Fog Returns to the Capital

What is the connection to Chapter 33?

"Have you finished your work?"

The girl gazed at him with her beautiful, clear eyes, her soft voice carrying a hint of caution and seriousness. She sat at a certain distance from him, leaning against the car door.

She seemed very afraid of disturbing his work.

"I'm definitely busy with work," Zhou Jinghuai said calmly. "Go ahead."

Seeing him say that.

Li Wu's eyes darted around before she moved a little closer to him and slowly told him about what had just happened between her and Chu Xuan.

Her voice was neither fast nor slow, but clear and melodious, like pearls falling on a jade plate. The ending of her voice was also soft and gentle, like a lover's whisper, capable of softening one's heart.

"...At first, I thought she was coming to interrogate me, to ask why I didn't take the script, and I was worried she might slap me..."

After saying that.

Li Wu belatedly realized that Zhou Jinghuai had been watching her the whole time.

She gradually stopped making noise, and even her breathing became softer.

"I...am I being silly?" Li Wu said somewhat embarrassedly.

Also.

In his eyes, these were definitely trivial matters, a complete waste of his time.

She simply wanted to tell him.

"And then?" Zhou Jinghuai asked.

Li Wu's eyes lit up immediately, and she told him what happened next in a clear voice, "...Actually, I was a little stunned when she shook hands with me, but I didn't show it at the time."

Hear the words.

Zhou Jinghuai glanced at Li Wu, who had a faint smile on her face, but the words she had said, "She has to eat," came to mind.

Zhou Jinghuai's eyes darkened slightly, and his tone became even lower, "Then your ability to react on the spot is not bad."

The words fell.

Unexpectedly, simply sharing could earn praise. Li Wu's gaze towards Zhou Jinghuai faltered slightly.

But soon.

Realizing what was happening, Li Wu's cheeks flushed slightly. She accepted his praise carefully and calmly, "It's... just average."

Li Wu actually wanted to ask if it was his idea to have Chu Xuan apologize to her.

But once Chu Xuan is mentioned, one will inevitably think of Miss Gu, who is behind her, and then... it will inevitably involve...

It quieted down.

Li Wu changed the subject and asked, "Are we going straight back?"

Zhou Jinghuai glanced at her with his dark eyes, his gaze so calm that it was impossible to discern any emotion, and said in a low voice, "Let's go eat first."

Inexplicable.

Li Wu's fingers, resting on her lap, trembled slightly without her noticing.

Subsequently.

She responded softly, "Okay."

……

We went to a courtyard house deep in the alley, which looked like a private residence.

Once inside, Li Wu discovered it was a private restaurant. She and Lin Yi had been to this street before, but they had been kept at a distance before they could even get close.

This time, however, someone was waiting outside the door early on to welcome them inside.

We went straight up to the second floor.

They were led to a private room that had been specially reserved for Zhou Jinghuai.

Without ordering, the manager bowed and asked cautiously, "The usual?" Zhou Jinghuai glanced at Li Wu, who was looking around, and then casually said, "Add a few more dishes."

"..."

Li Wu immediately calmed down after being stared at by that one look, and stopped looking around curiously.

She sat obediently in the chair.

Wait until people leave.

There was a pause.

Li Wu couldn't help but mutter a defense in her own voice, "That day... it was really because I didn't eat dinner the night before, so I ate a little more for breakfast. Usually, it's because running around on set is very tiring, so..."

"His appetite has only increased slightly..."

Seemingly afraid that Zhou Jinghuai wouldn't believe her, Li Wu whispered her weight and deliberately emphasized that she was on the thinner side.

Hear the words.

Zhou Jinghuai recalled the petite body that felt weightless when he picked her up that day, and slightly curled his lips, saying in a leisurely tone, "Even if you had ten or a hundred times the appetite, I could raise you without any trouble."

The last note fades.

Li Wu's heart skipped a beat for a moment for no apparent reason.

Because of his words, and because of a certain word in his words.

The warm light from above accentuated the contours of his face, making them appear even more defined and profound, exuding a gentle and refined elegance. He was breathtakingly perfect.

Li Wu used the act of lowering her head to drink water to conceal the sudden palpitation that welled up in her heart, along with a hint of inexplicable panic.

The dishes served were all very home-style, but the taste was unlike anything Li Wu had ever eaten before.

Like white chrysanthemums blooming in jade porcelain, they look fresh and elegant, graceful and delicate, each strand as thin as a silver needle. Yet, they taste soft, fragrant, and smooth, with the tender tofu gliding over the tongue.

Its simplicity and purity offer endless enjoyment.

Every time Li Wu eats, she takes small bites very seriously, giving people the feeling that she won't be able to eat anymore after this meal.

But her movements were slow, as if she were savoring the moment.

Zhou Jinghuai didn't eat much, but ladled a bowl of soup for Li Wu and placed it next to her, saying, "This soup is also good, you should try it."

Li Wu looked at him and whispered a thank you.

As Li Wu reached out her hand, just as it touched the bottom of the jade porcelain bowl, two people slowly walked into the private room.

I heard a noise coming from the doorway.

Subconsciously.

Li Wu looked up.

Upon seeing the face of the leader.

Li Wu's hand suddenly trembled.

Bang.

The white jade porcelain bowl fell onto the dark carpet with a dull, heavy thud.

Before Li Wu could pay attention, she was so frightened that she immediately stood up.

She instinctively lowered her head, her voice trembling and hesitant, revealing her immense fear and nervousness, "Hello...leader!"

