Chapter 150: Warmth Found in Closeness

"...According to the satellite cloud images, the tropical storm will move from the southern part of the harbor to the east, and it will not have a significant impact on the city. Due to the storm, there will be scattered light rain from tonight until tomorrow. We hope all citizens remember to bring their rain gear when going out. Now, let us welcome Dr. Liu, a meteorological expert, for a brief introduction. Hello, listeners, I am Dr. Liu. Regarding the formation of this tropical storm during winter..." *click!*

Yan Xu switched off the car radio. After spending four days in the hospital, he felt as though cobwebs had spun all over him. Yet, the improving relationship and growing closeness with Wang Zuxian had accelerated the progress of their project considerably, at least reducing the awkwardness between them.

He slowly pulled the car to the side of the road, having spotted Wang Zuxian standing by the roadside. She wore a coat, a baseball cap, and sunglasses, attempting to disguise herself as a passerby. Due to the rare tropical storm in winter, the entire harbor city was shrouded in thick clouds, and the air carried an unusual chill, accompanied by a gentle breeze. Wang Zuxian was not dressed warmly; her arms were tightly wrapped around herself as she paced slightly.

“Hurry up and get in!” Yan Xu parked the car in front of her and opened the door.

“The wind today is really cold. It’s much more comfortable in your car,” Wang Zuxian said as she climbed into the passenger seat. The warm air inside the car brought a faint flush to her cheeks.

“You should wear more layers. It looks like there’ll be some rain tonight,” Yan Xu remarked, glancing at her. The subtle fragrance she carried filled the car, prompting him to take a few discreet breaths.

“It’s already starting to drizzle. The sky is so overcast; it’ll probably rain heavily soon,” Wang Zuxian replied. Feeling the warmth inside, she took off her coat, revealing a form-fitting pale blue shirt underneath. Her high, elegant chest filled out the shirt perfectly, accentuating her graceful figure from the side.

“What happened to your aunt? She called you to pick her up,” Yan Xu asked, casting a brief glance at Wang Zuxian’s chest before quickly looking away. He was driving and didn’t want to add to the already plentiful awkward moments between them.

Wang Zuxian’s aunt was also her agent in Hong Kong, a fact Yan Xu had learned only after getting to know her better over the past few days. Concerned about her young daughter struggling alone in Hong Kong, Wang Zuxian’s mother had mobilized all their relatives in the city.

“She doesn’t know what she ate. She’s been vomiting and having diarrhea, so I told her to go to the hospital first,” Wang Zuxian sighed softly. Her aunt was a reliable figure for her, especially now that Wang Zuxian wasn’t very well-known and her pay was modest. Her contract with the Shaw Brothers had been terminated, so if it weren’t for her aunt acting as both agent and caretaker, she might have returned to Taiwan long ago.

Today’s shoot was a pivotal scene where Yan Xu would be hidden by Wang Zuxian inside a bathtub. It featured the appearance of the grandmother and a water scene with Ning Caichen and Xiaoqian kissing. Since most of the filming took place indoors, a little rain wouldn’t matter.

By the time they reached Lantau Island, it was nearly five in the afternoon. Because “A Chinese Ghost Story” mostly involved night scenes, the crew’s schedule was somewhat reversed, often starting around five or six in the evening and wrapping up at dawn.

The light rain forecasted had started, gradually falling more heavily. Eventually, the windshield wipers couldn’t keep up with the downpour. Still, the rain remained light, just persistent enough to be a nuisance.

Though the rain refreshed the city’s air, it brought complications for Yan Xu. Their filming location was deep in the mountainous areas of Lantau Island, where the roads were rugged and buildings sparse compared to the densely populated Kowloon area. On such rainy days, it was common to see no one for long stretches.

The set for the Lanruo Temple was situated on a treacherous part of Lantau Island known as East Gouya. The road construction only reached the foot of East Gouya; beyond that were simple trails made by mountain villagers who hadn’t relocated. Though still passable by car, the paths were overgrown with weeds and strewn with rocks, causing the vehicle to jolt and shake violently. Fortunately, Yan Xu’s Mercedes had excellent shock absorption; otherwise, both the car and its occupants might have been thrown apart.

“Damn!” Feeling the unsettling vibrations, Yan Xu immediately hit the brakes.

