Endless Fall

The light was still on in the house on the right of the eighth floor of Unit 9. A graceful figure flashed past the window and entered the bathroom at the other end.

After showering, Lin Jiao walked into the master bedroom with a cup of hot milk and lay on the bed.

She opened the WeChat chat box and had just replied to Pei Zhi when the video invitation popped up.

!!

“Jiaojiao.” Pei Zhi stared at her beautiful face. He could see the water droplets that had yet to dry.

He rubbed the screen. “I miss you so much.”

The words “I miss you so much” carried all his strong feelings and were worth more than a thousand words.

Lin Jiao pursed her lips and smiled. “How much do you miss me?”

“I really miss you.” The voice from the speaker was so gentle that it seemed to want to wrap around her. “I want to come back immediately.”

The warm light on his right wrapped around his smooth jawline, making him look mesmerizing.

“But you can’t come back.” Lin Jiao turned over and lay on her stomach.

She rested her chin on her hand. The collar that she had yet to button was slightly open, revealing a large area of fair skin.

Pei Zhi gulped.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night.” He took two sips of water, but he didn’t remind her.

“Didn’t you say you’ll be back on Sunday?”

“The signing of the contract is brought forward.”

“Then let’s go see Auntie Fang the day after tomorrow?” Lin Jiao did not notice her collar and remained in her original position.

Pei Zhi swallowed. “Alright.” His gaze landed on the long hair that was sticking to her collarbone. “What did you bid for today?”

“A Ruyao porcelain.” She said, “This is the first time I’ve had such an expensive thing.”

“Ruyao porcelain has always been very expensive, but it will increase in value in a few years. It’s not bad as a collectible.”

“Yes.” Lin Jiao picked up the milk cup. “It’s more valuable to me than a necklace worth more than 20 million.”

She raised her head and took two sips of milk, revealing her slender neck.

Pei Zhi lit a cigarette to calm himself down. “Jiaojiao, lie down and talk to me.”

Lin Jiao thought that he could not see clearly, so when she lay down with her phone, she turned on the night light.

She moved the glass away and pulled out the strand of hair that had entered her collar. “I met Gu Quan today.”

“Did you talk?”

“We chatted for a while.” She did not hide anything and even repeated the conversation she remembered.

Pei Zhi listened calmly.

He knew very well that Gu Quan was not a threat to him. His expression was as calm as hers. “Lin City is only so big. It’s normal to bump into him.”

The smoke that filled his surroundings covered his long and narrow eyes, and Lin Jiao could not see his emotions clearly.

She was silent for a moment. “Are you angry?”

“No.” A mere old friend was not worthy of his attention. “Don’t think too much.”

“Then why aren’t you laughing?”

“I’m thinking about something.”

“About work?”

About eating you.

Pei Zhi did not tell her his thoughts and followed her lead to talk about the collaboration he was working on.

He explained in detail. In the past, Lin Jiao would have shown interest, but she was sleepy today and gradually closed her eyes as she listened.

Pei Zhi could not bear to hang up when she fell asleep.

He found his earphones and put them on, listening carefully to her soft breathing as she fell asleep.

“Jiaojiao.” He closed his eyes and deliberately lowered his voice. “Good night.”

#

Wild Cricket: “Picture.”

Wild Cricket: “@Everyone, which hotel do you want to stay in? I’ll book it now.”

On Saturday afternoon, the people in the group chat received this WeChat message at the same time.

The first person who saw it was Chu Yuzhou.

Landlord, “So early?”

Wild Cricket: “Didn’t you look at the calendar? The 29th of this month is the third day of the Chinese New Year.”

Landlord: “I thought New Year’s Eve was in February.”

Y-ue: “The second one is not bad.”

ZJ: “The second one.”

Sleepless Lin City: “Let them decide.”

Lan: “Brother Qu, did you rent a jet?”

Wild Cricket: “Of course. @Sy, have you found a captain? Sneering.jpg.”

...

Sy: “Done.”

Shen Yi copied a phone number and sent it to him, asking him to tell the captain about the schedule.

Just as he was about to turn off the screen, a message from Jiang Ye popped up again. “Are you guys free tonight?”

Sleepless Lin City: “Are you going to treat us to a meal again?”

ZJ: “I have time.”

Y-ue: “Me too.”

Ye: “@Sleepless Lin City. I’m done filming.”

Landlord, “Why don’t we gather at Bo Yu Club? I’ll get someone to reserve a luxurious private room.”

Ye: “Then let’s meet at Bo Yu.”

When the sun set, a group of people rushed to Bo Yu from different directions. After eating, they went to the private room to drink.

“Where are Pei Zhi and the others?” Shen Yi handed a cigarette to the men present and turned to ask Lin Jiao.

...

“He just got off the plane.”

“He’ll be here soon, then.”

“Without Pei Zhi around, I’m the most alcohol tolerant of you all.” A smug voice entered everyone’s ears.

Chu Yuzhou triggered everyone. Zhou Yanshen, who was sitting beside him, sneered. “With me around, you don’t get to be so arrogant.”

“I’m telling the truth.” He rolled up his sleeves and stepped on the chair to shake the dice cup. “If you have any doubts about what I said, come challenge me.”

“Tsk.” Zhou Yanshen glanced at him in disdain.

He stood up and patted Jiang Ye’s shoulder. “I’ll go to the washroom first. Play a few rounds with him.”

Jiang Ye then held the dice cup.

He sat opposite Chu Yuzhou with Shen Yi, making the dice shake.

While they were ‘teaching’ Chu Yuzhou a lesson, the three besties on the other end were drinking and singing.

“Yilan, did he ask you to move in?” Lin Jiao knew about their agreement to live together after filming ended and looked at her curiously.

At the mention of this, Pei Yilan smiled from ear to ear. “Yes, I’ll move in tomorrow.”

“In the same room?”

“Separate rooms.” She raised her legs and placed them on the soft stool, swinging her feet happily. “But I believe we’ll be able to sleep in the same room soon.”

Qian Yue put down the microphone. “Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?”

“To test the goods.” Her expression did not change. “A harmonious life is very important. If you want to get married, you have to test it in advance.”

Hearing that, Pei Yilan and Lin Jiao were embarrassed.

The former leaned closer to Qian Yue. “What if it’s not harmonious?”

“It depends on you. It’s fine if you can accept it.”

“I can accept it.” Pei Yilan did not hesitate and even prepared for the worst. “As long as I can get pregnant.”

Lin Jiao raised an eyebrow. “Are you already planning to have a child?” She had not thought that far ahead.

“It’s only a matter of time.” Once Pei Yilan made up her mind, she would insist til the end.

She smiled. “I want to have a family with him.”