Because of Ye Peicheng's word of advice, when filming resumed, Qiao Moyu pretended that Ye Peicheng beside her was Luo Luo.
With the cameramen in place, the director shouted: "Ready, and start!"
Qiao Moyu and Ye Peicheng sat side by side, with only half a person's distance between them.
As they chatted, the man mentioned something that caused her to turn around and smile.
At that moment, the bottom of her eyes reflected Ye Peicheng's image, along with the wide field of grass and flowers in the background, vivid and full of life.
Ye Peicheng sucked in a breath at the sight of the girl in front of him. At this moment, he wanted to know who she was thinking of.
"Cut! Very good! That's the feeling I'm looking for!" The director was very satisfied: "Prepare the crew to have a meal, then we'll pack up and leave for Film City!"
In the afternoon, the team arrived at the Film and Television City and began to shoot within their tight schedule.
There were plenty of scenes for Ye Peicheng, whilelQiao Moyu didn't have that many. After she acted several of her scenes, she went aside to rest.
There were a few more scenes for her to act this evening at the other side of the Film and TV City. Since she felt she had done her part for now, Qiao Moyu made her way towards the next location so she can familiarize herself with the set.
She walked towards her destination, but just as she was about to arrive, she suddenly noticed smoke in the distance.
At first, she thought it must be part of the crew who worked with props. However, the longer she looked, the more she felt that something about that smoke wasn't quite right.
Qiao Moyu rushed over, and sure enough, the crowd's anxious shouting and screaming rang in the air.
"There's another child in the room!" A young girl shouted, "Quick! Someone hurry and help!"
"There's too much smoke, we can't just go in!" A person who splashed a bucket of water at the fire, looked around and asked, "Where's the firetruck? Why hasn't it arrived yet?"
"Is someone in there?" Qiao Moyu asked as she turned to the man with the bucket of water.
"Yes, there's still a boy around eight or nine-years-old who hasn't come out! But the fire is too strong, who knows if the building will collapse sooner or later," said the man. "I can't go in there to save him!"
"I'll go and have a look." As she said so, Qiao Moyu grabbed the bucket from the man's hand and poured over head, drenching her entire body. Then, she snatched a towel from one side, drenched it in water, then rushed towards the fire while covering her mouth and nose.
Outside, the crowd gazed anxiously while inquiring: "Who rushed in there just now?"
"I don't know! It doesn't seem to be someone from our crew!"
At that moment, Qiao Moyu jumped directly through a window. The fire in the room wasn't much, but there was plenty of smoke. She covered her mouth and nose securely as her eyes surveyed around. Finally, she saw a boy in a corner, screaming in fear.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here to save you!" Qiao Moyu agilely dodged a falling beam and landed in front of the boy.
She pressed the towel in hand over the boy's face and advised: "Don't take this off!"
After saying so, Qiao Moyu wrapped her arm around the boy's waist and picked him up with one hand, then charged out quickly.
In the room, the sound of a breaking beam crackled, and embers continued to fall. They rushed through the fire as until Qiao Moyu finally arrived by the window with the young boy.
She clamped her arms around him securely, bent down, then jumped through the opening.
As they landed outside, the wooden beams behind them collapsed and crackled.
Qiao Moyu placed the boy down with one hand. The smoke and fire behind them was like a dramatic background.
Because this was an unexpected accident, the cameras around them had been running this whole time, silently recording this entire scene.
There were several burns on the boy's body so he was rushed to the hospital immediately after he came out. However, Qiao Moyu's body was also scalded with many blisters, none of which were serious. If she dabbed them with medicine, they should heal within a few days.
The fire was caused by buried wires that short-circuited. Fortunately there were no other buildings around, so the damage was contained.
Qiao Moyu was applying medicine on her wound when her cell phone rang. It was assistant manager Xiao Su speaking: "Where are you Miss Moyu? Director Feng called just now saying you need to retake one of the scenes."
Qiao Moyu was still wet, even though the crew member beside her handed her a towel. Her clothes stuck to her body.
She rushed back to the previous set while replying to the assistant: "I'm at the eastern side of' the Film and TV city. A fire just broke out here. I went to save a boy so now I'm soaking wet…."
"Ah? A fire?!" Xiao Su was shocked. "Did anything happen to you? Are there any injuries?!" Her voice was louder due to worry. Ye Peicheng, who just finished acting a scene, turned around upon hearing her words.
"Rest assured, I don't have any disfigurement. There's just a few blisters on my hands," Qiao Moyu replied.
"Burnt blisters? Wait for me, I'll get a car and pick you up right away!" Xiao Su said urgently.
When she hung up, she saw Ye Peicheng holding the key to the crew's car. The actor turned to her and said: "You go and buy her medicine. I'll go with you to pick her up."
