Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 577 The Little Demon 38

The commotion of the final episode of "The Palm and the Back of the Hand" still seemed to echo in her ears—applause, cheers, the heartfelt embrace between Luo Yunshuang and her sister, and Bai Muchen's deep gaze across the crowd, its meaning unclear… When Yun Chu stepped out of Beijing Airport with her suitcase, she felt a mix of exhaustion and relief after a long journey.

After getting home and settling in, she looked at the message Chi Jingchen had sent her earlier on her phone screen—"I spent the whole day shooting promotional photos today, my throat is a little tired, but seeing the fans' enthusiasm makes it all worthwhile. I miss you." —These few words were like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples that couldn't be ignored.

In that instant, a thought emerged with crystal clarity: she was going to find him. Not by sending her concern from afar through a screen, but by stepping directly into his warmth and giving him a pure surprise.

Without much hesitation, Yun Chu immediately began booking tickets.

There are many routes between Shenzhen and Beijing, so she chose a weekday morning flight.

She packed her luggage quickly and efficiently—besides the necessary changes of clothes and toiletries, she made a point of packing two bags of dried fruit that Chi Jingchen had mentioned liking.

The heatwave in Shenzhen is completely different from that in Beijing, carrying the unique humidity and vibrancy of the southern coast.

Yun Chu hailed a car and headed straight to the hotel where Chi Jingchen was staying. She deliberately didn't inform anyone beforehand and waited in a corner of the hotel lobby's coffee bar.

Time passed little by little.

Just as Yun Chu was holding the cooled lemonade and looking out the window at the sun-baked street with a bit of nervousness, a familiar figure appeared—Chi Jingchen was wearing a loose black T-shirt and sweatpants from rehearsals, his forehead hair was wet with sweat, and he was walking quickly through the revolving door with his head down, looking slightly tired.

Yun Chu stood up, without calling out, and simply walked gently toward him.

When he was a few steps away from him, Chi Jingchen seemed to sense something and looked up.

In that instant, the weariness in his eyes vanished like fireworks ignited in a flash, replaced by unbelievable surprise, followed by an overwhelming joy as unreserved as the summer sun.

Almost instinctively, he opened his arms, strode across the last distance between them, and pulled her into his embrace.

"Chu Chu!" His voice was hoarse from rehearsals, yet trembled slightly with excitement. He hugged her tightly, as if holding a lost treasure he had found again. "How... Oh my god! How did you get here?"

He buried his face deep in the crook of her neck, taking a deep breath, as if to confirm that this was not an illusion.

The lobby was air-conditioned, but it couldn't mask the warmth emanating from him and that familiar scent—slightly sweaty and sun-kissed. The embrace was firm and long, silently expressing all the longing that had accumulated amidst their busy schedules.

Yun Chu's appearance undoubtedly injected fresh energy into Chi Jingchen's heavy commercial performance schedule.

Chi Jingchen happened to have no scheduled work that afternoon.

Like any ordinary young couple, they hid in their hotel room and ordered local famous sweet soups and rice noodle rolls for delivery, leaning back on the sofa and sharing their experiences from the past month apart.

Yun Chu recounted amusing anecdotes from the show, including the awkward silence and amusement caused by Bai Muchen's "meticulous instruction" while fishing at the beach, and Luo Yunshuang's lively expressions when she complained about a guest's gossip.

Chi Jingchen talked about his busy schedule both on and off stage, occasionally complaining that the fans' pursuit was too intense and added to his pressure. However, with Yun Chu's quiet listening and occasional witty comments, that pressure seemed to be gently dissolved.

The next day, Chi Jingchen had an important fan meeting and rehearsal.

Yun Chu did not disturb his work, but waited in the backstage lounge.

During breaks in the event, Chi Jingchen would briefly run back to the dressing room, sometimes hurriedly slipping her a small pastry, sometimes just ruffling her hair, leaving a reassuring smile before rushing back to the stage. That unspoken understanding and care warmed her heart.

Dinner time is especially precious.

Chi Jingchen would make a point of setting aside time for himself.

One evening, he took her to a Chaozhou-style congee shop hidden in an alley. The rice grains were cooked until they were as smooth as silk, and it was decorated with sweet shrimp and crab and tender oysters.

Yun Chu ate heartily, her eyes shining, her face beaming with pure joy from the food. Chi Jingchen watched her, a gentle smile always on his lips, while he himself only drank a small bowl. "Just looking at you makes me full," he said half-jokingly.

Another night was spent in an open-air bar with a view of the city center's dazzling nightscape. With a slightly salty evening breeze blowing, we didn't need to say much. We just watched the city lights turn side by side, and our hands naturally clasped together under the table.

The brief reunion always goes by too quickly. The two days, seemingly spent in blissful bliss, passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time to part. Chi Jingchen was about to fly to Europe for a brand promotion event.

On the morning of their departure, dawn was breaking. Traffic was sparse on the airport expressway. Inside the car, both were somewhat silent. It wasn't until they reached the security checkpoint that Chi Jingchen firmly grasped Yun Chu's hand.

"Take care of yourself," he said in a low, solemn voice. "Message me anytime if anything happens, don't worry about the time difference. Wait for me to come back." His eyes held the helplessness of parting, but even more so, the certainty of their reunion.

Yun Chu nodded vigorously, giving her one last light and blessing-filled hug, like the moment she sheathed her sword on the show, carrying a silent strength: "Okay, have a safe journey and take care. When you come back, we'll go eat at that private kitchen you said you really wanted to try last time."

There wasn't much lingering affection; the airport announcements urged them to hurry on their journey, but the longing in each other's eyes was enough to fill the emptiness of the next few days.

The plane landed in Beijing, and Yun Chu dragged her suitcase back to her familiar residence.

The house was quiet, with only sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows drawing large squares on the floor.

Luo Yunshuang, the older sister, is busy filming in Hengdian. Her phone keeps sending her leaked photos or voice messages, complaining about how heavy the ancient costume headdress is or sharing interesting stories from the set.

Yun Chu put down her luggage and sat on the sofa for a long time.

The room was completely quiet, a stark contrast to the noise of the show, the summer heat of Shenzhen, and the bustling atmosphere of the hotel. She first packed her luggage and put the two boxes of dried fruit that Chi Jingchen had praised as delicious but which she hadn't finished eating into the cupboard.

Then, she pulled out the economics book she had only read halfway through and brewed a cup of slightly bitter jasmine tea.

The city outside the window was still bustling, but in her little world, there was only the rustling of turning pages and the rising steam of tea.

During this time, there was an eerie calm, like the eye of a storm. She didn't need to think about anything, didn't need to worry about the cameras, and didn't need to rush to the next destination.

Just like that, time and thoughts flowed slowly in the sunlight, between the pages of the book, in the warmth of Chi Jingchen's embrace, and in the sweetness of Shenzhen seafood congee...

Occasionally, she would walk to the window, gaze at the contrails of airplanes streaking across the distant sky, and take a sip of tea.

The taste of parting is a little bittersweet, but the warmth in my heart and the anticipation of our promised return are enough to make the silence before me feel comfortable and serene.