That night, Zhao Pingjin didn’t return.

Xi Tang got up in the morning and went back to the set to film.

The next day, Ni Kailun came to the hotel with a large stack of contract documents.

Xi Tang finished filming and signed the documents one by one in the hotel until her hand ached: “So much work?”

Ni Kailun said quietly: “Wu Zhenzhen is getting married. The company wants to promote you to first-tier status.”

Xi Tang was shocked: “Why is she suddenly getting married!”

Assistant Xiao Ning peeked in from outside.

Ni Kailun made a hushing sound: “A wealthy Beijing businessman. He had extremely high standards but finally agreed to marry her. Wu Zhenzhen has gone all out—she says she won’t act any more after marriage.”

Xi Tang nodded. She had gotten what she wanted; as long as she was happy.

Ni Kailun said: “The wedding invitations will be sent out in the next couple of days. Among the female colleagues at the company, only you, me, and Xin Hui received one.”

On the set, from the Jin family’s grand mansion, Xi Tang gazed out from the courtyard, looking at Beijing’s bright early winter—the rare transparent blue on the horizon, the red carved eaves and brackets, and a sparrow perched on the green glazed tiles.

Wu Zhenzhen’s wedding invitation had already been delivered, with warm, bustling gold-embossed text. Another actress successfully “getting ashore”—whether it was fortune or misfortune, it was certainly a new beginning.

Zhao Pingjin had been in a state of disappearance since the night of his birthday.

Xi Tang had called him twice, but he hadn’t answered.

She eventually turned off her phone, feeling ashamed of herself.

The weather had been good these days, with bright sunshine. The filming schedule was tight, with everyone working day and night, hoping to complete the preliminary shooting by December.

Yin Nan was smoking in his makeup room and called to her as she passed by: “Xi Ye, come in. Want some of this grass?”

Xi Tang smiled and pushed the door open to enter.

Yin Nan had only recently joined the crew. His early scenes were few, and several scenes where the Grand Princess had to perform Beijing Opera were scheduled for later filming. So among the exhausted faces of people who had been working continuously for over a month, suddenly seeing such a vibrant face stirred something in Xi Tang’s heart. Today, Yin Nan wore a silver-gray waistcoat from the show, his face made up, presenting a stunningly handsome appearance. His legs were propped on the sofa as he exhaled smoke. During the filming break, several actors gathered in Yin Nan’s room, chatting, drinking tea, and smoking. Xi Tang sat down, and someone handed her a cigarette.

Xi Tang collapsed onto the sofa, not needing to speak. The crew had plenty of eccentric people. Her fingers slid across the photo album on her phone.

She glanced at a photo in the album.

Took a drag of the cigarette.

The smoke swirled, stinging her eyes a little. For a moment, she thought he still loved her.

How foolish. Ni Kailun was right; she should have woken up long ago.

Xi Tang began to lose weight.

In the drama, the Grand Princess falls in love with the zither player Dong Ge, who was originally a poor hospital orderly living in the South City. When the Grand Princess was about to participate in a charity performance for Beijing socialites, he entered the Jin family to play the zither for her. Unexpectedly, the two developed feelings through their art, leading to some ambiguous rumors. The Grand Princess had been previously engaged to the third son of the Beijing Police Chief. The Song family was hurrying the marriage. Later, Dong Ge suddenly disappeared overnight, along with his empty house in the South City, leaving no trace. The Grand Princess seemed to have lost her soul, marrying into the Song family in a daze. On the day she got into the sedan chair, she was still asking if Mr. Dong had come.

Director Feng Jiasu was very satisfied with Xi Tang’s performance during this period, especially the scene where Old Seven Shun Quan accompanied the Grand Princess to the South City. Under winter’s gloomy gray clouds, facing a desolate garden, an old crow landed on the only jujube tree branch that had lost all its leaves. As the wind blew dust towards her, the Grand Princess’s legs weakened, and she collapsed on the dirty steps. Her beautiful, sorrowful face, with her large eyes staring fixedly at the camera, left only emptiness… At that moment, Feng Jiasu, sitting behind the monitor, was so stunned that he even forgot to call it “cut.”

