Chapter 57: Street Couple

This apartment was an old-style building, with steep stairs and dim lighting. With both doors on each floor closed, the silence made her hearing feel ten times sharper.

Meng Ying turned a corner and caught a glimpse of a tall figure leaning against the wall at the stairwell, smoking.

He hadn’t left yet.

Meng Ying watched for a few seconds, then quickened her pace, heading up to the second floor and unlocking her door.

The lights inside made the place feel much cozier. She sat on the rocking chair and swayed gently.

Swiss architecture had a Romanesque style, with simple, clean lines that gave off a 90s vibe. The apartment she was staying in was no exception, complete with a fireplace and other vintage touches. The breeze from the balcony curtains made Meng Ying feel drowsy. She had once said that the heart follows its own path.

She wanted to control her own heart. Going to Mount Futuo was about seeking clarity and understanding what she truly wanted. While she hated Xu Dian for his deception.

She also hated herself for losing herself in the relationship, for not realizing she was just a substitute.

If she hadn’t left back then.

She might have gone mad in Li City.

But after the past year with Xu Dian, she had learned to control her emotions. She no longer put love first. There were so many other things she could do, and she believed that in the future, whether she started a new relationship or entered into a marriage.

She would always stay true to herself.

She could walk away from a toxic relationship at any time.

That was what she wanted.

The rocking chair creaked as it swayed. Meng Ying rested her hand on the back of her head, a smile playing on her lips as she hummed a song softly.

“I’m still that same young boy, not a single bit changed. Time is just a test, but the seeds in my heart remain untouched.” Her voice was soft, giving the song a tender, lingering quality. It wasn’t as bright or high-pitched, but it carried a gentle, enchanting tone.

Without listening to the lyrics, one might think it was a love song, yet it also had a sense of freedom.

Downstairs.

The slanting streetlight illuminated the apartment entrance. Xu Dian leaned against the wall, smoking leisurely, listening to the song drifting down from the second floor. Each note struck his heart, making it race.

Smoke curled around him.

Xu Dian crouched down, his long fingers tracing on the ground.

【Meng Ying】

Shall we fall in love?

Hmm?

The next day, Meng Ying wasn’t late. She arrived at the villa early and went straight to the third floor. As she pushed the door open, she saw Qiao Qi sitting on the floor, playing a game. He glanced up briefly. “You’re here?”

“Where’s the teacher?” Meng Ying asked, sitting down across from Qiao Qi. Qiao Qi was busy playing a game and didn’t look up again. “Probably still asleep.”

The doors on the second floor were all closed.

Meng Ying nodded.

She took out her phone to look at the script for the drama she was going to film after returning to China. It was a small-budget urban workplace drama, but the story was rich and well-developed, with only twenty-four episodes.

Carrying the script around was inconvenient, so she read the digital version.

After the game ended, Qiao Qi looked up at the woman sitting across from him. Today, she was wearing a black V-neck top with fitted pants, her waist faintly visible, her skin fair. Qiao Qi leaned toward Meng Ying, propping himself up with one hand on the floor, his eyes fixed on her. “Meng Ying, good morning.”

Meng Ying, absorbed in her phone, was startled by the voice. She looked up to find Qiao Qi smiling, his face uncomfortably close. She leaned back slightly.

“What are you doing?”

Qiao Qi raised an eyebrow. “Your lips are really pretty.”

His gaze lingered on her crimson lips.

“Oh, yours too.”

Meng Ying replied indifferently.

Qiao Qi was also handsome, in a carefree, roguish way. His eyes were narrow, and perhaps because he smiled often, he didn’t exude much authority. Unlike Xu Dian, who always seemed to be on the verge of smiling or carried a sense of detachment even when he did. Xu Dian always had an air of mystery, even when he smiled, making him seem inscrutable.

Qiao Qi, on the other hand, seemed more approachable.

“Tsk,” he leaned closer again, his eyes still fixed on her. “I’m still single.”

“And?”

Meng Ying responded coolly.

Qiao Qi raised a finger, intending to touch Meng Ying’s chin, but she blocked him with her phone. “Qiao, behave.”

He glanced at the phone.

Then, raising an eyebrow, he sat back, resting his hand on his bent knee. “Why aren’t you blushing at all?”

Meng Ying smiled.

She lowered her head and continued reading the script.