Xiao Su was stunned, but she immediately nodded: "Thank you so much, Mr. Ye."
Ye Peicheng didn't reply. He motioned for Xiao Su to have a seat while he went to the other side of the car.
As soon as Qiao Moyu finished applying her medicine, she heard the sound of car tires grinding against the road. An assistant's car stopped in front of her.
The window rolled down halfway and Ye Peicheng called to her: "Get in the car!"
'Why did he come?' Qiao Moyu wondered. She immediately pulled open the door and sat down, then smiled to the man beside her: "Thank you, Film Emperor Ye!"
The actor's eyes were glued to her. The woman had wet, messy hair with some black dust on her cheeks, but her eyes were surprisingly bright.
Her damp clothes clung to her skin. Fortunately, she was wrapped with a towel, covering the alluring scenery.
Ye Peicheng asked: "Did you save someone?"
Qiao Moyu nodded: "Yes, I'm all okay, and I saved a boy!"
Her tone of voice seemed to be asking for a compliment. Ye Peicheng unconsciously raised a corner of his lips as he looked down on her face. He noticed the blisters on the back of her wrist.
Those slim wrists had obvious, big blisters.
Ye Peicheng felt as if a part of his heart was pricked by something. He said: "Let me speak with Director Feng so he can let you rest for a day."
"It's alright!" Qiao Moyu thought that if she really did get a day off, she would end up breaking her promise to Luo Luo. Lifting her hand up, she reasoned: "Look, there's only a few blisters. It won't leave a scar once it heals so it's alright. You don't have to worry."
Ye Peicheng looked at her fixedly but didn't say anything. He turned away and started the car.
The quickly returned to the crew since Qiao Moyu was soaking wet all over. Even though she claimed she could resume filming with her current injuries, she still needed to replace her outfit and redo her makeup.
She went to the dressing room with Xiao Su, changed her clothes and dried her hair. As soon as she came out, she saw Ye Peicheng coming her way.
He had ointment and a cotton swab in his hand.
Without saying a word, Ye Peicheng sat directly on the chair next to her while the makeup artist applied her makeup. The medicine Qiao Moyu applied earlier was rubbed off her skin when she was changing clothes earlier. Ye Peicheng raised her hand, dipped a cotton swab in the ointment, then carefully applied it to her wrist.
He began applying the ointment with a focused, calm look that was rarely seen. There was a slight frown on his lips, but his motion was very gentle.
Qiao Moyu felt the cool medicine spread across her skin, relieving the scalding pain.
She raised her eyes and said with a gentle voice: "Thank you, Film Emperor Ye."
After saying so, she laughed at herself and said: "I seem to repeat this sentence so many times in a day.."
Ye Peicheng gazed into her eyes and said: "You don't have to mention it."
Afterwards, he left the ointment and cotton swab beside her handbag, then left the dressing room right after.
On that same day, the fire at Yincheng Film and TV City was broadcasted on the news. There weren't any casualties and only one person was charged as responsible and punished by the law. There weren't any other significant losses.
That evening however, a clear footage of the fire's scene was quickly spread online, just a few hours after the event.
At this moment, in Xing Yichen's villa, the man himself walked out of his bath with a towel wrapped around his waist. He noticed Qiao Ruohuan sitting on the sofa while playing with his phone. The TV was on the whole time while broadcasting the entertainment channel.
Xing Yichen sat down beside her and embraced her body within his arm, "Ruohan, why is it that even when we use the same shower gel, my body doesn't have a scent, and yet you smell so fragrant?"
As he spoke, he pulled Qiao Ruohuan's face close and kissed her.
Because the two had already had a real relationship in Xing Yichen's lounge before, at that moment, they shared a tacit understanding. Xing Yichen had already pressed Qiao Ruohuan under his body.
His hands slipped into her clothes, head buried in her neck, and he kissed her.
Her body trembled making his mouth curled into a smile. He was about to make another move when he heard a voice on the television reporting, "One hour ago, the photographer of the fire in Yincheng Film and Television City released a video…"
Xing Yichen immediately paid special attention to the news since he was once caught in a fire when he was 17 years old. The man turned his head towards the screen
At this point, the television has switched to the recording at the time. Within the wooden attic, the fire continued to burn fiercely. Black smoke became more and more intense, and soon covered the whole sky overhead.
While people were panicking, a girl broke into the camera focus. Her face was white and delicate, and in the video, she looked like a fairy who had strayed into the world by mistake.
When he saw the girl's face clearly, Xing Yichen frowned fiercely, it was Qiao Moyu again!
Because the surroundings was too noisy, he did not know what Qiao Moyu and the others were talking about. So, Xing Yichen was surprised to see Qiao Moyu suddenly splash herself with water and rush directly into the sea of fire in front of him!
He was speechless with shock for a moment as he saw her deftly leap into the window.
