Hong Kong's sights, but Zhang Wenli seemed afraid they would forget, calling every afternoon to remind them.
Upon arriving at Zhang Wenli's house, Zeng Li felt a little restrained, but Zhang Wenli was extremely warm and hospitable, constantly asking during the meal whether the dishes suited her taste, inquiring about her family background, and even telling her that if Zhang Tiancheng ever misbehaved, she should just call and let her handle the disciplining.
After leaving Zhang Wenli's place, Zeng Li let out a sigh of relief, and then the two of them headed over to the *Durian Durian* crew.