“What’s wrong?” Wang Zuxian, who had been dozing on the bumpy road, opened her eyes and looked at Yan Xu as the car came to a stop.

“The car seems to have broken down. Hopefully, I’m wrong. Stay here, I’ll go check it out!” Yan Xu glanced at her. Just waking up, she had a unique charm accentuated by her rising chest beneath the shirt, which stirred a strong urge in him—though he only dared entertain the thought.

“Be careful!” Wang Zuxian warned, noting the rain outside and the early darkness of winter. The mountain roads were slippery, and Yan Xu had just been discharged from the hospital with injuries not fully healed.

“I know!” Yan Xu smiled in reply, grabbed an umbrella, and stepped out.

The cold struck him immediately. December’s rainy weather brought biting winds, starkly contrasting with the warmth inside the car. Though the raindrops were small, they fell densely and harshly, slicing his face like tiny blades despite the umbrella.

Wrapping his coat tighter, Yan Xu hurried to the back of the car.

“Shit!” Though he had suspected something, seeing the scene made him curse. The rear tire was nearly flat and deflating rapidly—likely punctured by something on the neglected village road.

“What’s wrong?” Wang Zuxian hurriedly asked as Yan Xu shook water off the umbrella and climbed back in. Darkness had deepened, and worry marked her face.

“The rear tire’s been punctured. The car can’t move for now,” Yan Xu explained.

“What do we do? The crew is waiting for us,” Wang Zuxian’s anxiety intensified.

“No problem. I’ll call the crew to come pick us up,” Yan Xu said, pulling out his phone. But upon checking the screen, he froze.

“What’s wrong?” Wang Zuxian asked again, noticing his pause.

“No signal,” Yan Xu replied helplessly. The old-fashioned phone was frustrating—any slight remoteness meant no reception. Compared to modern networks, this was a glaring limitation.

“Ah! What do we do?” Wang Zuxian, still a young girl, felt vulnerable in the desolate mountains, with the darkening sky and steady rain pressing down. She could only rely on Yan Xu.

“We’re halfway up East Gouya, about twenty minutes by car from the crew’s location. We’ll drive as far as the car can go, then walk the rest. It shouldn’t take more than an hour,” Yan Xu proposed. Staying here in the cold mountain with the car’s heater unable to last long was unthinkable, especially with the crew waiting.

“Okay,” Wang Zuxian nodded, resigned to the plan under the increasingly dark sky.

They drove a short distance, but within five minutes, the shaking became unbearable. Sharing a glance, they knew they had to walk the rest.

They locked the car, sharing one umbrella, huddling close. Wang Zuxian leaned almost entirely against Yan Xu, linking her arm through his. Their closeness lent a faint warmth to the cold, rainy night.

Despite the chill, Yan Xu gave Wang Zuxian most of the umbrella’s cover, leaving nearly half his body exposed to the rain. Yet he felt nothing but heat.

The surrounding darkness was complete, broken only by the sound of raindrops pattering on leaves. With only a small flashlight in Wang Zuxian’s hand to guide them, Yan Xu furtively observed her.

Wang Zuxian wore tall boots with high heels, making her already statuesque figure nearly as tall as Yan Xu’s.

Perhaps out of fear of the dark and unknown surroundings, she clung tightly to Yan Xu’s arm holding the umbrella, her small body pressed close. Yan Xu could clearly feel the softness of her arm and hear her nervous, quick breaths. His gaze traced every pore on her delicate face, every expression, even the fine strands of hair near her earlobe.

“Don’t look around, watch the road!” Wang Zuxian noticed his obvious staring and chided him with a blush.

“I’m not looking around, I’m looking at you,” Yan Xu boldly replied, emboldened by the darkness and their solitude.

“Looking at me? What’s so interesting?” Wang Zuxian, surprised by his frankness, blushed deeply and lowered her head shyly.

“Of course you’re interesting. You’re so beautiful that even if I looked at you forever, it wouldn’t be enough,” Yan Xu confessed, throwing caution aside. There was no one else around, and Wang Zuxian wouldn’t dare wander off alone.

“You smooth talker,” Wang Zuxian said, lightly pinching him while wearing a sweet smile, hidden by the night’s shadows.