[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hong-kong-1984":3,"chapter-hong-kong-1984-hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-52":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hong Kong 1984",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2224036,4066,"Chapter 52: Buying a Car","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-52",52,"\u003Cp>At half past nine in the morning, sunlight like molten gold streamed through the gaps in the pale curtains. Xiang Qian opened his eyes and instinctively reached for the spot beside him—it still held warmth, but Zhou Zhou Huimin was no longer in bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint sounds came from the kitchen; he slipped on his robe and walked over to find Zhou Zhou Huimin standing on tiptoe, searching for coffee beans in the cupboard. The strap of her silk nightgown had slipped down to her elbow, revealing the graceful lines of her shoulder and neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why up so early?\" Xiang Qian wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on top of her head. Zhou Zhou Huimin carried a faint scent of jasmine, the fragrance of the body wash he had given her the night before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin turned around and pressed the coffee canister into his hands. \"Didn't someone say they were going to buy a car today?\" She blinked. \"I even set an alarm specially.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Qian chuckled softly and turned on the gas stove. \"Breakfast first.\" Fried eggs sizzled in the pan, their yolks trembling slightly. He flipped them with practiced ease, the edges of the whites turning a crispy golden brown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glass curtain walls of the Kowloon Bay Auto City glittered under the sun. Just as Xiang Qian removed his sunglasses, the showroom manager hurried over, his suit and tie unable to conceal his excitement. \"Master Wu! Miss Zhou! I never expected you two to come in person!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air conditioning in the Mercedes showroom was strong, and Zhou Zhou Huimin unconsciously rubbed her arms. Noticing this detail, Xiang Qian casually took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This car suits me,\" Xiang Qian said, patting the leather seat of the Mercedes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Zhou Zhou Huimin's fingertips traced the streamlined body of a Ferrari Testarossa. The fiery red paint reflected her image like a burning flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you like it?\" Xiang Qian asked, having appeared behind her without her noticing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin's eyes sparkled. \"Doesn't it look like the one in *Miami Vice*?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sales manager interjected at the right moment. \"Miss Zhou has excellent taste! This is a special edition, limited globally...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Name your price.\" Xiang Qian had already taken out his checkbook. The pen scratched across the paper; the manager stared at the figure, his Adam's apple bobbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want both cars now.\" Xiang Qian tore off the check. \"Can the licensing procedures be completed today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the red Ferrari pulled out of the dealership, passersby stopped to stare. A young girl pointed at the license plate and exclaimed, \"It's Ah Min! The initials of Zhou Zhou Huimin's English name!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin rolled down the window, the sea breeze brushing through her long hair. In the rearview mirror, the black Mercedes business van followed steadily behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Turn right ahead!\" She suddenly pointed down a narrow alley. \"I remember there's a wonton noodle shop here that's absolutely amazing!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noodle shop owner looked up, and upon seeing the two stars walk in, the remote control in his hand clattered to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two bowls of fresh shrimp wonton noodles,\" Xiang Qian said, finding a seat with familiarity. The plastic chair groaned under his weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the owner brought the noodles over, he couldn't help but ask, \"Miss Zhou, how did you film the ancient city collapse special effects? It looked so real!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We built a 1:1 practical set,\" Zhou Zhou Huimin said, breaking apart her disposable chopsticks. \"The pyrotechnics team used three tons of explosives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the apartment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What time is the flight tomorrow?\" Xiang Qian asked, sitting on the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seven in the morning,\" Zhou Zhou Huimin sighed. \"I have to get up at four to do my makeup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suitcase was already packed. Zhou Zhou Huimin was blow-drying her hair in the bathroom; amidst the humming noise, she heard Xiang Qian on the phone. She turned off the dryer, her wet hair still dripping. Xiang Qian picked up a towel to help dry her hair. \"I'll drive you to the airport tomorrow.\" His fingers threaded through her strands. \"Besides, two months is too long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bedside lamp was dimmed to its lowest setting. Zhou Zhou Huimin curled up in Xiang Qian's arms, counting the buttons on his shirt. \"Wang Pangzi said it's currently minus ten degrees in Shaanxi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've prepared a mink-fleece coat for you,\" Xiang Qian said, his palm resting against her lower back. \"And heating pads as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Will there be any altitude sickness?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A medical team will be accompanying us the entire way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Zhou Zhou Huimin suddenly looked up. \"Actually, you are worried that...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her unfinished words were sealed by a kiss. Xiang Qian's fingertips traced the small mole on her collarbone, a secret known only to him. Outside the window, the lights of Weiduoliyagang gradually extinguished, while the story belonging to them was just turning to a new, romantic chapter.\u003C\u002Fp>",838,"2026-06-17T20:39:14.290Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","82c36d5345d631bac3c133a683b409c5d31e0c7dbd2f8db1053e44d28d532b90","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-53","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-51",152,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhong-kong-1984-cover.jpg"]