The airport terminal was packed. Wei Zijin pulled her cap low, sunglasses covering half her face, and wheeled her suitcase out of arrivals. Jin Huaqi followed behind, carrying a large bag in her left hand and pulling a suitcase with her right.
The others on their team had flown back yesterday. The two of them were a day later.
The car was still in the space where they had parked before leaving. Wei Zijin opened the door, settled into the passenger seat, and stayed still. Jin Huaqi stuffed the luggage into the trunk, walked around to the driver's seat, and took her time starting the car.
"Zijin, heading home?"
Wei Zijin didn't answer.
She took off her sunglasses, leaned back in her seat, and stared blankly at the sunroof.
Those days in Beijing had gone extremely smoothly. The big stars had enjoyed talking to her, and even the award-winning actor had praised her professionalism. But every day, the moment she returned to the hotel after work and closed the door, she fell apart.
She was the one who had suggested spending some time apart to cool off.
Yet these past few days, she had felt even less calm than before.
She spaced out during meals and tossed and turned in bed. Even while scrolling on her phone, she instinctively glanced at her WeChat chat list-the last message in that pinned conversation was still from before she left.
She still remembered the sound of the door closing that morning when Wang Xiaoliang left.
It hadn't been loud. It could even have been called soft.
But that single sound had twisted through her until her whole body ached.
Several days earlier.
After Wang Xiaoliang left, the apartment was frighteningly quiet. Wei Zijin sat on the couch, gripping her phone for a