Under his body, Qiao Ruohuan noticed Xing Yichen's sudden frozen state. She muttered, "Brother Yichen…"
Under his body, Qiao Ruohuan seemed to notice that Xing Yichen stopped suddenly. She muttered, "Brother Yichen…"
Xing Yichen responded to her and bowed his head to continue kissing her, but his ears were carefully tuned towards the sounds from the television.
He kissed Qiao Ruohuan for a few seconds, then once again looked up at the pictures on the television.
It seemed as if Time pressed the slow button, one frame at a time, and it was agonizingly hard to see.
He did not understand why, but deep inside his heart, a touch of unease was brewing.
Now, even after Qiao Ruohuan called his name again, Xing Yichen did not seem interested in continuing their activities. His eyes did not turn away from the television screen for even one moment. However, he was worried that Qiao Ruohuan was dissatisfied so he rubbed on her and her tone finally changed.
Time ticked by slowly and just when Xing Yichen couldn't hold himself back from wanting to press the fast-forward button, the scene on the TV suddenly changed.
Two figures jumped out of the window, one was Qiao Moyu with black hair, and the other was a boy who only reached her shoulder.
After Qiao Moyu put the boy down on the ground, she pulled him with her and ran. Behind her was a raging sea of fire that could consume lives.
Xing Yichen's heart trembled and his hands unconsciously tightened.
Underneath him, Qiao Ruohuan couldn't help but gasp from the pain of his pinch.
Xing Yichen reacted and quickly apologized.
At this moment, the video of Qiao Moyu was cut off from the screen.
They could only hear the newcaster's voice explain: "The truth is, the female lead for 'First Light of Dawn' Qiao Moyu happened to be passing by the set when she noticed fire. She didn't hesitate to jump into the sea of flames regardless of the danger to save the child actor for the male lead of the drama 'Xuan Tian.' At this time, both of them are recuperating at the Film and TV City. Fortunately, there were only slight injuries."
After the report, the news changed topics, but Xing Yichen suddenly lost all interest in watching.
He unexpectedly pulled his hands away from Qiao Ruohuan's clothes and dismounted from her.
Qiao Ruohuan, who didn't know what had gotten into him, asked with noticeably flushed cheeks: "Brother Yichen, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I suddenly don't feel so well," Xing Yichen replied as he got up and went to the dressing room. He changed into his house clothes.
"Are you okay?" She asked in concern: "Did you catch a cold?"
"No." Xing Yichen didn't no why but he felt like being alone for some reason. He said: "If you're satisfied, I can send you home."
"Brother Yichen, are you angry with me?" Qiao Ruohuan didn't know what was going on in his thoughts. She inquired once again: "Did something happen?"
"Nothing." Xing Yichen didn't want her to ask any further, so he made an excuse: "Something happened at work."
"Oh." Qiao Ruohuan knew that it wasn't easy for him to manage a large company so she offered: "If that's the case, I can drive home by myself so you don't have to drop me off. That way you can work in peace."
"Alright," Xing Yichen said: "Then you can just send me a text message when you get home."
Although Qiao Ruohuan said she could go home by herself, she didn't expect Xing Yichen to actually agree. The fact that he wasn't willing to send her off tonight left her heart at a loss. Still, she pulled herself together and laughingly said: "Brother Yichen, I'll be off them. Don't work too late, it's important to pay attention to your health. Good night!"
"Alright, goodnight," he replied with a nod.
Qiao Ruohuan walked out of the room, leaving Xing Yichen all by himself.
In his mind, he began to replay that distant memory.
At that time, he only recalled that a girl with a strange bracelet on her wrist had rescued him. Although the smoke all around had blurred his vision, he remembered that the girl's hands were small and soft. She took him by the hand and pulled him through the painful, hot sea of fire, until he breathed fresh air.
There were barely any injuries on his own skin that time. But though his vision was blurred, he heard someone shouting in their direction that a little girl was injured and had to be sent to the hospital immediately.
Then, she let go of his hand. Xing Yichen never met her for many years until he came across Qiao Ruohuan. He was incomparably shocked to discover that she was the girl who saved him that time.
But now, he didn't know why, but when he saw Qiao Moyu pulling the boy out of the sea of flames, Xing Yichen felt as if his distant and faded memory was becoming more and more vivid.
In that memory, he was 17 years old. Next to him was a girl with braided pigtails. Her face, that was blurred in his memory, gradually became clearer.
He was shocked to find that it was Qiao Moyu!
How could it be her?! Perhaps watching TV just now simply influenced his subconscious.
Xing Yichen desperately rejected the idea, but such a picture buried a seed of doubt at the bottom of his heart. Although it wasn't much now, once it takes root, it could germinate and blossom at any time. By then, it would be too late to resist.