[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hong-kong-1984":3,"chapter-hong-kong-1984-hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-88":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},2224072,4066,"Chapter 88: On the Way Home","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>Cheng Long, wrapped in a thick coat, rubbed his hands together and said with a laugh to Xiang Fei, \"Ah Fei, filming one of your movies nearly cost me my life; don't ask me again next time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Hong Jinbao nodded in agreement beside him, saying, \"Exactly! I nearly met my end in that ice water; how much ginseng soup will I need to drink to recover?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Lin Zhengying, a cigarette dangling from his lips, still looked somewhat pale but smiled calmly, \"Ah Fei, call me again for your next ghost film, but skip the scenes in the water; that's too life-shortening.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anita Mui, arm-in-arm with Zhang Zhang Guorong, both bundled in thick scarves, teased, \"Leslie, will you come if Ah Fei asks you to film again next time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhang Guorong feigned deep thought, then laughed, \"I'll come, but we must clarify first—are there any ice-water scenes? If so, double the pay!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing on the steps, Xiang Fei pressed his palms together, his face full of apology, \"Brothers and sisters, I truly apologize for making you suffer this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheng Long waved his hand, \"Forget it, forget it; since the filming is done anyway, if the movie doesn't sell well, you must treat us to late-night snacks for a year as compensation!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Hong Jinbao widened his eyes, \"A year? At least three years!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei nodded with a smile, \"Fine, fine, fine; never mind three years, even ten years will do!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, everyone got into their cars and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin stood beside Xiang Fei, gently taking his arm, \"Let's go, home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Xiang Fei let out a long sigh, feeling as if a tremendous burden had been lifted; exhausted, he leaned against her shoulder, \"Mm, home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the car, the heater was blasting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Driving, Zhou Zhou Huimin caught sight of Xiang Fei leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed to rest, dark circles heavy beneath them; she said softly, \"Sleep for a while; I'll wake you when we arrive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei shook his head slightly, his voice hoarse, \"I can't sleep; my mind is filled with nothing but the movie.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin sighed, \"How long has it been since you had a proper rest? If you continue like this, your health will collapse.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Xiang Fei finally said in a low voice, \"This time... I really pushed too hard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Zhou Zhou Huimin spoke with a tone of heartache, \"Do you know how worried I was when I saw the photos from the set? The actors soaking in ice water, you directing in the biting wind; everyone seemed to be risking their lives.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei opened his eyes and looked out the window at the blurring street scenery, \"But the results are excellent; it was worth it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin smiled helplessly, \"You, always with that same line.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei smiled too, reaching out to take her hand, \"You've worked hard, waiting for me all this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin gently squeezed his hand back, \"Next time, don't make me wait so long.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei nodded, \"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they entered the door, Xiang Fei collapsed directly onto the sofa without even taking off his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin squatted down to help him remove his shoes, then draped a blanket over him, \"Lie down for a while; I'll go cook some porridge for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei mumbled a vague \"Mm,\" his eyelids already too heavy to lift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Zhou Zhou Huimin turned away, she heard the sound of even breathing from behind—Xiang Fei had already fallen asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood there, quietly watching him for a moment, before tiptoeing into the kitchen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei slept straight through until the morning of the day after tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he opened his eyes, sunlight was already streaming through the curtains, the room so quiet he could hear the ticking of the clock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared blankly for a few seconds before realizing how long he had slept, then sat up abruptly, \"Zhou Huimin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin poked her head out from the kitchen, smiling, \"Awake?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei rubbed his temples, \"How long did I sleep?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin walked over and handed him a cup of warm water, \"A full thirty-six hours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the water cup, Xiang Fei looked incredulous, \"That long? Why didn't you wake me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting on the edge of the bed, Zhou Zhou Huimin laughed, \"I tried, but you wouldn't wake up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After taking a sip of water, the dryness in Xiang Fei's throat eased slightly, \"What about the film crew...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin cut him off, \"Don't worry; the assistant director has handled everything, and arrangements at the editing room are all set; the only thing you need to do now is rest properly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded, \"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin reached out to touch his face, saying softly, \"Are you hungry? I cooked some porridge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Xiang Fei feel the emptiness in his stomach; he smiled, \"Starving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin stood up, \"Wait here; I'll go serve it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching her retreating figure, a wave of warmth surged in Xiang Fei's heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down at his hands, where traces of frostbite remained, yet at this moment, he felt nothing but immense solidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin brought over a steaming bowl of preserved egg and lean meat porridge, accompanied by several small side dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei picked up his spoon and gulped down a few mouthfuls voraciously, then sighed with satisfaction, \"I'm alive again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting opposite him, Zhou Zhou Huimin rested her chin in her hand as she watched him, \"Eat slowly; no one is snatching it from you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei smiled, slowing his pace, and asked between bites, \"Did anyone look for me these past two days?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin nodded, \"Yes, Brother Long called to ask if you were awake; he said if you didn't reply to his message soon, he'd bring people over to tear the door down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei chuckled, \"That guy...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin continued, \"Anita Mui also called; she said she and Leslie have a dinner planned and asked if you wanted to join.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei shook his head, \"Not these few days; I need to finish editing the movie first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin said helplessly, \"Can't you take a few days off?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting down his spoon, Xiang Fei said seriously, \"Everyone gave their all for this movie; I cannot hold them back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at his determined eyes, Zhou Zhou Huimin finally stopped persuading him, merely saying softly, \"Then at least... finish this bowl of porridge first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei smiled, \"Okay.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the meal, Xiang Fei stood on the balcony, gazing at the distant sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin walked over and handed him a cup of hot tea, \"What are you thinking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking the tea, Xiang Fei said softly, \"Thinking about... whether this shoot was worth it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin leaned against his shoulder: \"It's worth it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei turned his head to look at her: \"So certain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin smiled: \"Because this is your film; you never disappoint.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei fell silent for a moment before murmuring, \"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhou Huimin shook her head: \"Don't thank me; thank yourself, and those actors who risked their lives alongside you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Fei nodded, squeezing her hand tight: \"Mm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunlight bathed the two of them, warm and serene.\u003C\u002Fp>",1250,"2026-06-17T20:39:14.290Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","2009d4159531183e39f7f15562b1103ad97ef3c39853814c6e027b643fd59dce","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-89","hong-kong-1984-building-a-cultural-empire-chapter-87",152,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhong-kong-1984-cover.jpg"]