On Thursday evening, Ni Kailun arrived in Beijing to handle the public relations for Wu Zhenzhen’s wedding banquet.

As soon as she saw Xi Tang, she said: “You’ve lost weight.”

Xi Tang acted as if nothing was wrong: “I’ve gotten a bit into character.”

Ni Kailun comfortingly touched her face: “That’s a good thing. What about the bird’s nest I brought you last week? Did Xiao Ning prepare a cup for you every day?”

Xiao Ning, taking the jewelry Ni Kailun had brought, said excitedly: “Sister Xi Tang, should I go?”

Xi Tang said: “It’s getting colder. You want to go?”

Xiao Ning asked hopefully: “Can I get in?”

Xi Tang said: “No, you can’t.”

Xiao Ning pouted: “Miss Ni told me to wait outside.”

Late Friday night, Beijing experienced a major temperature drop with strong winds since the beginning of winter, with temperatures plummeting by over ten degrees. Dust filled the air, making it difficult to open one’s eyes. The next day, the crew moved the courtyard scenes to the flower hall, adjusting the schedule to film indoor scenes instead.

From Cold Dew to Frost Descent, an entire solar term had passed.

Xi Tang finished filming in the evening and returned to the city with her assistant Xiao Ning, entering Ni Kailun’s hotel room.

She had slept a little in the car on her way back to the city. When she woke up, there was a missed call on her phone.

Xi Tang looked and saw it was Zhao Pingjin’s number. She glanced at it and put the phone down, then entered the hotel room to remove her makeup and take a shower. Soon, the makeup artist knocked and came in, while Xiao Ning spoke softly outside, asking if the formal dress needed to be ironed again.

Tonight was Wu Zhenzhen’s wedding.

Xi Tang came out wearing her formal dress. Having recently lost weight, she could freely wear a gauzy dress—a nude-colored strapless gown adorned with sequins. Xiao Ning carefully helped her put on the borrowed expensive diamond necklace, then looked in the mirror and sincerely said: “Sister Xi Tang, you’re so beautiful!”

Xi Tang felt cold on her shoulders, quickly grabbed the remote to turn up the heating in the room by a few degrees, put on a coat, and began applying makeup.

When she came downstairs with her assistant and makeup artist, Ni Kailun was waiting for her in the lobby.

Xi Tang was surprised to see her: “Hey, aren’t you at the venue?”

Ni Kailun nodded: “I came to pick you up.”

Xi Tang smiled at her: “Such an honor?”

Ni Kailun, carrying her bag, said: “Who has time for a housewife? Now you’re the company’s money tree.”

Xi Tang secretly rolled her eyes at her: “Do you have to be so blunt?”

The two walked out of the hotel, arm in arm, giggling.

Just as they reached the lobby entrance, a person approached them—a tall, handsome man in a gray overcoat, showing a snow-white shirt collar and a dark red silk jacquard tie, his face noble and cold as winter.

Ni Kailun was startled, pinching Xi Tang’s arm: “What is he doing here?”

Zhao Pingjin walked in, looked at Xi Tang, paused for two seconds, then frowned: “It’s cold outside. Put your coat on.”

Xiao Ning put the coat on her.

Zhao Pingjin nodded politely to Ni Kailun: “Miss Ni.”

Ni Kailun smiled insincerely: “What brings Mr. Zhao here?”

Zhao Pingjin spoke to Xi Tang: “Why didn’t you answer my call?”

Xi Tang was also surprised: “How did you know I was here?”

Zhao Pingjin said impatiently: “Why wouldn’t I know where you are? Your filming schedule has been delayed again and again. The director only cares about spending money. I’ve received reports from the investor’s representative that the finances are a complete mess.”

Xi Tang secretly rolled her eyes. What did this have to do with her? Did he expect to recoup all the money he’d invested in actresses’ films over the years? What a shameless capitalist.

Zhao Pingjin moved closer to her, lowered his head slightly, and revealed a faint smile: “Cursing me in your heart, aren’t you?”

Xi Tang raised her head, seeing his fair, handsome face with faint shadows under his eyes, and smiled brightly at him: “How could I? I praise your kindness every day on set, wishing you a long life and hoping you’ll invest more money in us.”

