The man's chiseled, handsome face was illuminated by a smile as warm as spring. He pulled her into his embrace, his arm naturally circling her waist. "Being without you, I'm not doing well at all."
Meng Jingwei smiled knowingly at the sudden confession, tilting her head to look up at him. "Really?"
Qing Muye leaned in close to her ear. "I 'miss you so much' right now, what should I do?"
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
This was the longest they had been apart since Meng Jingwei joined the film crew, and Qing Muye naturally missed her every day.
"The New Year is coming soon, and we'll have a break before long," Meng Jingwei said, reaching up to straighten his collar. "After the break, we'll go see the children. It's been a while since we saw them, I miss them very much."
Even though she called her parents every day after work to video chat and see the children, mere video calls couldn't quell the longing in her heart.
"Whatever you say."
Qing Muye reached up to brush a strand of hair from her shoulder, then leaned down, sniffing it near her nose. His gaze upon Meng Jingwei was filled with tenderness.
Suddenly, his phone rang from his pocket.
He released her dark hair, pulled out his phone, and answered. "What is it?"
Meng Jingwei couldn't hear what was being said on the other end, but from the way Qing Muye's brow furrowed, she could tell something significant must have happened.
"Understood. You handle it first, I'll be there as soon as possible."
Qing Muye hung up the phone.
Before he could speak, Meng Jingwei anxiously asked, "What happened?"
Qing Muye gripped his phone, his previously somber expression softening slightly as he met Meng Jingwei's gaze. He forced a smile. "There's a small issue at the company, I need to go back."
Meng Jingwei didn't believe him.
"Really?" Meng Jingwei grasped his hand. "Don't lie to me."
Qing Muye slipped his phone into his coat pocket, then reached out and tapped her nose, his tone doting. "You're my wife, why would I lie to you?"
Seeing that he wasn't willing to say more, Meng Jingwei didn't press the issue.
Ever since she had known Qing Muye, he had always been the type to share good news but not bad. Meng Jingwei understood.
Hand in hand, they turned back towards the inpatient department.
Standing in the elevator lobby, the person in front of them pressed the 'up' button and waited outside the elevator.
They watched as both elevators were on the 20th floor and slowly descending.
Meng Jingwei lowered her head, her fingers intertwined with Qing Muye's, her thumb caressing his. She was lost in thought.
After waiting for a while, with a 'ding,' the elevator directly in front of them opened.
As people gradually exited, Meng Jingwei and Qing Muye stood to the left, making way for those coming out.
Once everyone had exited, Qing Muye pulled her hand. "Let's go."
"Mm."
Meng Jingwei nodded in agreement.
At that moment, the elevator beside them opened. Hearing the sound, Meng Jingwei instinctively glanced over and saw a familiar figure appear in her line of sight.
However, before she could clearly see the person's face, she was jostled into the elevator from behind.
"Hey, wait..."
Meng Jingwei wanted to get out, but there were too many people blocking her way, making it impossible.
Qing Muye noticed something was amiss. "What's wrong?"
"I think I just saw Shi Ran." Because the person was wearing a mask and a hat, only their eyes were visible, Meng Jingwei wasn't sure if she had mistaken someone.
They exchanged a look. Qing Muye saw Meng Jingwei's anxiety and said, "When we get to the third floor, we'll go down and take a look."
"Okay."
Meng Jingwei thought the same thing.
Ding—
They reached the third floor, and the elevator stopped. Meng Jingwei said, "Excuse me, thank you."
She and Qing Muye squeezed out from the crowd and quickly went down the stairs.