After a while, Zhao Yue and Zhu Min’er came in one after the other, with Hu Ye entering last. Hu Ye picked up the notebook on the table, flipped through it, checked the progress, and then paced around, deep in thought.

Meng Ying and the others sat quietly, watching Hu Ye think. Zhu Min’er glanced toward the door a few times before leaning over to ask Meng Ying, “Isn’t your Young Master Xu coming today?”

Meng Ying looked at her, and Zhu Min’er coughed, her eyes darting around as if she didn’t care.

Meng Ying smiled and said, “I don’t know about that. Why don’t you ask the teacher?”

“I was just asking,” Zhu Min’er said, sitting up straight, her back rigid. Hu Ye finally stopped pacing. He glanced at the four of them and then said, “Switzerland is a very romantic and leisurely country. It’s perfect for living, dating, and falling in love.”

“And as actors, emotions are inseparable from your work.” He sat down, tapping his notebook at each of them from left to right. “You’ll pair up and act as couples for three days. Qiao Qi with Meng Ying, Zhao Yue with Zhu Min’er.”

The four of them were stunned.

Huh?

Zhu Min’er glanced at Zhao Yue, her face immediately turning red. “Teacher, what can you even do in three days?”

“Tsk, what did I say?” Qiao Qi said, reaching out to grab Meng Ying.

Meng Ying dodged quickly, but Hu Ye happened to look up at them and said, “Looks like you two are getting into character fast?”

“Teacher, I’m ready anytime,” Qiao Qi said, turning to wink at Meng Ying. Meng Ying raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond.

Over on the other side, Zhao Yue didn’t seem too pleased. He opened his mouth several times but eventually closed it. Hu Ye closed his notebook and stood up, saying, “Today, we’ll go outside. I’ll observe how you act as couples.”

“Oh, and the cameraman,” Hu Ye glanced at Meng Ying, “he’s still in a meeting. He might join us later. Let’s go first.”

With that, he got up and walked out.

The four of them in the classroom looked at each other, then followed suit. As soon as Meng Ying stood up, her hand was grabbed by Qiao Qi. She froze for a few seconds, resisting the urge to pull her hand back, and followed Hu Ye downstairs.

When they reached the first floor.

Mi Xue was watering the plants. She turned around and saw them holding hands as they came down, smiling. “Good luck.”

Of the two pairs, only Qiao Qi responded with a laugh, “We will.”

Then he tightened his grip on Meng Ying’s hand, his narrow eyes filled with amusement. Meng Ying glanced at him and turned her head away.

There were two cars, and the five of them got in, heading to the city center.

The car stopped on Clock Street. Meng Ying looked out at the bustling street. This was the shopping district, with a decent flow of people but not too crowded. There were people of all races, and she spotted quite a few Asian faces. Acting as a couple in a place like this was definitely a challenge. She looked away, opened the door, and got out of the car. As soon as she stood up, Qiao Qi walked over and stood beside her, looking down at her with a smile.

Hu Ye also got out of the car and gestured, saying, “Acting starts now. Act like a normal couple. Remember to put your heart into it. Conflicts, backstories—you figure it out.”

With that, he sat down on a bench, crossing his long legs, and watched them.

The two cars had already driven off, leaving the four of them standing on the side of the road, slightly bewildered. Qiao Qi was in the best state, looking eager and ready. Meng Ying glanced at him a few times, then smiled softly and gently took hold of his wrist. Their skin touched, and Meng Ying turned her head away. Qiao Qi raised an eyebrow, then slid his fingers down to clasp her soft palm.

“Where to?”

“Anywhere.”

“Let’s go buy you something,” Qiao Qi said, pulling Meng Ying up the steps. The two of them quickly got into character. Just as they reached the top, a black car pulled up. Xu Dian, dressed in a black shirt and pants, stepped out holding a camera. His eyes, behind the lenses, swept over the scene and landed on the two holding hands, as well as the dimple that appeared on Meng Ying’s cheek when she turned to talk to Qiao Qi.

In the next second, his expression darkened as he strode up the steps, heading straight for them. Hu Ye saw this and quickly stood up, blocking Xu Dian’s path.

Xu Dian narrowed his eyes. “Move.”

His voice was low and cold.

Hu Ye smiled and said, “Do you still want to be the cameraman?”