When it came to putting on a cheerful face, Huang Xi Tang had also become quite practiced. Zhao Pingjin indeed frowned: “Don’t use the tactics you use on other men on me.”

Zhao Pingjin said to Ni Kailun: “I’ll take her there.”

Ni Kailun asked: “Young Master Zhao is also attending Zhenzhen’s wedding?”

Zhao Pingjin nodded: “The company has business dealings with the groom.”

Ni Kailun smiled: “When will it be your turn to get married?”

Zhao Pingjin’s face instantly darkened.

Xi Tang glared at Ni Kailun.

Ni Kailun raised her hands: “Fine, fine, you ungrateful girl. I’m redundant now. Sooner or later, you’ll come crying to me.”

She turned smartly away, her high heels click-clacking as she walked off.

Zhao Pingjin’s car was parked outside, and Xi Tang had no choice but to get in.

After driving away from the hotel driveway onto the main road, Zhao Pingjin casually chatted: “How is your filming going?”

“Very well.”

“I’ve been busy lately.”

Xi Tang silently laughed sarcastically in her heart. Busy with his fiancée?

But on her face, she maintained a sweet smile: “Yes, I’ve been busy too. I’m at the peak of my scenes now.”

“You look beautiful in this outfit.”

“Oh, thank you.”

The two chatted at the hotel. For Wu Zhenzhen’s grand wedding, it seemed they had gone all out, inviting nearly half the entertainment industry. The groom was a well-known businessman in Beijing. With one famous and one wealthy, plus the operation of a professional PR company, the topic had been heating up for several days. Tonight was the grand finale. The hotel had cordoned off a large area early on, and laid out a red carpet, with media packed together and fans who had come after hearing the news—arguably the grandest wedding of the year-end.

Cars lined up outside the hotel, waiting for the wedding organizers to arrange their entry.

Ni Kailun had arrived earlier than them and didn’t need to pass through the media area. She had parked her car and walked over, looking into their car: “Your assistant didn’t come?”

Xi Tang said: “She can’t get in either. Let her wait outside?”

Ni Kailun’s face grew cold: “One day your soft-heartedness will be the death of you.”

Ni Kailun inspected her from head to toe, then glanced at Zhao Pingjin with annoyance: “Are you going to be on camera? Don’t make all of Xi Tang’s scenes get deleted tomorrow.”

Zhao Pingjin replied calmly: “That won’t happen.”

She no longer paid attention to them and turned to leave: “Suit yourself.”

Xi Tang took off her coat as the concierge opened the car door.

Zhao Pingjin stepped forward, holding her coat in his hand, and extended his arm courteously. Xi Tang placed her hand on his arm, and the two walked gracefully onto the red carpet.

The lights in the media area immediately flashed brilliantly.

Ni Kailun had retreated to the side early on, standing by the media barrier, silently watching the radiant couple walking slowly through the hotel corridor.

Among the onlooking fans, someone shouted Xi Tang’s name loudly.

Xi Tang turned her head in the direction of the voice, smiling softly. Today, her smile was especially beautiful.

Ni Kailun secretly frowned. Although she disliked Zhao Pingjin, she had to admit that this man possessed an unparalleled good appearance. His dignified and proud bearing surpassed any male celebrity. Xi Tang standing beside him, even in high heels, only reached his earlobe. Huang Xi Tang, that tough woman, usually unyielding and unbreakable, somehow immediately appeared graceful and delicate standing next to Zhao Pingjin. Her nude pink gauzy dress complemented Zhao Pingjin’s light gray coat, creating a warm, soft aura in Beijing’s cold wind, though both their expressions remained cool—they were truly beautiful to the extreme.

Ni Kailun secretly worried that nothing good would come from her involvement with Zhao Pingjin.

Xi Tang slowed her steps, constantly adjusting her direction in response to voices, smiling gracefully and waving elegantly.

Zhao Pingjin continued to escort her arm gentlemanly, though the corner of his mouth bore a subtle smile: “Well done, big star, quite the presence.”

Xi Tang said softly: “Can you pull my hand a bit? I’m frozen stiff and can barely walk.”

Zhao Pingjin applied some strength, quietly lifting her, and lowered his voice: “Serves you right to freeze.”