People who only appear on television at celebrations suddenly appear before your eyes.

Li Wu felt like she couldn't even breathe enough.

I could only try to slow my breathing and conceal my nervousness and helplessness.

The man who arrived was dressed in a dark Tang suit, his full head of white hair neatly combed. He was vigorous and exuded a calm and refined aura. But his eyes seemed to contain a powerful and abundant spiritual strength, clear and sharp, making people afraid to look directly at him.

It seemed that no one expected that besides Zhou Jinghuai, there was also a young girl in the private room.

A flicker of emotion crossed the old man's eyes, but it lasted less than a second before he returned to normal.

He nodded slightly, his tone amiable, "Hello. I've been retired for several years now, so you don't need to call me by my old title anymore. Given your age, just call me Grandpa Xu." Li Wu didn't dare to say that.

She instinctively turned her head, her eyes filled with fear as she looked to Zhou Jinghuai for help.

"Old Xu."

Zhou Jinghuai spoke calmly, his voice deep and resonant.

"I heard you were coming to have dinner today, so I thought I'd drop by."

Old Xu's tone was quite amiable, completely unlike the stern and imposing manner he displayed on television. "How has your grandfather been feeling lately?"

……

Li Wu stood awkwardly to the side, listening to the two's familiar greetings.

Listen, listen.

Li Wu couldn't help but wonder if she had overheard something she shouldn't have, would that be considered a breach of confidentiality?

But she didn't dare interrupt their conversation, so she suggested leaving first.

Just a few minutes.

Li Wu was terrified.

Especially when her peripheral vision accidentally caught sight of the white jade porcelain bowl she had knocked over, her heart trembled uncontrollably.

Just as Li Wu was about to breathe a sigh of relief after they had finished exchanging pleasantries and Old Xu announced his departure, Li Wu finally felt relieved.

Somehow.

Old Xu suddenly looked at her again.

"..."

Li Wu immediately put on a smile.

"what's your name?"

Looking at her face, Old Xu asked slowly.

Li Wu was taken aback.

It was only after Zhou Jinghuai mentioned it from the side that Li Wu hurriedly replied, "Li Wu."

"The dawn of dawn, the fog of clouds."

His tone was tense yet respectful.

"The dawn of dawn, the fog of clouds..."

Old Xu slowly repeated those words.

His gaze lingered on Li Wu's face for a moment before he looked away.

……

After Mr. Xu left.

Li Wu breathed a sigh of relief.

Before she could even catch her breath, she eagerly asked Zhou Jinghuai for confirmation, "He...is he...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Jinghuai gave a faint "hmm".

Compared to Li Wu's nervousness and fear, Zhou Jinghuai was completely calm and composed, exuding an aura of composure.

"I actually got to see him with my own eyes..."

After receiving confirmation from Zhou Jinghuai, Li Wu couldn't help but sigh.

Zhou Jinghuai glanced at Li Wu, remembering that Old Xu had just asked her name.

Thoughtful.

Li Wu didn't notice.

But she inevitably saw the white jade porcelain bowl she had knocked over on the ground, and the surprise and excitement she felt at seeing such an important person vanished instantly.

She lowered her head and said in a low, muffled voice, "Did I do a really bad job just now...?"

Li Wu felt somewhat embarrassed, especially since she was standing next to him.

"what is the relationship."

Zhou Jinghuai's gentle and noble brows remained calm, and his tone was equally indifferent and unperturbed, "Few people would not be nervous when they meet him."

He was clearly saying something to comfort her, but after hearing it, Li Wu felt a tightness in her chest for no apparent reason.

What does it have to do with anything?

Yeah, what does it matter?

Before leaving, Old Xu would ask for his name one more time, probably out of respect for Zhou Jinghuai.

otherwise.

From beginning to end, she was just a quiet background figure.

……

Towards the end of the meal, Li Wu barely ate anything. Originally, when Old Xu came to say hello, they should have been almost done.

When going out.

You have to go through a long corridor.

Zhou Jinghuai was tall and slender. Even with his unhurried and composed demeanor, his steps were slightly larger than usual.

Walk some distance.

After finishing a phone call, Zhou Jinghuai noticed that Li Wu hadn't followed, so he stopped and waited for her.

"..."

Seeing that he had finished the call, Li Wu quickened her pace and followed him.

When he walked up to Zhou Jinghuai's side.

Li Wu hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently grasped Zhou Jinghuai's hand.

Warm and dry, slender and jade-like.

It has a kind of silent power.

But whether it was because she was too afraid or because her hands were too small, Li Wu could only barely grasp two or three of Zhou Jinghuai's fingers.

It's like a child reaching out and holding an adult's hand.

The force wasn't very strong.

As long as Zhou Jinghuai makes the slightest movement, he can easily shake off her hand.

A soft touch came from my palm.

Gently, softly. Like a newborn fawn, quietly opening its eyes, cautiously and tentatively using its still-soft antlers to explore the new world.

When Zhou Jinghuai looked down at her, Li Wu smiled back at him.

"If I hold your hand, I won't be afraid of falling behind you."

The girl's clear and soft voice gently touched people's hearts under the evening sky, where snow was about to fall.

……

Shen Yichen's drama is scheduled to start filming after the New Year.

Since there wasn't much time left before the Lunar New Year, Sister Xin didn't get any new jobs for Li Wu.

That night, New Year's Eve.

Amidst the family's joy, Li Wu spent her time alone in Zhou Jinghuai's house.

(End of this chapter)