A Rushed Morning Shoot
The private elevator stopped in the basement. Wei Yu Chen stepped out quickly, his body still heavy with the remnants of sleepiness. Last night he had only slept for a short while on the sofa, and now the shooting schedule was already waiting for him.
In the parking area, a luxurious black van was neatly parked with his management company's logo on the small front glass. The driver immediately opened the back door, while his personal assistant and stylist bowed in greeting.
Yu Chen entered without saying much. As soon as the door closed, small waves of activity began.
"Morning, Ge. The costume is ready," said Jiang Fan, his manager, handing him a hanger with the shooting outfit.
Yu Chen nodded briefly, taking the clothes. Without a shower or any lengthy routine, he changed quickly inside the van, which had been transformed into a mini dressing room. The assistant sprayed a fresh fragrance, masking the trace of fatigue.
While putting on a crisp white shirt and a tailored elegant suit, he glanced at his reflection in the car window. His hair was slightly tousled, but with a few quick touches from the stylist, the look was flawless again.
"If only I could sleep five more minutes…" Yu Chen muttered, half joking but full of exhaustion.
Jiang Fan chuckled lightly. "You're a big star, Ge. There's no such thing as enough rest for people like us."
The car sped through the morning traffic, heading toward the filming location. Outside, the sun had just risen, but for Wei Yu Chen, the day had already felt long since last night.
Yet behind the polished, cold face he wore for the camera, one shadow still lingered in his mind: that strange girl with a flushed face from being drunk, now sound asleep in his penthouse bed.
A Confusing Awakening
Sunlight filtered through thin curtains, stinging the eyes of Wang Xiaoxi, who was still half-asleep. She winced, her head heavy as if struck by a hammer. Her body sank into a soft mattress that felt too comfortable—too comfortable for the cramped apartment she called home.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a high ceiling with a glittering crystal chandelier. She blinked several times, then turned her head. Cold ivory satin sheets, silk-covered pillows, and a giant glass window showing a panoramic city view.
"Eh… where… am I?" she muttered hoarsely.
She suddenly sat up. Her hair was a mess, her face still crumpled from a hangover. Panic filled her as she looked around—a wide room, luxurious furniture, minimalist modern décor. Definitely not her room.
Her memory tried to rewind. The alcohol bottle in the park… last night's frustration… and then… a vague figure.
Xiaoxi grabbed her head, ruffling her hair in frustration. "Oh my God! Don't tell me I… I got kidnapped?!"
But then her eyes fell on the blanket neatly covering her body. No signs of harm. In fact, the blanket was carefully tucked.
Her face flushed. If it wasn't kidnapping… then who on earth was crazy enough to bring me somewhere this luxurious?
She stood up shakily, her foot almost tripping on the thick carpet by the bed. Stumbling, she walked toward the large mirror in the corner of the room. Her reflection stared back—puffy eyes, flushed cheeks, hair like a mop.
"Ugh… if anyone sees me like this, my life is over," she groaned, grabbing a pillow and covering her face.
But before she could calm down, her ears caught a faint sound from outside the room—someone arranging tableware in the dining area.
Xiaoxi froze. "Oh my God… don't tell me someone's here…"
A Breakfast of Shock
With slow, cautious steps, Wang Xiaoxi walked out of the bedroom. The aroma of coffee and toasted bread greeted her from the spacious dining area. There, a middle-aged woman wearing a neat apron—Aunt Li—was setting the table.
The moment Aunt Li saw Xiaoxi appear, she nearly dropped the porcelain plate in her hands. "Miss…?" she stammered, eyes widening in disbelief.
Xiaoxi, still half-conscious and her head heavy from last night's drinking, could only nod quickly without a word. Her expression resembled a malfunctioning robot. A nervous smile appeared as her hand waved awkwardly, as if saying: yes, it's me, please don't ask further.
Aunt Li hurried to pull out a chair. "Please, sit down, Miss. Breakfast is ready."
Xiaoxi sat stiffly, like a student caught skipping class. In front of her was toast, a sunny-side-up egg, and a glass of fresh orange juice. The scent of warm coffee filled the air—a scene that should've felt peaceful, but for her was filled with tension.
She picked up her fork and ate quickly yet clumsily. Every time Aunt Li looked at her, Xiaoxi responded with repeated nods—trying to appear calm, though inside she was screaming in panic.
"Thank you… it's delicious, Auntie," she said briefly while swallowing fast, her voice nearly choking.
The clock on the wall made her heart pound harder. 8:00 a.m.
"Oh my God! I'm going to be late!" she gasped, almost choking on her orange juice.
She stood abruptly, grabbed her small bag, and rushed toward the door. "Thank you for breakfast, Auntie! I—I have to go to work! Please don't tell anyone I was here, okay?!"
Aunt Li was left speechless, her lips parted but no words came out. In her shock, she even forgot to deliver the young master's message—that Xiaoxi was supposed to wait.
The penthouse door closed with a soft click, leaving Aunt Li still frozen in the dining room. She clutched a napkin tightly, her eyes staring blankly at the door.
"Since when… did the young master bring a girl home… and now she's leaving just like that? Oh my…"
The Office and Mr. Wang Gil's Nagging
The moment her hurried steps entered the office lobby, Wang Xiaoxi was greeted by a loud, piercing voice.
"Xiaoxi! Where have you been all night? Look at your face—wrinkled! Don't tell me you stayed up binge-watching dramas again?!" scolded Mr. Wang Gil, the middle-aged manager infamous for nagging like a broken alarm clock.
His finger jabbed at the schedule board on his tablet. "At eleven, you have a meeting at X Dragon Studio. Write it down! Don't be late again, I don't want the producer calling just to hear excuses about missing the bus or taking the wrong elevator!"
Xiaoxi nodded quickly, her face still pale from the hangover. In her head, Mr. Wang Gil's words sounded like a flock of sparrows chattering without pause.
God, you idiot, Xiaoxi! she cursed inwardly. You got drunk, slept at someone else's house… whose house even was that?! Dear God, where was your brain last night?!
She didn't even catch most of Mr. Wang Gil's long sentences. The only words that made it into her foggy mind were: "meeting… eleven o'clock… don't be late… professional…"
Xiaoxi sighed deeply, patting her cheeks gently to wake herself up. But still, in her heart, she could only curse at herself.
"Xiaoxi, are you listening?!" Wang Gil barked at last.
"Eh—yes, yes, Sir! Got it, eleven, X Dragon Studio!" Xiaoxi answered quickly, though she hadn't written a single note.
Mr. Wang Gil let out a long exasperated breath, then turned away dramatically like a teacher tired of scolding a troublesome student.
Xiaoxi stared at his retreating back and whispered under her breath, "Why is my life like this…"