“They’re acting as a couple for three days. She struggles to separate empathy from technique, so I’m teaching her to master the technique. Since you’re here, start filming.”

“If you can’t even handle this, how are you going to stay by her side for the long haul?” Hu Ye’s last sentence carried a hint of provocation. Xu Dian’s jaw tightened as he continued to stare in the direction of the café, where Meng Ying sat at a table, propping her chin on her hand, waiting for Qiao Qi to order coffee.

Her side profile showed long eyelashes, curved brows, and a fair neck—all things that had once belonged exclusively to him.

Xu Dian’s chest felt heavy. He spoke word by word, “Fine, I’ll endure.”

With that, he shoved Hu Ye aside and walked into the café, pushing the door open. The lenses of his glasses gleamed as he coldly took a seat in the chair across from Meng Ying, lifting the camera to point it at her.

His sudden appearance.

Startled Meng Ying. Her eyes blinked as they met the lens. His fingers gripping the camera were long and slender, his lips pressed into a thin line.

His presence was overwhelming and intimidating, his entire demeanor cold and unyielding.

It didn’t feel like he was here to film.

It felt like he was here to catch someone in the act.

He tugged at his collar, his peach-blossom eyes shifting away from the camera to glance at her. Their eyes met, and Meng Ying actually caught a hint of resentment in his gaze.

She frowned. Just then, Qiao Qi returned with two cups of coffee, standing by the table and handing one to her. Qiao Qi’s gaze then shifted to the side, landing on Xu Dian. “Oh, Young Master Xu.”

Xu Dian didn’t say a word, didn’t even glance at him, completely ignoring him.

Qiao Qi smiled and sat down beside Meng Ying, placing a hand on her shoulder and propping his chin up as he looked at her. “Where should we go? Do you want to buy a watch?”

Meng Ying took a sip of her coffee, pulling her gaze away from the camera to look at Qiao Qi. She smiled, her eyes curving. “No, I just want you to stay with me.”

“How can that be? I want to buy you something as a keepsake. It’s rare to come to Geneva, and the most famous thing here is watches. How about we get matching ones?” Qiao Qi’s expression turned genuinely affectionate, as if she were the only one in his eyes. Meng Ying met his gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Alright.”

That faint blush on her face.

Xu Dian, behind the camera, saw it all too clearly. His jaw tightened, his expression icy, but he had no choice but to keep filming.

He was too scared to look, yet he couldn’t look away.

Was he angry?

Was this guy even Chinese?

Was he really the cameraman?

Qiao Qi pushed open the door, and Meng Ying walked out. Qiao Qi glanced at the camera with a smile. The tall man, his shirt collar slightly askew, revealed only a tense jawline, exuding a chilling aura. Qiao Qi smiled again, then wrapped his arm around Meng Ying’s waist.

Behind the camera, Xu Dian’s eyes narrowed. He closed his eyes for a moment.

Hu Ye approached at that moment, walking beside him, his tone tinged with pity. “How about you switch with my assistant and go film Zhu Min’er’s pair?”

His assistant was responsible for filming the other couple, whose progress was clearly slower than Meng Ying and Qiao Qi’s. They were still stiff and hadn’t fully gotten into character.

Xu Dian opened his eyes, giving Hu Ye a brief, cold glance, then silently followed, holding the camera as he filmed her trying on watches, looking up at Qiao Qi with a smile, shaking her head and playfully saying she didn’t want this one, let’s try another. The way she looked at Qiao Qi was sweet, just like how she used to look at him, her eyes filled with adoration.

Now, her eyes were filled with Qiao Qi.

Qiao Qi’s gaze at Meng Ying also grew increasingly tender.

Meng Ying felt herself getting into character too. Her cheeks flushed as she put on a watch, then took Qiao Qi’s hand and walked out of the watch store. Qiao Qi tugged her back, and she stopped, looking into his narrow eyes. Qiao Qi said, “How about a kiss?”

Meng Ying blinked, and after a few seconds, she took two steps forward.

Rising onto her tiptoes.

But just then.

A loud *clang* came from behind.

Meng Ying spun around.

The bulky camera had crashed into a trash can, the entire bin teetering precariously. Xu Dian’s eyes were bloodshot, and in the next second, he strode forward, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him. He cupped her face with both hands, his voice desperate. “Don’t look at him like that.”

“Look at me, Meng Ying. Look at me, please.”

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