Chapter 53: A Chapter Without a Name

In the early morning, Kai Tak Airport was shrouded in thin fog. Xiang Qian stood at the VIP lane entrance, watching Zhou Huimin, Wang Jing, and Liu Furong as the crew members gradually checked in.

"The temperature swings are big over in Shaanxi, remember to bring an extra jacket." Xiang Qian tucked a cashmere scarf into Zhou Huimin's carry-on bag. "It gets cold filming at night, don't catch a chill."

Zhou Huimin smiled and pinched his cheek: "I know, Wu Mama."

Wang Jing waddled over, belly out, and thumped his chest: "Qian-zi, don't worry! With me here, I guarantee Young Lady Zhou will be taken care of properly!"

Xiang Qian glanced at him: "Especially the night shoots—don't let her stay up too late."

"Relax!" Wang Jing swore solemnly, "When I, Wang Pangzi, handle things, you still don't trust me?"

Zhou Huimin stood on tiptoe and kissed Xiang Qian on the cheek: "Two months will pass quickly, don't miss me too much."

Xiang Qian raised an eyebrow: "Who's missing you? I'm afraid you'll hold things up."

Zhou Huimin huffed, turned around, and pulled her suitcase into the security lane. Before leaving, she turned back and made a face at him.

Xiang Qian stood in place until her figure completely vanished into the crowd, then turned and left.

"Cut! Perfect!" Jackie Chan poked his head out from behind the monitor and gave Xiang Qian, who was in the middle of the set, a thumbs-up. "Qian-zi, you act so well you upstage the lead!"

Xiang Qian took off his sunglasses and tossed them to the script supervisor nearby: "Long-ge, your script isn't great—the villain dies too easily."

Jackie Chan laughed heartily, threw an arm around his shoulder, and walked toward the rest area: "Nothing I can do, audiences love seeing good triumph." He handed Xiang Qian a bottle of iced soda. "What made you suddenly want to do a cameo?"

Xiang Qian twisted off the cap and took a sip: "Idle hands are idle hands."

"Idle?" Jackie Chan raised an eyebrow. "Isn't 'Ghost Blowing Lamp 2' about to start filming?"

"Wang Pangzi took the team to Shaanxi first, and I'm not in a rush." Xiang Qian leaned back in his chair. "I've got nothing to do these two days in between."

Jackie Chan's eyes lit up: "Perfect! Tomorrow I have a car-chase scene, I'm short a stunt double—are you in?"

Xiang Qian gave him a sidelong glance: "You want me as a stunt double?"

"Not an ordinary stunt double!" Jackie Chan lowered his voice. "It's the shot where someone jumps from the fifth floor for me!"

Xiang Qian: "……"

"Just kidding!" Jackie Chan laughed heartily. "But if you really want to play, there's an explosion scene later—you can give it a try."

Xiang Qian stood up and brushed off his pants: "Forget it, I'd like to live a few more years."

In the VIP ward of Kowloon Hospital, Lin Zhengying was leaning against the headboard reading a newspaper. Seeing Xiang Qian push the door open, he immediately set the paper down: "Qian-zi? How come you're here?"

"Came to see how Ying-ge's recovery is going." Xiang Qian set the fruit basket on the bedside table and casually peeled an apple. "What did the doctor say about discharge?"

Lin Zhengying took the apple and took a bite: "Next week, probably." He sighed. "This time it was lucky to have you all."

Xiang Qian smiled: "Smoke less from now on."

Lin Zhengying suddenly thought of something: "Right, I heard 'Ghost Blowing Lamp 2' is going to Shaanxi to film?"

Xiang Qian nodded: "Yeah, Wang Pangzi already took people over."

"Lots of ancient tombs over there, and the feng shui is pretty sinister." Lin Zhengying lowered his voice. "Want me to introduce a master to you? Filming this kind of subject, it's best to pay respects first."

Xiang Qian raised an eyebrow: "Ying-ge, since when are you this superstitious?"

Lin Zhengying said seriously: "Better to believe it exists—some things you have to believe."

Xiang Qian smiled and shook his head: "Fine, send me the master's contact info later."

During afternoon tea time at the Peninsula Hotel, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui were already seated at the window-side table waiting.

The moment Xiang Qian sat down, Anita Mui pushed over a glass of iced lemon tea: "Qian-zi, I heard you're going to Cannes in a few days?"

Xiang Qian took the drink and took a sip: "Yeah, 'Parasite' got into the main competition."

Leslie Cheung raised an eyebrow: "Not bad! How many years has it been since a Chinese-language film got into the Cannes main competition?"

Xiang Qian smiled. "But this trip is mainly to sell distribution rights, and to gild the lily a bit."

Anita Mui rested her chin on her hand: "Going alone?"

"Taking Miss Fang and the Ghost Blowing Lamp crew." Xiang Qian glanced at her. "What, you want to come with me?"

Anita Mui huffed: "I'm not going. I heard the French are terribly arrogant."

Leslie Cheung suddenly cut in: "Qian-zi, Cannes is full of beauties over there—don't go messing around."

Xiang Qian raised an eyebrow: "I'm going for work."

Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui simultaneously showed an "I get it" expression.

Back at the apartment, Xiang Qian opened the wardrobe and began packing. Flying to Cannes in a few days, he had to prepare formal wear and a speech in advance.

The phone suddenly rang—it was Wang Jing calling from Shaanxi.

"Qian-zi!" Wang Jing's voice came through the phone, with the whistling wind audible in the background. "We've arrived in Xi'an! The scenery here is amazing!"

Xiang Qian tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder and kept folding shirts: "How's Ah Min?"

"Ah Min's fine!" Wang Jing chuckled. "She's just been talking about you all day."

After hanging up, Xiang Qian walked to the balcony and lit a cigarette. Under the night sky, Xiangjiang's lights blazed brilliantly, and cruise ships in the distant Victoria Harbour glided slowly past.

He blew out a smoke ring and watched the white mist dissipate into the night sky.

The day after tomorrow, a new journey begins.