After the car came to a stop, the two got out. The studio was not far away.
Wu had disappeared, leaving only a shadow quietly resting on the ground. It looked perfectly ordinary.
On the way back, Jiang Cheng's reassurances had helped lift the Fatty's spirits. But that only lasted until they reached the studio. Once they went inside and saw the mess, with signs of their everyday life everywhere, their mood sank again. One of Huai Yi's jackets was still draped over the back of the sofa.
Several pairs of shoes sat by the door. The sneakers on the far right belonged to Huai Yi. Fatty had picked them out for him the last time they went shopping at the supermarket. Huai Yi had complained that they looked too tacky, like something an old man would wear on a stroll, but he'd bought them in the end.
More than a dozen empty beer cans still littered the kitchen floor. Just a few days ago, they'd all been drinking and celebrating together.
But life was unpredictable. Back then, no one could have imagined that when they returned to the studio, only two of them would be left.
"Doctor." Fatty turned to Jiang Cheng and forced himself to rub his face, then managed an awkward smile. "Don't be sad. Huai Yi's still here. He's just trapped in that car, same as Brother Wang Qi. We'll definitely get them out." He paused, then rallied himself. "Soon."
"That's right." Jiang Cheng played along, casually undoing his buttons. He tossed his clothes aside and sat on the sofa, speaking with mock envy. "That kid's pretty lucky. He gets to leave the two of us behind to carry on, while he hides away and enjoys the good life by himself."
Hearing Jiang Cheng, Fatty couldn't